2011 Teen Pregnancy Institute Workshops

Workshop Session A — 9:15 am - 10:45 pm

1. A1. Assessing the youth friendliness of your clinic

   Leena Singh, MPH, Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy

   This interactive workshop will give clinicians, front line staff, and other clinic professionals the knowledge and skills to be able to assess the youth friendliness of their clinic sites. Participants will become familiar with the concept of youth friendliness and evidence-based youth-friendly clinical practices and policies, receive tools and examples of how to conduct an assessment of youth friendliness and learn strategies to enhance the quality of sexual and reproductive health services for their adolescent patients. All clinic-based staff who work with youth are encouraged to attend.

   Track: Adolescent Sexual Health Education and Services

2. A2. Empowering youth through engagement in evaluation

   Nazmin Bhulya, Institute for Community Health

   Through this workshop, we will provide an introduction to participatory evaluation and we will work to develop strategies to engage young people in program evaluation. We will discuss the benefits of engaging young people in the evaluation process, approaches to engaging young people as well as highlight various roles young people can play. The workshop will be interactive and will provide participants with a variety of tools which they can use in their practice.

   Track: Program Planning and Administration

3. A3. The tipping point: What really opened the policy window for evidence-based comprehensive sex education in Springfield and Holyoke

   Amy Cronin-DiCaprio, Doctoral Candidate in Community Health Education, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

   This workshop will provide an overview of the factors that led to the implementation of comprehensive sex education in the Springfield and Holyoke public schools. Drawing on concepts from Malcolm Gladwell’s groundbreaking book, The Tipping Point, we will examine the social and political dynamics that ultimately created a “perfect storm” for diverse stakeholders across the two communities to work together to bring comprehensive sex education into the classroom.

   Track: Advocacy and Policy

4. A4. Youth Development 101: An approach, not a program

   Laurie Jo Wallace, Health Resources in Action

   Youth Development is an approach to working with young people based on their assets, capacities and strengths, and their formative needs. It is not the name of a program or a six step model or a curriculum for programming. In this workshop participants will examine principles of youth development and review strategies for consistently implementing a youth development approach within their existing programs.

   Track: Program Planning and Administration

5. A5. Delivering sexuality education with confidence

   Patricia Santin, Health Imperatives

   In this workshop we will explore fun, engaging and innovative strategies to help build the skills and confidence of staff who are devliering sexuality education to youth.

   Track: Adolescent Sexual Health Education and Services

6. A6. Rowing for health

   Aline Gubrium, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

   This workshop will present the work Professor Gubrium has been doing with a rowing-based program, based at schools for pregnant and parenting young women as it affects participants’ physical and mental health. She will review the project and discuss its potential with workshop participants.

   Track: Supporting Expectant and Parenting Teens

7. A7. Speak Up!: Delivering effective advocacy messages and training teens to tell their stories for community wide change

   Elizabeth Peck, Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy

   This workshop will teach participants how to engage youth in public policy advocacy and create effective advocacy campaigns. Activities from the Alliances advocacy training are used to model different techniques for teaching youth what advocacy is and empower them to take action. The workshop also presents the critical elements of an effecitve public policy campaign including how to craft and effective advocacy message and mobilize a network.

   Track: Advocacy and Policy

8. A8. Sexuality in the City: Beyond the birds and the bees

   Mindy Craver, Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts

   This interactive and informational workshop will explore the many facets of comprehensive sexuality education in today’s world. Participants will learn skills for effective communication around sensitive subjects related to sexuality. Geared to both educators and parents this thought provoking workshop increases comfort levels in a safe engaging environment.

   Track: Adolescent Sexual Health Education and Services

9. A9. A strength-based approach: Working with teen parents experiencing homelessness

   Stacy Dimino, Horizons for Homeless Children

   This workshop will examine specific challenges affecting teen parents experiencing homelessness, the parallel process of parent and child development impacted by the homeless experience and orient participants to a new approach in teaching social emotional competency through the Center for Social Emotional Foundations of Early Learning Model. This model is a conceptual model of evidence-based practices for promoting young children’s social emotional competency while preventing and addressing challenging behavior.

