It is amazing to me that I have come this far with a blog just by trial and error.
Saying that, I am pleased to share with you that I am going to take advantage of an awesome training opportunity. The day after Valentines Day, I have registered to take a Social Media Marketing class in order to optimize the presence of Let's Start...the TALK blog. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and a few other marketing sites will also be highlighted.
So, wish me luck!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Happy New Year
I cannot believe that December escaped without giving me a chance to at least post something...but, alas, it happened. I can honestly say that with all the shopping and holiday parties and traveling and closing out 2011, while revving up for 2012, time flew right by, leaving its trail in the dust.
So, here we are! It's 2012 and the time has come to move forward; educating our small corner of the world on appropriate sexual behavior; questioning if the previous year we made a difference in someone's life or if the curriculum and time we offer to students and adults has become stagnant and predictable.
Statistics indicate that there is a decline in teen pregnancy but is it enough? What more can we do to insure the decline is consistent with our expectations? I am not sure we can. There is one thing I am sure of however! By looking forward to the new year with fresh eyes and a dedication to formulating new and innovative ideas on reaching out to individuals regarding appropriate sexual health we are assured to make a difference on all levels.
So, here we are! It's 2012 and the time has come to move forward; educating our small corner of the world on appropriate sexual behavior; questioning if the previous year we made a difference in someone's life or if the curriculum and time we offer to students and adults has become stagnant and predictable.
Statistics indicate that there is a decline in teen pregnancy but is it enough? What more can we do to insure the decline is consistent with our expectations? I am not sure we can. There is one thing I am sure of however! By looking forward to the new year with fresh eyes and a dedication to formulating new and innovative ideas on reaching out to individuals regarding appropriate sexual health we are assured to make a difference on all levels.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Thanksgiving is now behind us and the Christmas season is fast approaching. With the hustle and bustle this time of year brings, I find myself in stores with all the other shoppers searching for that perfect gift or fun stocking stuffer.
On this particular night, my husband and I went to one of our hometown shops to pick up pictures that I had had developed and to shop for filler gifts for our grandkids stockings. One of our grandsons is soon to be 16 and is incredibly difficult to shop for so we felt as if we had hit a brick wall on what to get. As we traversed each aisle, I finally stated that perhaps we just needed to get him a box of condoms. My husband laughed, as did I and we continued toward the checkout, sans condoms.
As I laid out our purchase on the counter, the cashier was giggling and said she had heard me tell my husband to get the condoms. I just smiled as she continued to talk. At that point, the cashier informed me that a man had just come up to the counter and purchased a box of condoms. I stated that I was pleased that this individual was being responsible, then proceeded to tell the cashier that I was a sexual health educator within the community and that the mans purchase was my validation that people were beginning to understand the value of protection from an unwanted pregnancy and/or a sexually transmitted disease. I do not think she heard a word I said because there was no acknowlegement as she continued in a hushed whisper, "and he was wearing a wedding ring!" With a smug, triumphant look on her face, she took my debit card, gave me my receipt and told me to have a good evening.
Although this may not seem to be a huge deal, I find her insinuation rather unsettling. Instead of congratulating someone on personal responsibility, this cashier implied something dark and perhaps unworthy of a married man. Unfortunately, as a sexual health educator, this is common practice and until our communities begin to accept their responsibility regarding educating young and old alike on appropriate, medically accurate, sexual health education we will continue to hear the uneducated comments like those I heard while shopping.
Consider this:
the young man who purchased the box of condoms is:
On this particular night, my husband and I went to one of our hometown shops to pick up pictures that I had had developed and to shop for filler gifts for our grandkids stockings. One of our grandsons is soon to be 16 and is incredibly difficult to shop for so we felt as if we had hit a brick wall on what to get. As we traversed each aisle, I finally stated that perhaps we just needed to get him a box of condoms. My husband laughed, as did I and we continued toward the checkout, sans condoms.
