Road Map for the Future of Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health

Pat Paluzzi, DrPH

Pat Paluzzi, DrPH

It has taken over a year much thinking, talking, and revising, but Healthy Teen Network is extremely excited to present our 2013-2016 Strategic Plan, Road Map for the Future of Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health to the field.

This three-year plan is a result of conversations with adolescent, reproductive health, and social justice professionals, state leaders, researchers, funders, and high level officials—in other words, some of the field’s best thinkers. It is comprehensive, forward-thinking, and based in reality. It challenges our thinking and approaches and uses data to make the case for adding to what we know about evidence-based interventions with new research-based, science-based, innovative approaches, so all youth are included in our messages. The social-ecological health promotion frame changes our way of thinking about what we do and what young people need to thrive, such as addressing issues of housing, food, education, employment and more, as these social determinants impact the health and well-being of young people. And finally, this plan recognizes that those of us who make it our business (and life’s work) to address these issues, need to think about how we can create sustainable efforts, even when those in power are not supportive of our approaches.

Please view the Prezi below, read our plan, ask questions, challenge our thinking, and above all else, put our plan to use if it resonates with you. As one of our interviewees said, we cannot continue to do the ‘same old’ and expect better results; we have to be creative and innovative.


Pat Paluzzi, DrPH, is the President/CEO of Healthy Teen Network.

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by healthyteennetwork on May 15, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by healthyteennetwork on May 15, 2013

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More Challenges to Increasing Access to Emergency Contraception and Preventing Unplanned Pregnancies

Over the past few weeks, there have been three important developments in the ongoing saga of access to emergency contraception (EC).

Late Tuesday, April 30, 2013, the FDA announced that it had approved an amended application submitted by Teva Women’s Health, Inc. to market Plan B One-Step (active ingredient levonorgestrel) for use without a prescription by women 15 years of age and older. 

Last month, Judge Edward R. Korman of Federal District Court ruled that the government must make the most common morning-after pill, or emergency contraception, available over-the-counter (OTC) for all ages. The FDA’s approval of Teva’s current application for Plan B One-Step, which was filed before that litigation, is independent of that litigation and not intended to address the judge’s ruling. Healthy Teen Network strongly hopes that Korman’s ruling will supersede the 15-year age minimum approved by the FDA on Tuesday.

To add to the flurry of action regarding EC, Wednesday, May 1, 2013, the Obama administration initiated efforts to continue to restrict access to girls under 15 years old, when the Justice Department filed a notice to appeal Judge Korman’s ruling to make EC available OTC, without a prescription, for girls and women, of any age.

While Healthy Teen Network supports the FDA’s positive, incremental decision to increase access of EC, we are disappointed that this decision is still not consistent with medical and scientific evidence. Likewise, the Obama administration’s recent maneuver to repeal Judge Korman’s ruling to make EC widely and readily available also fails to use scientific research to ground decision-making.

Healthy Teen Network supports widespread access for EC for all who need it, without unnecessary obstructions. Given the time-sensitive nature of the effectiveness of EC, ease of access is a critical component in preventing unplanned pregnancies. The FDA announcement and the Obama administration’s appeal of Judge Korman’s ruling both obstruct access to EC.

Even with expanded access to those 15 and older (the previous minimum age was 17), the requirement to present ID to prove their age presents an enormous obstacle for many. Many young people do not have official ID that includes their dates of birth. EC is most effective when used within 72 hours of intercourse—it would be difficult to imagine a 15- or 16-year old would be able to acquire a state-issued ID in this time period. (And that’s not even considering possible parental involvement that would likely need to take place in order to obtain the ID.)

Additionally, immigrant women will continue to suffer from this arbitrary obstacle to contraception. “Immigrant women and aspiring citizens of all ages have been hit particularly hard, since they are less likely to have government-issued identification,” notes Jessica González-Rojas, executive director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health.

We’ve said it before, but it certainly bears repeating: Increased access to emergency contraception could reduce the number of unintended and/or terminated pregnancies that occur in this country each year. Therefore, emergency contraception should be widely and easily available to all whom can safely use it.

For more information on emergency contraception and its benefits:

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by healthyteennetwork on May 2, 2013  •  Permalink
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Remembering Doug Kirby

Douglas Kirby

Douglas Kirby

On Wednesday, March 25, family, friends, and colleagues gathered to remember Douglas Kirby, PhD, after his passing, Saturday, December 22, 2012. The service provided the opportunity for friends to share memories and anecdotes about Doug. Below are some excerpts from the tributes, with links to video clips, as well.