   Track: Supporting Expectant and Parenting Teens

10. A10. Finding a way to offer something more: Reframing teen pregnancy prevention

    Gretchen Sisson, PhD, Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy

    Why do we prevent teen pregnancy? Frequently much work around prevention focuses on the how, rather than the why. We presume that young parenthood precedes many adverse outcomes for both young parent and child, but little of the academic literature supports this premise. If young parents do not have life trajectories significantly different from the ones they would have had had they not become parents, why should we prevent teen pregnancy? New models for prevention, including the development of a social justice framework, will be discussed.

    Track: Advocacy and Policy

11. A11. Turn off my cellphone? R U 4 real?: Understanding teen connection to technology as an ally in healthy decision making

    Jane Detwiler, Independent Sexuality Education Trainer and Consultant

    Many adults express concern and frustration about how youth use technology. Educators, parents and other adults are often quick to criticize teens for their use of cellphones and other digital technology. They may be less aware of how their own use of technology impacts others, including teens. In this workshop participants will take a sharp but lighthearted look at the recent evolution of digital technology use among teens and adults. Participants will explore the current landscape of technology use identifying areas of concern as well as identifying opportunities for using technology as an ally in teen pregnancy prevention and promoting healthy relationships. several fun and interactive activities that can be used with teens will be shared and practiced.

    Track: Adolescent Sexual Health Education and Services

Workshop Session B — 11:00 am - 12:30 pm

1. B1. Child Support 101: A practitioner's guide for working with families

   Richard Claytor, Massachusetts Fatherhood Initiative

   This workshop will explore the child support system, welfare reform and its societal impact on young, low income parents. We will discuss the complexity of the system and what can be done initially to ensure that both parents understand the importance of financial and emotion support for their children. Many young fathers and the mothers of their children, view paternity establishment and child support enforcement activities with distrust, seeing them as punitive rather than supportive of families. Learn how programs can help families prevent, mitigate and resolve child support issues before the financial obligation is overwhelming.

   Track: Supporting Expectant and Parenting Teens

2. B2. Teens and medical care: Confidentiality, privacy and consent

   Jamie Ann Sabino, Judicial Consent for Minors Lawyer Referral Panel

   This workshop will explore issues around the provision to teenagers of medical care in general and sexual health care in particular. Questions of when teens can self-consent to care for themselves and for their children and what rights they have to confidentiality and privacy will be discussed. Specifically addressed will be provision of contraceptives, parental consent/judicial bypass for abortion and questions regarding mandated reporting of underage sexual activity.

   Track: Advocacy and Policy

3. B3. Successful maternity leaves from school for pregnant and parenting high school girls

   Emily Ostrow, Phoenix Charter Academy

   This workshop focuses on providing school-based support to pregnant and parenting teens through maternity leaves. Anyone advocating for the educational rights of teens will benefit from joining in this workshop.

   Track: Supporting Expectant and Parenting Teens

4. B4. Exposing crisis pregnancy centers in Massachusetts

   Stacy Garnett-Cook, NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts

   This workshop will cover what “Crisis Pregnancy Centers” (CPCs) are, what we know about them in MA, why they are harmful to women and teens, and what participants can do to get the pregnancy-related information and care they deserve. NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts will share its research on CPCs deceptive advertising practices and the misinformation they provide to undermine women’s reproductive choices. Participants will have an opportunity to discuss any knowledge of CPCs in their communities and strategies to ensure that women have accurate information about all of their options.

   Track: Advocacy and Policy

5. B5. The Snooki Effect: Using MTV's hit reality show, The Jersey Shore, to reach and teach youth and adults

   Kim Comatas, Partners in Sex Education

   Using quotes and “situations” from MTV’s hit reality show, The Jersey Shore, participants will learn how to guide youth and educate adults by prompting reactions and responses to examples given.

