Planned Parenthood Advocate

Planned Parenthood Celebrates 20 Years of Parent-Child Retreats

In 2010, teens across the country, ages 12 – 19, were asked: When it comes to your decisions about sex, who is most influential?  The most common response?  Parents.

Research proves the protective significance of Parent-Child Connectedness (also known as PCC) for growing children.  PCC, a strong emotional bond between parent and child, is known in the public health world as a “super protector,” buffering adolescents from the many challenges and risks they face. Strong PCC protects against 33 negative adolescent outcomes such as unintended pregnancy; HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs); violence; depression; eating disorders; alcohol, tobacco and drug use; and poor academic achievement. 

Today Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota celebrates 20 years of steadfast commitment to fostering PCC in local communities.  Since 1992, Planned Parenthood has offered more than 100 Parent-Child retreats (totaling over 1,000 participants) across the state of Minnesota.  At these one-day retreats, parents and mentors discuss emerging sexuality with their children in a comfortable, supportive environment.  Tonight at Planned Parenthood’s flagship headquarters in St. Paul, past and present program participants, volunteers, staff and supporters will join to recognize this incredible achievement.

Planned Parenthood is dedicated to providing accurate, age-appropriate, culturally relevant information to children and teens, and offers a broad range of education programs across Minnesota.  To learn more about the importance of supporting Parent-Child Connectedness in our communities, check out Planned Parenthood’s complete report, or download Planned Parenthood’s Let’s Talk tablemat! 

	All-day retreats for daughters, ages 10-12, and their mothers or female mentors.  Participants learn and play together while exploring puberty, healthy sexuality, and family communication and connection.  Offered in English, Spanish and Hmong.
	All-day retreats for sons, ages 10-12, and their mothers or female mentors.  Activities are designed to support positive communications about puberty and sexuality and to emphasize the value of building healthy relationships.

STIs on the Rise in South Dakota

Alanna McFall

A disturbing trend has recently come to light concerning the spread of sexually transmitted infections in South Dakota.

The South Dakota Department of Health has released the July 2012 Health and Disease Summary, a monthly report that records the numbers of reportable diseases in South Dakota from the beginning of the year through July, and compares the numbers to the average recordings found in the last five years.

 2124 cases of Chlamydia were recorded between January 1^st and July 31^st, a 24% rise from the five-year median. Numbers of HIV/AIDS have risen by 33%, and rates of gonorrhea came in 58% over the previous average.

Perhaps the most startling rise, however, comes in the recorded cases of syphilis. Nine cases of syphilis have been reported in South Dakota in 2012. However, as the disease has been so rare in the area, this is a rise of 350% from the five year median ("July 2012 Health and Disease summary").

These numbers, and the ages behind them, highlight the importance of sexual education for people of all ages, and especially among teenagers and young adults. The new cases of gonorrhea and Chlamydia are largely focused in the 15-24 year old demographic, with 185 gonorrhea cases and 1530 Chlamydia cases. The nine syphilis cases, however, are all comprised of older adults, with six cases reported in people between ages 40 and 64.

The lack of awareness and education abut safer sex is reflected in these troubling numbers. In an interview with The Daily Republic, a South Dakota publication, state epidemiologist Dr. Lon Kightlinger said “People aren’t having safe sex…[State reporting] can go a long ways to helping stop these diseases from spreading, but it is still alarming to see how this disease can start with one person and spread like a web” (Huber).

Hopefully, unfortunate numbers like this can bring about the push for greater openness and education about the spread and risks of sexually transmitted infections. Schools need to be able to give their students thorough, factual and practical information about the sexual choices they are making, and parents need to be willing to have the conversation with their children as well. Only then can the spread of these serious diseases be stemmed.

Planned Parenthood Mobilizes Youth on World AIDS Day

In recognition of World AIDS Day, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota (PPMNS) is coordinating events in cities throughout Minnesota aimed at helping young Minnesotans protect themselves from HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).  From Minneapolis to Rochester, from Bemidji to Duluth – young people throughout the state will organize and educate their peers about HIV/AIDS.

Wisconsin moves to eliminate portions of Sex Ed law

Amidst the defeat of the notorious Mississippi personhood amendment, other states closer to home are pushing an ultra-conservative agenda that could severely limit women’s (and men’s, and teen’s) access to sex education.

Wisconsin’s Scott Walker piled another (purely social) bill onto his so-called ‘jobs’ agenda, which would repeal pieces of state law requiring public schools to provide comprehensive, scientifically accurate, and age-appropriate sex ed.

Young Men, Teen Dads and Sex Education

When the subject of teen pregnancy comes up, the focus usually falls on the young women who have the children.  Unfortunately, often the young men don’t stick around. But sometimes they do and they try to do their best to be fathers to their children, even if they are unprepared for the task.

MTV, in its special focusing on teen moms recently turned the spotlight on the teen dads. What these young men thought about pregnancy and their choices is alarming.