Pat Paluzzi, President and CEO, Healthy Teen Network, remembers Doug  as a researcher; humorous, warm, and generous colleague; and a family man: “I’ve never heard anybody make research as accessible as that man did in that moment.” (Video)

Rev. Debra W. Haffner, President, Religious Institute, Inc., gives a liturgy in honor of Doug and his love for life:

  • “We’re here to share with each other our loss of this amazing man who we all know died doing what he loved—climbing one of the highest mountains in the world, stopping for a glass of water (or actually probably a drink from a canteen of some kind), looking out at that moonlit vista, and then explaining, in Doug-like fashion, ‘Isn’t life great?’”
  • “I have been awed by how many people considered Doug to be one of their closest friends.” (Video)

Robert Blum, William H. Gates Sr. Chair, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, recalls first meeting Doug and forming a close friendship, as well as Doug’s dedication to both nature and data-driven advocacy:

  • “He would say, ‘no really, what I really, really want to know…’ And that was one of the characteristics that made him so wonderful, was that he was intent on knowing what you knew, but he was much more intent on knowing who you were.”
  • “That path was later named for him because of his passionate dedication to clearing it and establishing it, and I have rarely seen pride and joy and the love of nature as reflected in that man’s eyes as we walked down that path.”
  • “Doug was profoundly, intellectually honest and profoundly meticulous. Data drove his advocacy; advocacy did not drive his data, nor his research.  And because of that, and of because of who he was as a person, he bridged a broad political divide.  He was able to connect with people whose fundamental orientation was very, very different than his.” (Video)

Sarah Brown, CEO, The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, recognizes the tremendous contribution Doug made to the adolescent sexual and reproductive health field, beginning almost two decades ago, in his research to answer the common question, “What works?”:

  • “He developed a systematic, data-driven way to answer a simple question that many of us in this room are asked all the time: ‘What works?  What should we do?’ That is, what community or classroom intervention or policy actually might help reduce teen pregnancy, STDs, HIV.”
  • “Doug walked fearlessly into the tangled underbush of intervention evaluation and emerged with specific conclusions and crisp guidance…It’s important to remember that Doug was the pioneer list-maker in our field, the first to take a clear eye to the available research, to articulate points of consensus, and to recommend reasonable next steps.”
  • Every time I hear the phrase ‘evidence-based programs,’ I think of Doug.” (Video)

John Santelli, Department Chair, Population and Family Health, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, shares how Doug was always there for him as a friend, to offer supportive and wise advice: “He contributed enormously. He believed in science, we’ve all said that, but he really believed in adolescents. And why did he do all this work? He had a zest for life, and he really cared about adolescents. He wanted to do the work for the youth of the planet.” (Video)

Lori Rolleri, Independent Public Health Consultant, remembers her mentor and friend and the effect his amazing research has had on people and the field of adolescent reproductive health research: “I realized that Doug’s career was all about asking big questions and finding answers, or at least being on the lookout for those emerging answers.  I think Doug took on answering big questions for two reasons.  First, he was a skilled researcher with an insatiable sense of curiosity.  And second, he wanted to find answers that he could share with people on the ground that were doing the important work for people in need.  Much of what Doug accomplished in the last two decades of his career made adolescent reproductive health research understandable and usable by thousands of practitioners, researchers, and policymakers.” (Video)

The touching stories shared by these planned speakers, as well as several other welcomed, spontaneous speakers, offered the opportunity for attendees to laugh and remember Doug. The warm memories and awe-inspiring anecdotes could only just begin to trace a picture of the amazing, loving, and dedicated man Doug was.

Advocates for Youth, Healthy Teen Network, and The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy partnered together to host this memorial  service.

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by healthyteennetwork on April 25, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by healthyteennetwork on April 25, 2013

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Urge Your Members of Congress to Co-Sponsor Pregnant and Parenting Student Bill

young_woman_babyHealthy Teen Network and the National Women’s Law Center are co-leading an effort to improve graduation rates among pregnant and parenting youth by providing these students the necessary policy and resource supports to assist them in completing their high school educations prepared for college or careers. We are thrilled to report that U.S. Senator Tom Udall (New Mexico) and U.S. Representative Jared Polis (Colorado) have stepped forward in Congress to lead this charge by agreeing to introduce the Pregnant and Parenting Students Access to Education Act (PPSAE).