   Track: Adolescent Sexual Health Education and Services

6. B6. Young mothers: Perceptions, exceptions and definitions of success

   Young Parent Policy Fellows, Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy

   In this workshop we will explore perceptions, notions of exceptions and success regarding young parenting. We will discuss various prejudices young parents face as well as potentially divise draws to prove, as a teen parent, that you aren’t like the ‘others’. Highlighting the need for uniting as well as a sense of self, this workshop will provide a unique look into the lives of young mothers.

   Track: Supporting Expectant and Parenting Teens

7. B7. Teaching about consent

   Megara Bell, Partners in Sex Education

   Consent is the critical, but often misunderstood, element of communication in relationships. Helping youth understand consent is critical to increasing communication, reducing sexual abuse and manipulation and increasing efficacy. Age of consent, drugs and alcohol, dating violence, and the legal and ethical effects on consent will be addressed in classroom activities and discussions involving sexual and non-sexual scenarios, suitable for 6th to 12th grade. This workshop explores consent in both legal and ethical contexts, including discussions and activities on age of consent, revoking consent, and barriers to “informed” consent.

   Track: Adolescent Sexual Health Education and Services

8. B8. Confronting barriers to adolescent reproductive healthcare: Communicating with teen clients in the exam room

   Joanna Gattuso, Malden High School

   Malden High School’s Teen Health Advisory is a student club that aims to address adolescnet health topics through school-wide campaigns, community service and peer research. This past school year, THA members polled other students about their experience at the doctor’s office. They also spoke with providers about their experiences serving adolescents. With this research, the students presented to physicians in Malden their expert tips for communicating with teen patients and addressing their unique needs.

   Track: Adolescent Sexual Health Education and Services

9. B9. Teens teachin'

   Katie Duffy, Cambridge Health Alliance

   In this workshop we will present an overview of what peer education entails as well as a description of peer education we have been involved in and/or led. We will discuss what makes peer education programs successful and how to overcome potential barriers.

   Track: Adolescent Sexual Health Education and Services

10. B10. Achieving adolescent reproductive health equity: From root causes of teen pregnancy to fair outcomes

    Myriam Jennings, JSI

    Evidence of growing inequalities in access to health care and disparities in health outcomes point to an immediate need for solutions that address the social, economic, environmental and cultural determinants of health. This session will help participants have a greater understanding of why addressing social determinants of health is a necessary approach to reduce inequalities in teen pregnancy.

    Track: Program Planning and Administration

11. B11. Beyond the pink and blue: Transgender Issues 101

    Michelle Scarpulla, Answer

    This workshop will provide participants with a general understanding of what it means to be transgender, and explain how gender identity is both unique from and related to sexual orientation. Definitions, activities and open discussion will arm participants with basic information that will enable them to both answer questions and be sensitive to young people who may identify as transgender.

    Track: Adolescent Sexual Health Education and Services

12. B12. Authentic youth engagement in planning: What does it really take?

    Consuela Greene and Stephanie Campbell, Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy

    Q: Who knows best what young people need and want from youth programming? A. Other young people! Youth can be an integral partner and a driving voice in planning youth interventions. This workshop will include a discussion on ‘authentic’ youth engagement, an introduction to models and strategies for engaging youth (and overcoming barriers), and action steps to improve youth collaboration in planning.

    Track: Program Planning and Administration

Workshop Session C — 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm

1. C1. Creating online communities for young parents

   Tara Pringle Jefferson, TheYoungMommyLife.com

   Natasha Vianna, Alexandra Vanegas, and Gretchen Sisson, ThePushBack.org

   Using the Alliance’s blog ThePushBack.org and TheYoungMommyLife.com, as examples, we’ll look at ways of building online communities that engage and support young parents. We’ll discuss the power of storytelling as an organizing and advocacy tool, and ways of encouraging the participation of all young people. Beyond blogging, we’ll discuss Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, and the best practices for using each to create positive online spaces that include various audiences.

