Planned Parenthood Advocate

New Study Shows Teen Pregnancy on the Rise

Minneapolis — On the heels of a new study showing a rise in teenage pregnancy rates, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota is urging policymakers to make comprehensive, age-appropriate sex education a priority in local communities, and parents to demand it. The Guttmacher Institute study shows that teen pregnancy rates rose three percent in 2006 — the first rise in more than a decade.

“This new study makes crystal clear what Planned Parenthood has known for years — abstinence-only sex education for teenagers does not work,” said Sarah Stoesz, President and CEO.  “Now more than ever, we must ensure that our teenagers receive medically accurate, age-appropriate sex education that gives them the tools to make responsible decisions about their health.”
Planned Parenthood provides reproductive health education programming with a focus on reducing unplanned pregnancies STIs and HIV.  Planned Parenthood’s sex education programs empower communities to make healthy, responsible decisions about their reproductive health.

Unfortunately, after a decade of progress in reducing the rate of teenage pregnancy, we are witnessing a substantial increase in the number of teens who are getting pregnant.  In addition, we are facing a crisis in the alarming rate of sexually transmitted infections among our young people.  It is unacceptable that one out of every two sexually active young people has a sexually transmitted infection by the age of 25.

Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota applauds President Obama and members of Congress who have recognized that abstinence-only programs do not work, and who are investing in medically accurate, age-appropriate sex education for our teenagers.  We urge Minnesota lawmakers to do the same. An investment in comprehensive sex education is an investment in reducing unintended and teen pregnancies. 

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Contact Kathi Di Nicola, PPMNS Media Relations Director: 651.755.9557

Latest Figures on HIV Rates in Minnesota Require Public Health Call to Action

Today, the Minnesota Department of Health released figures showing an alarming increase in HIV infections among young Minnesotans. The number of new HIV cases in the state increased by 13 percent in 2009, marking a 17-year high. This news comes on the heels of annual increases in the rates of sexually transmitted infections (STI) over the past several years. In fact, last April's 2008 STI report showed the highest level of infections ever, with over 17,000 cases reported.

PPMNS's President and CEO, Sarah Stoesz, expressed deep concern over today's announcement from the Minnesota Department of Health.

"This increase in HIV infection is a serious public health issue and it's critical that Minnesota's public health community is supported in its effort to tackle these rising rates of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Today's news demonstrates the need for a coordinated, comprehensive, statewide plan and education campaign", said Stoesz.

"These alarming HIV statistics highlight the acute need for the Minnesota Department of Health to lead the state in developing a comprehensive plan for significantly reducing Minnesota's STI and HIV rates in the next five years. This plan must include a community education initiative that engages the public in learning about the prevalence and health consequences of untreated STIs, including the risk of HIV transmission," continued Stoesz.

Planned Parenthood administers approximately 62,000 STI tests annually, including HIV, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and HPV. Untreated STIs significantly increase the risk of acquiring HIV. Planned Parenthood provides reproductive health education programming with a focus on reducing STIs and HIV and unplanned pregnancies. Planned Parenthood's sex education programs empower communities to make healthy, responsible decisions about their reproductive health.

"This news underscores what many parents and members of the public health community already know. Evidence-based, comprehensive sexuality education in schools and community-settings is critical to providing Minnesota's young men and women the necessary information and means to protect themselves," said Stoesz.

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Contact Kathi Di Nicola, PPMNS Media Relations Director: 651.755.9557

 

Offer a Sex Ed Resolution at your precinct caucus

by Karina

Web Editor
Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund

Precinct caucuses are fast approaching! What’s a precinct caucus?

Via the Minnesota Secretary of State:

A caucus is a meeting organized by Minnesota's political parties where citizens can engage each other in a conversation about which candidates to support in the 2010 election and what public policy positions should be adopted as part of the party's platform.

If you consider yourself a Democratic, Republican, or a Green or Independence Party member, then you’ll be caucusing on February 2nd.  Libertarians don’t have any caucuses this year, and Constitution Party’s caucus date is TBD.

