|
 |
> Local News > Holyoke/South Hadley/Granby > Holyoke continues effort to reduce teen birth rate
|
Holyoke continues effort to reduce teen birth rate |
|
May 12, 2010.
By G. Michael Dobbs
Managing Editor
HOLYOKE -- Here is one of the questions Holyoke school and public health officials hope the city's teens will answer as part of a national quiz designed to call attention to teen pregnancy:
"Sarah, Amaya, Christie, and Tabitha, all 15 and all freshmen in high school, get invited to a party by Sarah's older brother, who's a high school senior. It's their first real party and they want to seem like they fit in. When someone at the party offers them lemonade spiked with vodka, they gladly drink up. Toward the end of the night, they're all tipsy, but Tabitha is flat out wasted and totally making out with Jay, an older guy she just met.
"Sarah: Come on, T, it's time to go. My brother is giving us a ride home now. ?
"Jay: Actually, Tabitha's going to hang out for a while. I'll bring her home later. ?
"Tabitha: Yesssssss, Saaaaarah. I don't want to go home. I like him. [Turns to Jay] Um, what was your name again?
"You're Sarah. What do you do?
"1. Grab her arm firmly and drag her out of the party. She hates you now, but she'll thank you in the morning -- if she even remembers leaving.
"2. Threaten to call her mom if she doesn't get her butt outside pronto.
"3. Leave her there. There are worse things than hooking up with a hot senior guy.
"4. Leave her behind, but ask your brother's best friend to keep an eye on her and make sure she gets home safely. He's definitely sober and h''s always got your back.
The correct answer is number one.
Publicizing participation in The National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy Quiz was the goal of an event in front of City Hall on May 5. Holyoke has the highest unplanned teen birth rate in the Commonwealth and is participating in an education effort to help teens think about their choices.
According to statistics provided by the Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy, the national average of teen births in the United States in 2007 was 42.4 per 1,000 women ages 15 through 19. For Holyoke, the rate was 95.4. Across the river in Chicopee, the rate was 43.7.
City health officials have organized a teen pregnancy task force and are hoping both teens and parents will join it to cut down on the number of teen pregnancies. Katy Liptak, chairman of the Board of Health asked that people interested in participating in the task force call 522-5510.
According to www.stayteen.org, three out of every 10 girls in the country become pregnant at least once before the age of 20 and one in seven teens have sex before the age of 15. Eight out of 10 teen men have reported there is too much pressure on them from their peers, society and girls to have sex.
Patricia Alford, a nurse practitioner and the school nurse leader in Holyoke public schools, said part of the city's response to the problem has been the purchase and approval of a science-based curriculum for the city's schools. The School Committee recently approved the addition of the curriculum and Alford said it would be implemented next year.
Members of the Adolescent Advisory Board and Girls Inc. also spoke at the event, "Teens don't know about the education they need," Natasha Wilson said.
"There is a quote I read: 'Make a life for yourself, before you make another,'" Analiz Garcia added.
The quiz is online at www.stayteen.org.
|
Comments From Our Readers:
|
|
|
|
