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Bricks, Mortar, and Community: The Foundations of Supportive Housing for Pregnant and Parenting Teens

October 7, 2014

The goal of Bricks, Mortar, and Community: The Foundations of Supportive Housing is to identify a set of core components for supportive housing programs serving pregnant and parenting teens and to identify case studies of programs meeting these standards. Articulating core components based on what we know ensures success among pregnant and parenting teens. 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. To achieve this goal, Healthy Teen Network and Child Trends employed strategic approaches, including: 1) working with a national advisory group consisting of partners in the fields of housing, child welfare, transitional living, and pregnant/parenting teen programs to identify a list of core components; 2) utilizing quantitative and qualitative survey methods to assess current supportive housing programs' implementation of the core components; and 3) developing case studies of supportive housing programs demonstrating strong implementation of the core components.

Addressing HIV/AIDS Among Youth

October 1, 2008

The HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to play a significant role in the lives of adolescents and young adults today. In 2000, youth ages 15-24 represented only 25% of the sexually experienced population in the United States, but had 48% of all new STIs that year (Weinstock, 2004). To make a difference in reducing HIV among new generations, youth need accurate, culturally relevant, age-appropriate information about HIV transmission and infection, as well as, how to protect themselves, including abstinence, contraception, safer sex practices and where to get tested. HIV education and services must be also readily available to all youth, regardless of ability to pay and in a variety of settings.

Advocacy Resource Guide: Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs of Young Men

October 1, 2008

Healthy Teen Network recognizes that engaging young men to be active partners in reducing pregnancies and STIs requires innovative thinking and the building of linkages within a variety of communities, programs, and agencies. We cannot wait for young males to seek services and support, but rather must reach out to them in unlikely settings and venues (e.g., employment agencies, social clubs, sports settings, barber shops), and partner with a diverse mix of agencies, groups, and individuals.

Comprehensive Sexuality Education

October 1, 2008

Healthy Teen Network recommends and encourages the teaching of developmentally and age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education, as it holds the greatest hope for reducing the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancy among adolescents.

Emergency Contraception for Adolescents

October 1, 2008

Healthy Teen Network recommends that emergency contraception be treated as any other over-the-counter drug by pharmacies and be available over-the-counter without a prescription to adolescents. We encourage teaching adolescents, their parents, and health care providers about emergency contraception availability, use and effectiveness.

Fast Facts: Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs

October 1, 2008

Despite evidence that it is ineffective, abstinence-only-until-marriage programs have been implemented in schools and funded by the government for the past twenty years. While abstinence is part of an appropriate approach to sexuality education, particularly for younger children, abstinence-only programs deny adolescents the information they need to stay healthy and safe.

Fast Facts: Eating Well During Pregnancy for You and Your Baby

October 1, 2008

Adequate nutrition for teenage mothers is vital. Pregnant teens must provide nutrients for the baby, as well as for their developing bodies.

Fast Facts: Helping Teens Help Themselves - The Role of Supportive Housing

October 1, 2008

Despite laudable progress in reducing pregnancy rates and births to teens, the United States still has the highest teen birth rate among Western industrialized countries. The rates of teen pregnancy within the child welfare system are of particular concern, as young women in foster care are 2.5 times more likely than those not in foster care to have been pregnant by age 19.

Fast Facts: Sexually Transmitted Infections

October 1, 2008

While adolescents represent approximately 25% of the sexually active population, they account for about one-half of all new sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Sexually active adolescents and young adults are more susceptible to STIs for biological, behavioral and cultural reasons.

Fast Facts: Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs of Young Men

October 1, 2008

Historically, the sexual and reproductive health needs of young men have taken a back seat to those of women. Healthy Teen Network believes that both men and women need discreet and age-appropriate sexual and reproductive health education in order to reduce unplanned pregnancies, STIs, and to create stronger families.

Fast Facts: Supporting Young Male Involvement in Pregnancy Prevention & Parenting

October 1, 2008

The latest in Healthy Teen Network's series of Fast Facts, this fact sheet explores the benefits of targeting boys and young men specifically in order to reduce teen pregnancy and early, unintended fatherhood and to promote the development of positive relationships between young fathers and their children.

Fast Facts: The Impact of Early Abuse on Male Sexual and Reproductive Health

October 1, 2008

The relationship between childhood maltreatment, interpersonal, and family violence and increased rates of engaging in risky sexual behaviors later in life are well established, however most research focuses on female survivors while male victimization remains less studied and less understood. Nearly one third of American women report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives. However, in the absence of societal recognition that males are victims of abuse, boys and men who experience abuse often remain silent - a silence which must be broken in order to prevent their development of adverse and health-compromising sexual and reproductive behaviors, as well as end the cycle of interpersonal violence.