These Members of Congress plan to introduce their bills in May. They have invited their Senate and House colleagues to join their legislation as co-sponsors. And that won’t happen unless Senators and Representatives hear that the educational success of pregnant and parenting youth matters to constituents back home!

Healthy Teen Network urges our members and supporters to weigh-in in support of this legislation of unique importance to the pregnant and parenting teens over whom we take special responsibility. Take action today and assist us in building local and statewide support for the Pregnant and Parenting Students Access to Education Act. Write Your Senators and Representatives now using this automated, customizable action message for individuals and organization representatives to generate messages to your Members of Congress in the matter of a few key strokes. Any individual can take this action, which takes five minutes or less. Also, please distribute the link to the young people you support, your colleagues, and your friends and ask them to take action also.

Help spread the word on social media! Sample Facebook status updates and Tweets you can use to share this action alert with your networks:

TAKE ACTION: Urge your members of Congress to co-sponsor Pregnant and Parenting Student Bill! #PPSAE http://bit.ly/ZYbYGI

ACT NOW to ensure access to education for pregnant & parenting teens! #PPSAE http://bit.ly/ZYbYGI 

Help improve graduation rates among pregnant and parenting youth! #PPSAE http://bit.ly/ZYbYGI

Join the Roster of Organizations Supporting the PPSAE Act–Healthy Teen Network and National Women’s Law Center are orchestrating a sign-on letter for national, state, regional, and local organizations of all types to demonstrate support for the Pregnant and Parenting Students Access to Education Act. To join the letter, send your organization name and contact information to Bob Reeg, Healthy Teen Network Senior Policy Analyst. Please consider forwarding this sign-on request to other organizations that have an interest in marginalized youth and young families.

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by healthyteennetwork on April 17, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by healthyteennetwork on April 17, 2013

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President’s FY 2014 Budget Request Unveiled

Bob Reeg

Bob Reeg

President Obama has submitted to Congress his budget request for fiscal year 2014. The annual President’s Budget represents the Administration’s stance on the overall size, scope, and long-term trajectory of the federal government budget as well as the executive branch’s desired spending levels for all federal programs for the upcoming federal fiscal year (which commences each year on October 1).  Finally, the release of the President’s Budget kicks off Congress’s deliberations on annual appropriations for federal programs.  Such deliberations will begin in haste, now that the President’s Budget is available for Congressional review.

Healthy Teen Network supports a robust federal government funded at full capacity to ensure full health and high-quality of life of all Americans. We pay particular attention to and advocate in support of a range of sexual and reproductive health services programs.  For FY 2014, the President’s Budget recommends appropriations for these sexual and reproductive health services programs at the following levels:

  • Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative (TPPI): $104.6 million, a restoration of $5.4 million lost to TPPI due to the sequestration of FY 2013 appropriations.
  • Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP): $82 million in FY 2014, the sum of the mandated annual appropriation of $75 million to PREP plus the re-obligation of $5 million in unspent PREP funds. The President’s Budget would restore $3.8 million lost to PREP due to the sequestration of FY 2013 appropriations.
  • CDC Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH): $32.4 million, roughly level to the FY 2012 appropriation.
  • Pregnancy Assistance Fund (PAF): $25 million, the mandated annual appropriation level for this program.
  • Maternal and Child Health Block Grant: $369 million, level funding with FY 2012 and a certain increase over the FY 2013 appropriation due to sequestration.
  • Home Visiting: $400 million, a scheduled increase of $50 million above the FY 2013 mandated annual appropriation to the Maternal, Infant, and Early Child Home Visiting Program.
  • Title X Family Planning Services: $327 million, an increase of $34 million above the FY 2012 enacted level.

The President’s Budget proposes to eliminate the Competitive Abstinence Education Grant Program (currently funded at $5 million) and to permit the transfer of $13 million in mandated state abstinence education dollars unclaimed by states declining to accept such funds toward a teen pregnancy prevention competitive grant program focused on youth in foster care.

For additional information on the President’s Budget request for FY 2014 and background information on each of the federal programs above, view these in-depth budget resources:

Bob Reeg is the Senior Policy Analyst at Healthy Teen Network.