As I laid out our purchase on the counter, the cashier was giggling and said she had heard me tell my husband to get the condoms. I just smiled as she continued to talk. At that point, the cashier informed me that a man had just come up to the counter and purchased a box of condoms. I stated that I was pleased that this individual was being responsible, then proceeded to tell the cashier that I was a sexual health educator within the community and that the mans purchase was my validation that people were beginning to understand the value of protection from an unwanted pregnancy and/or a sexually transmitted disease. I do not think she heard a word I said because there was no acknowlegement as she continued in a hushed whisper, "and he was wearing a wedding ring!" With a smug, triumphant look on her face, she took my debit card, gave me my receipt and told me to have a good evening.
Although this may not seem to be a huge deal, I find her insinuation rather unsettling. Instead of congratulating someone on personal responsibility, this cashier implied something dark and perhaps unworthy of a married man. Unfortunately, as a sexual health educator, this is common practice and until our communities begin to accept their responsibility regarding educating young and old alike on appropriate, medically accurate, sexual health education we will continue to hear the uneducated comments like those I heard while shopping.
Consider this:
the young man who purchased the box of condoms is:
- very considerate because his wife is allergic to sperm
- minimizing the chance of an unplanned pregnancy because this is the only method of birth control he and his wife use
- purchasing them for a friend
- purchasing them for a family member
- working at a shelter and wants to be sure the clients are safe
Friday, November 18, 2011
Teen Births on the Decline
Washington, DC) — The U.S. teen birth rate declined 9% in 2010 and is now at the lowest level ever reported, according to data released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). The 9% drop is the steepest one-year decline since 1946/1947.
“I am aware of no other social problem that has improved so dramatically over so many years,” said Sarah Brown, CEO of The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. “Progress in reducing teen pregnancy has been nothing short of remarkable—the teen birth rate has declined a stunning 44% between 1991 and 2010. There have been impressive declines in all 50 states and among all racial/ethnic groups. Not so long ago, teen pregnancy was viewed as intractable and inevitable. This report shows that too early pregnancy and child-bearing are 100% preventable.
“The magic formula of less sex and more contraception is responsible for this great good news,” said Brown. “Teens are being more careful for a number of reasons, including the recession, more media attention to this issue—including the ‘16 and Pregnant/Teen Mom effect’—and more attention to and investment in evidence-based programs. But at the end of the day, the thanks and admiration go to teens themselves.”
Other findings from the new NCHS data include:
“I am aware of no other social problem that has improved so dramatically over so many years,” said Sarah Brown, CEO of The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. “Progress in reducing teen pregnancy has been nothing short of remarkable—the teen birth rate has declined a stunning 44% between 1991 and 2010. There have been impressive declines in all 50 states and among all racial/ethnic groups. Not so long ago, teen pregnancy was viewed as intractable and inevitable. This report shows that too early pregnancy and child-bearing are 100% preventable.
“The magic formula of less sex and more contraception is responsible for this great good news,” said Brown. “Teens are being more careful for a number of reasons, including the recession, more media attention to this issue—including the ‘16 and Pregnant/Teen Mom effect’—and more attention to and investment in evidence-based programs. But at the end of the day, the thanks and admiration go to teens themselves.”
Other findings from the new NCHS data include:
- Birth rates declined for teens of all ages. The rate for teens 15-17 declined 12% in 2010 and has fallen 55% from its peak in 1991. The birth rate for teens 18-19 declined 9% in 2010; 38% lower than in 1991.
- Birth rates also declined for all racial/ethnic groups. Among teens 15-19, the birth rate declined 9% in 2010 for non-Hispanic whites and non-Hispanic blacks, 12% for Hispanic and American Indian Alaska Native teens, and 13% for Asian Pacific Islander teens.
- The national teen birth rate fell to 34.3 births per 1,000 girls aged 15-19 in 2010, down from 37.9 in 2009 and 61.8 in 1991 when the teen birth rate was at its peak.
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