Teens can turn to teachers instead of TV
by Kristen Power,Outpost contributor
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But teenagers don't need to turn to television for sex education. Organizations in the area are designed to provide assistance and information to teenagers and adults alike when sex education teachers aren't available for questions.
The Washoe District Health Department and Planned Parenthood are two of many organizations that offer assistance to teens with questions about sex.
Planned Parenthood offers many services to teens and adults alike, said Wes Reid, Planned Parenthood education program manager. The organization offers three areas of assistance to the community: clinical services, education and advocacy.
Planned Parenthood's clinical services allow teens to practice some of the responsibility lessons they've learned in SHARE. They can get sexual health check-ups, STD tests and contraception such as birth control pills. Teens also can call the clinic to get answers to questions about sexual health.
The education services at Planned Parenthood provide Programs for Youth workshops led by peer educators to groups of adolescents, young adults and parents concerning decision-making, responsibility, contraception, STDs and abstinence.
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Of students who ever have sexual intercourse, the percentage using various types of birth control or contracepton methods. Illustration by Kristen Power |
"Even if they've taken a sex education class, they still don't have a grasp on what that means to them personally," Cimino said. "It's easier to get a message across from someone that's your own age than someone that's not."
The educators, all college-aged, lead discussion and instruction on various topics for teenagers at places like Whittenberg Detention Center, fraternities and sororities, dormitories, drug intervention facilities and church groups. Cimino said the audiences for most workshops at these locations ranges from five to 30, but she has presented information to as many as 60 people in one session.
One of the goals of the program, Cimino said, is to create a comfortable environment where teenagers can discuss issues.
"The way we present the workshop makes the information more okay to talk about," Cimino said.
She added that some issues are more difficult to talk about, so they interject humor into the discussion.
"We like to think we're a bunch of comedians," she said.
The peer educators also create interactive learning stations at the workshops to divide the group into smaller portions and allow for individualized, hands-on learning. Cimino said her station, the condom station, taught teens how to use a condom and how to put one on properly.
The Programs for Youth workshops that Planned Parenthood produces are free to any group that wishes to host one. Four different workshops are available, depending on age group and topic. For more information, contact Planned Parenthood at 688-5555.
The Washoe District Health Department also offers information about STDs and provides a family planning clinic and testing for STDs, including HIV. The department's Teen Health Mall is located in the Washoe County Health Department and is open Monday through Thursday.
Teenagers are provided access to nurse practitioners who are able to answer any questions, to an STD clinic, and to a family planning clinic. To contact the health department call 328-2470.
Posted Nov. 12, 1998
Copyright 1998 Nevada Oupost