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by healthyteennetwork on April 12, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by healthyteennetwork on April 12, 2013

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Teen Pregnancy Rates among LGBTQ Youth Might Be Higher Than You Would Expect

Alia Gehr-Seloover

Alia Gehr-Seloover

In working with LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning) populations over the years, I’ve noticed that is has been widely assumed that these youth don’t require pregnancy prevention education. In fact, this population is two to seven times more likely than heterosexual youth to be involved in a pregnancy. This is a larger issue when looking at the ways in which LGBTQ youth are treated in their communities. It is also indicative of the types of sexual health education taught in this country throughout many different forums.

With an average of 12-17% of LGBTQ teens involved in a pregnancy, compared to an average of 2-5% of heterosexual teens, the question of why these numbers are so drastically different begs to be asked.

Statistically, LGBTQ young people experience elevated rates of discrimination, with eight of 10 LGBTQ teens stating that they have been harassed or abused as a result of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Discrimination isn’t just occurring at school–while incidences of family rejection have decreased over the last decade, and more families are accepting of their LGBTQ children, 26% of LGBTQ youth are told to leave home. In fact, according to the 2006 National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Summary, “of the estimated 1.6 million homeless American youth, between 20 and 40 percent identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT).” These types of prejudices lead to higher use of drugs and alcohol, a heightened incidence of depression and suicide, and an increased likelihood of participation in risky sexual behaviors, including survival sex (sex for shelter, food, clothing, etc.).

LGBTQ youth who feel stigmatized may also strive to appear ‘normal’ or ‘heterosexual’, participating in ‘heterosexual sexual activities’ to pass as straight. This becomes an issue when we observe the way sexual health education is presented. In the majority of educational atmospheres, sexual education is focused around heterosexuals, minimizing inclusion of the LGBTQ community, and their need for comprehensive sexual health education. The result is that many LGBTQ identified teens who do participate in ‘heterosexual sexual activities’ may not feel that the sexual health education offered pertains to them, or may not pay attention to the biased education presented.

In my experiences with LGBTQ youth, the one criticism that many voice is that they never received sex education that resonated with them, and in sitting in a classroom they may zone out or stop paying attention. Other youth that I have spent time with have mentioned that while they identify as gay, it isn’t easy to find someone to date–many will go out with people of another sex because they want something to do, or someone to spend time with.

It is important to understand that many LGBTQ adolescents are happy, safe, and feel that they are receiving the education, resources, and access to health materials that they need to thrive. It is also essential that we recognize that for those who don’t feel this way, there are ways that we can work together to change this.

What can we do to help?

  • Educators must work with their schools and districts to include LGBTQ inclusive health education, using terms referring to body parts rather than relationship types and persons involved: penis, vagina, anus, etc., rather than man or woman.
  • Discuss with LGBTQ youth various self-care methods, community resources, and ways in which they can involve themselves with accepting individuals and groups.
  • Parents and teachers need to work together to accept LGBTQ youth. It’s important that they know that they are cared for, and loved no matter what the outside world thinks.
  • It is crucial to educate students in appropriate behaviors; ensuring that efforts to diminish bullying and discrimination are taken seriously and those students who choose to participate in bullying behaviors will face negative repercussions.

What other ways can we ensure that LBGTQ youth are receiving the education, resources, and access to health materials that they need to thrive?

Alia A. Gehr-Seloover is the LGBTQ Health Coordinator, Healthcorps Navigator, at Institute for Family Health.

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by healthyteennetwork on April 10, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by healthyteennetwork on April 10, 2013

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Healthy Teen Network Applauds Decision to Increase Access to Over the Counter Emergency Contraception

Today, Judge Edward R. Korman of Federal District Court ruled that the government must make the most common morning-after pill available over the counter for all ages, instead of requiring a prescription for girls 16 and younger. According to the New York Times, “[Korman] also accused the federal government of ‘bad faith’ in dealing with the requests to make the pill universally available.” His ruling counteracts Health and Human Services secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ unprecedented overruling of an FDA recommendation to make the pill available over the counter to all ages in 2011.

Emergency contraception is most effective if used within the first 24 hours following sexual activity. The time sensitive nature of its effectiveness makes widespread availability a critical issue for all women and men. Without over the counter access to emergency contraception, those 17 and older are dependent on pharmacist availability (to verify age), and those 16 and younger are dependent on first obtaining a prescription, as well as pharmacist availability. Increased access to emergency contraception could reduce the number of unintended and/or terminated pregnancies that occur in this country each year. Therefore, emergency contraception should be widely and easily available to all whom can safely use it. The lifting of these age restrictions—which the judge ordered to happen within 30 days of today’s ruling—is a major victory for those who have advocated for this access for many years.

