CRATER HEALTH DISTRICT RECOGNIZES TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION MONTH 2015

May 18, 2015

(Petersburg, Va.)-The Crater District Health Departments recognize Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month in May each year. Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month is an opportunity to raise awareness about teen pregnancy and associated racial and ethnic disparities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), African American and Hispanic teens comprised 57% of US teen births in 2012. In Virginia, children of teenage mothers have been found more likely to have higher drop-out rates, poor health outcomes and face unemployment as young adults. Crater celebrates declining teen pregnancy rates in the Cities of Petersburg and Hopewell. In Petersburg, rates decreased from 103.7/1000 in 2009 to 66.7/1000 in 2012, which represents a 36% decline. In Hopewell, rates decreased from 75.5/1000 in 2009 to 52.4/1000 in 2012, which represents a 31% decline. The Crater Health District Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, along with community partners, continues to work to lower teen pregnancy rates.

The Crater Health District Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program provides reproductive health clinical services, as well as educational services. An extension of the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program is the HealthSpace Teen Clinic. The HealthSpace Teen Clinic is recognizing Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month by promoting the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy Quiz. The Quiz is a conversation tool teens can use to discuss sex, love, healthy relationships and teen pregnancy. The quiz can be found online at www.stayteen.org/quiz. Crater Health District Health Educators will visit local schools to raise awareness about teen pregnancy prevention during lunch periods. “If we can help teens practice how to deal with difficult decisions about sex responsibly, before they are faced with them, then they will be more likely to make confident, responsible decisions when the time comes,” shares Daysha Downing, HealthSpace Teen Clinic health educator.

The HealthSpace Teen Clinic is funded by The John Randolph Foundation and The Cameron Foundation. The clinic serves teens in Petersburg and Hopewell. Services provided by HealthSpace Teen Clinic are health education, counseling, clinical services, contraception, pregnancy testing, referrals for pregnancies, STD treatment, and sports physicals. “Teen pregnancy prevention is a priority for the Crater Health District,” emphasizes Crater Health District Director, Alton Hart, Jr., MD, MPH. “We continue to work with our community partners to promote awareness and prevention in Crater communities.” The HealthSpace Teen Clinic hours at the Petersburg Health Department (301 Halifax Street, Petersburg, VA 23803) are from 12:30 pm to 6 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Clinic hours for the Hopewell Health Department (1501 W. City Point Road, Hopewell, VA 23860) are from 3 pm to 6 pm on Wednesdays. Clinic services are by appointment and walk-in.

For more information about Teen Pregnancy Prevention, or the HealthSpace Teen Clinic, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/LHD/crater/ or call 804-863-1652.