The Planned Parenthood Minnesota Political Action Fund hasn’t made any endorsements for the race for Governor yet, but we are asking our supporters to offer and support a sex ed resolution at their caucus. Resolutions are offered as proposed amendments or additions to a party’s platform. Typically speaking, a party platform dictates the values and stances that party members should agree with in order to be considered a member of that party. So by offering a resolution on sex ed, you are helping to elevate the importance of this particular issue to your party. It’s a very unique opportunity to shape the debate and provide direction to an entire field of candidates and the future of your party.

Offering a resolution isn’t as hard as it sounds. I was able to attend my precinct caucus in ’08 and offered a similar resolution on sex ed.  The process was very simple and actually kind of fun. During the caucus, the precinct leaders asked if anyone would like to offer a resolution, at which point I raised my hand. When it was my turn, I read the resolution aloud to my neighbors and I briefly explained why I supported it. My neighbors then got a chance to share their thoughts on the resolution. After I had shared why I supported this resolution, a man who said he was a physician, echoed my support, and further explained why as a physician he also felt that responsible sex ed is important. After discussion, the sex ed resolution passed overwhelmingly. Ta Da!

After a resolution passes, it gradually works its way through the convention system. If people continue to support it, it will make its way into the party platform!

One thing that can be guaranteed: if people don’t offer the sex ed resolution, then there is no way it will end up in the party platform. So give it a shot!

Download 2010 Sex Ed Resolution

If you’re interested in learning more about the caucus process, the Minnesota Coalition for Responsible Sex Ed and the Minnesota AIDS Project will be holding several trainings throughout Minnesota. Learn more!

Not sure where is your precinct’s caucus going to be held? Just use the Secretary of State’s handy-dandy caucus finder to find out.  

Celebrate the 37th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade with Planned Parenthood and the Choice Coalition!

Please join Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the Minnesota Choice Coalition as we gather to celebrate the 37th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. The event will be a great opportunity to connect with other choice supporters in the community and celebrate the day. We encourage you to join us and raise your voice for choice!

Thursday, January 21, 2010

6-8 p.m.

Azia Restaurant in the Caterpillar Lounge

2550 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis

Click here for directions.

If you’re on facebook, be sure to RSVP.

Light appetizers will be served and cash bar available.

A donation of $5.00 is suggested, but definitely not required.

Free parking is available on the street and in the parking lot directly north of the restaurant on Nicollet Avenue.

Hope to see you there!

Standing up for Reproductive Rights in Developing Countries

By Frederick
Education and Outreach Staff and Web Correspondent
Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota

It has been fifteen years since the International conference on population and development was held in Cairo, Egypt. In 1994, member governments meeting in Cairo under the auspices of the United Nations Population Fund agreed to universal access to education, especially for girls, reductions in infant, child and maternal mortality, and universal access to reproductive health. 

Last week, in commemoration of this landmark conference, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton rededicated the commitment of the Obama administration in promoting the rights of women to access reproductive health care and services, especially in developing countries where this rights are impeded by a host of factors ranging from poverty, civil strife, to lack of political will. 

To hear Secretary Clinton say “Reproductive health care is critical to the health of the woman and that women’s health is essential to the prosperity, opportunity and stability of families and communities, and the sustainability and development of nations” was powerful.

The importance of access to family planning education and services especially in developing countries cannot be overemphasized. Women in particular need to have access to family planning education. It can be difference between life and death especially in countries were girls as young as nine years are forced to marry.

During my years working for the Cameroon Family Planning organization in the 1990s, I saw firsthand how a whole generation of young men and women were being affected by unsafe abortion and the lack of HIV/AIDS education. Condoms were a luxury and even where they were available, they were extremely expensive for an average citizen.

Meeting this goal by 2015 will require more that commemorative activities. There must be a concerted effort to engage governments of developing countries to commit to the protection of the reproductive rights of women.   The ratification by all African countries of the Maputo Plan of Action that calls for the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of all Africans and having these countries commit to implement its recommendation will be a huge step towards achieving equal rights for women.      

Nations can’t make any meaningful progress if women and girls are not given the needed opportunity to have an education. This anniversary should serve as an opportunity to refocus and reallocate necessary resources to achieve this goal and I am glad that the Obama administration is taking the lead.