“Critics have expressed concern that adolescents’ access to and use of emergency contraception will increase sexual promiscuity and risky sexual behavior, however, research has shown that this is not the case,” says Healthy Teen Network President/CEO Pat Paluzzi. “We are pleased that the judge’s ruling will allow young people to have easy access to emergency contraception and hope to see teen pregnancy and abortion rates continue to decrease as a result.”

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by healthyteennetwork on April 5, 2013  •  Permalink
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What We Can Learn from the Steubenville Media Circus

Alexandra Eisler

Alexandra Eisler

Eleven years ago, I was a high school senior and about the same age as the boys in Steubenville, OH, who last week were found delinquent (the juvenile court version of “guilty”) of sexual assault and distributing nude photos of an acquaintance. I remember being their classmates’ age and trying to figure out (like they are now) how to be an adult and learning what it meant to make adult decisions like how to handle alcohol and drugs, sex, and my friends.

I remember being told that if you didn’t want to have sex, you were to very loudly and very clearly say, “NO! I do NOT want to have sex with you!” Which, while probably effective, at the time didn’t seem practical when you factor in the social codes that go along with maintaining friendships and learning how to date. What that message did reveal to me was a nasty grey area: If someone doesn’t say the word “no,” then is he/she saying “yes”?  (And we’re not talking only about women: data show a surprisingly high number of men report being sexually assaulted.)

Clearly, these young men were found delinquent and are headed to detention, but many messages circulating about their crime are disgusting: their coach told them “not to worry about it”; the media seems more focused on the ruin of the boys’ “promising careers” than the friend they violated; and we’ve heard an awful lot about how drunk the victim was and whether or not she had previously hooked up with someone.  If you’ve been paying attention to the news, you’ve been hearing this in heavy rotation.

The Steubenville case illuminates how our stunted understanding of consent makes it impossible for young people to learn what it means to give consent and to get consent–most of these students’ classmates didn’t realize something bad was happening, so they recorded it for fun. (Wait. What?!)

When we talk about sexual health, we talk about anatomy, STIs, pregnancy, HIV, and how to say “no” to sex when we don’t want to have it. The problem with that list is, in addition to learning facts about our bodies, it puts the responsibility for consent solely on the person who doesn’t want to have sex rather than pointing out how partners can pay attention to each other. “No” comes in many forms.

This is where we need to change our dialogue. We need to recognize that sex is supposed to be fun; it’s not a game that someone wins (…and therefore one that someone loses). We’re talking about human relationships and the practice of valuing other people’s lives. To raise generations of compassionate, kind human beings, we must show those around us what that looks like—and that includes discussions of sexual expression.

We can start very young, as young as one year old, and to be successful we can’t ever stop the conversation.

How do you talk about consent?

Alexandra Eisler is a Training and TA Coordinator at Healthy Teen Network.

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by healthyteennetwork on April 2, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by healthyteennetwork on April 2, 2013

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Helping Pregnant and Parenting Teens Find Housing

young_woman_babyIn 2002, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in the U.S. Department of Justice estimated that there are 1,682,900 homeless and runaway youth under eighteen years of age in the United States. Of this number, anywhere from 6 to 22% are pregnant. This means that there could potentially be almost 400,000 homeless and pregnant young women in this country.

For pregnant and parenting youth who are currently homeless or lack adequate housing options, there are various programs through local governments and private organizations that can provide housing and other services. Incorporating these programs into advocacy efforts is a great way to help address homelessness among adolescent parents in the United States today.

Beyond providing shelter, housing programs provide the opportunity to offer many complementary resources and services for youth. Healthy Teen Network and Child Trends developed two resources on the core components of supportive housing—one resource defining and detailing what the core components include and a related report on findings from the field based on a national survey, phone interviews, and case studies. Articulating core components based on what we know ensures success among pregnant and parenting teens utilizing supportive housing services that embrace them and helps set a standard for the field. The identification of the core components provides guidance for supportive housing programs to meet the needs of pregnant and parenting teens by providing the supports and resources needed to help them succeed. Two types of supportive housing for pregnant and parenting teens include:

Maternity Group Homes
The most widespread option for homeless young mothers or families is maternity group homes, also known as Second Chance Homes. Maternity group homes are adult-supervised, supporting group homes or apartment clusters for adolescent parents and their children who cannot live at home because of abuse, neglect, or other extenuating circumstances. These homes provide access to services such as child care, health care, transportation, counseling, education, job training, and employment assistance. Click here to find out if there is a maternity group home in your state, or call the National Runaway Switchboard at 1-800-RUNAWAY.

Transitional Housing
Many states have laws establishing transitional housing for adolescents. These transitional housing programs range from emergency short-term housing that includes shelter and at least one meal a day to more comprehensive programs that provide rental assistance, career training, and educational assessment and referrals to educational programs.

Other programs that support pregnant and parenting teens secure adequate housing include:

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
Under the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, in order to qualify for welfare assistance, young parents usually must be living with a parent or guardian. However, for young parents who have applied for TANF aid who have no parents, legal guardian, or other appropriate adult relative that allow the young parents to live with them, or in a case where a state agency has determined that it is not in the youth’s best interest to live with his or her parent or legal guardian, the state must provide or assist the child in locating a Second Chance Home, maternity home, or other appropriate adult-supervised living arrangement.

Extended Support for Foster Youth
Federal and state laws also provide assistance with housing and other necessities to young people who have “aged out” of foster care, i.e., people who have reached the age of majority in their state, which is usually 18 years old.

Young parents who are homeless or whose family home is no longer a safe or healthy option may also be involved with child protective services. For more information on advocating for these youth, see this fact sheet from Healthy Teen Network and the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, Advocacy for Pregnant and Parenting Teens in Foster Care.

Remember, most homeless pregnant and parenting teens are scared and just need someone to listen and advocate for their well-being. Being aware of the federal, state, and private programs put in place can largely help these teens and their children.

What are your success stories working with homeless pregnant or parenting teens?

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by healthyteennetwork on March 20, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by healthyteennetwork on March 20, 2013

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When Can We Move Past the Whole Shame/Blame Thing?

Alexandra Eisler

Alexandra Eisler

The NYC Department of Public Health and Mental Hygiene wants us to get a message: Being a teen parent is hard. The message they’re sending is half right: being a teen parent has its challenges, but the hardest part of raising a child when you’re really young is that lots of adults think teens need to hear they’re doomed. They’ve been saying this for years just to make sure it sticks. And, at least in the case of the latest NYC public service announcements, they also want the children of teen parents to know they’re a burden.

Growing up, I didn’t know many teen mothers. The message I heard growing up was that getting pregnant meant disaster. It was the end of the world, and to make sure we all knew just how bad it was, if one of our classmates turned up pregnant, the gossip would start and everyone would know just what a failure she was. It was awful.

If you asked 17-year-old me if I thought these PSAs would stop teens from getting pregnant, I would have said yes….just as effective as the pictures of wart-ridden genitals in my biology class were at keeping kids from having sex. Right. Of course.

Years later, I learned about my half-brother who is fourteen years older than me and the child of my father and his high school girlfriend when they were 18 (our father left when he was born). I’ve been lucky to get to know him and to build a relationship with him. It’s been incredible to learn about each other and how the differences in our childhoods have shaped us (we share the same absent father, but my mother was 36 when she had me).

He has told me about where he lived growing up, the house his family lived in, and the strained relationships he saw as a child. He said that he heard the same shame-filled messages about how bad it was to come from a poor, single, teen mother, and he thought no matter how hard he worked, he couldn’t escape his “trashy” family. He told me about his mother’s struggles and about her being sent away with him after he was born. He told me about how hard he had to fight to build a life he could feel good about.

As an adult, I know that messages of hopelessness won’t prevent pregnancy. What they will do is set young parents up for not only the challenges of raising a child but to do so believing the world wants to see them fail. When I think about my brother, I see a man full of ingenuity and determination, and I feel angry he heard loud and clear that he was less than. I’m proud of how much he has accomplished and the family he is now raising, and I am grateful to be a part of it.

Our words and actions shape the lives around us. We have a responsibility to educate one another about what it means to make choices–in this case, choices about raising a family. With that responsibility is the power to either punish or support those we care about. Like the wart-ridden genitals of my biology class, using shame and fear defeat themselves, giving way to all kinds of unintended consequences. Be careful what you say, someone is listening.

How do you work with teen parents to combat these kinds of shaming messages?

Alexandra Eisler is the Training and TA Coordinator at Healthy Teen Network.

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by healthyteennetwork on March 13, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by healthyteennetwork on March 13, 2013

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