   Track: Program Planning and Administration

2. C2. What a shame! The identification and prevention of sexual stigma in youth

   Aida Manduley and Megan Andellous, The Center for Sexual Pleasure and Health

   In this interactive workshop, participants will discuss sexual stigmas that youth commonly face and identify popular sources they use to access information about their sexual development. After exploring what is provided in those resources, participants will brainstorm the reasons youth gravitate toward them. Finally, through activities that target different learning styles, the audience will gain tools to address adolescent development in shame-reducing ways that promote healthy sexual development.

   Track: Adolescent Sexual Health Education and Services

3. C3. Young adults and reproductive health access after Massachusetts health reform

   Britt Wahlin, Ibis Reproductive Health

   This workshop will present research, resources and lessons learned from the Reproductive Empowerment and Decision Making for Young Adults (REaDY Initiative) which aims to reduce unplanned pregnancy and improve sexual health among young adults aged 18-26 in the wake of Massachusetts health reform. Though young adults have benefitted from and have high opinions of health reform, research from the REaDY Initiative identified new barriers to contraception and reproductive health access under reform, including information barriers and a lack of prescription drug coverage in some young adult-targeted plans. This session will address how providers can use the REaDY research and resources to help young adults connect with insurance plans and reproductive health care that meet their needs.

   Track: Advocacy and Policy

4. C4. Dads are parents, too!

   Richard Claytor, Massachusetts Fatherhood Initiative

   This workshop is designed to assist staff in the planning and coordination of activities that encourage male parental involvement. Program staff who are struggling with providing services to “dads” will be encourage the assess the issues facing the parents in their programs and begin to offer services that are relevant to their needs. There will be examples of inter-agency collaborations and other options for delivering support services for fathers who are in need of jobs, parenting skills and other assistance.

   Track: Supporting Expectant and Parenting Teens

5. C5. Shelter from the storm: Creating a climate of safety for youth at your organization

   Stephanie Trilling, Boston Area Rape Crisis Center

   Given today’s hostile political landscape, it is becoming harder for young people to access accurate health information or caring adults who are willing to have open and honest conversations with them. The BE SAFE approach of training adults to be “askable” and Youth Serving Organizations to be safe spaces for all young people involves a holistic and systemic approach focusing on staff skill-building as well as policy change. This experiential workshop will introduce participants to the BE SAFE model with a focus on building communication skills and strategies for engaging in effective conversations. Through the use of role play based on actual experiences, participants will gain greater insight and skill in their interaction with adolescents. The role plays of situations and conversations will be in the interrelated areas of sexual and mental health, substance use, sexual violence and health relationships and how these issues intersect in the lives of youth.

   Track: Adolescent Sexual Health Education and Services

6. C6. Massachusetts initiatives to increase high school graduation rates

   Jenny Curtin, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

   Join us for the latest information on several Massachusetts state initiatives to increase the number of students successful graduating from high school! The workshop will be aimed at what providers should know to be able to go back to their community and connect to these initiatives, as well as strategies for engaging with public schools.

   Track: Advocacy and Policy

7. C7. Birth art for expecting teens: Calling all non-artists (and artistss, too!) for an experiential workshop

   Kari Whitney, Liscensed Massage Therapist and Childbirth Mentor

   Birth and parenting are rights of passage and should be about the process, not about the outcome. By using birth art, pregnant teens will actively engage in their own learning regarding pregnancy, labor and parenting. Birth art, using pastels and paper, collage and paint, is one form of learning that doesn’t have right or wrong answers; it relies on the participant’s experiences.

   Track: Supporting Expectant and Parenting Teens

8. C8. Tightening the web of support to prevent repeat pregnancies among youth

   Michelle Scarpulla, Answer

   This workshop will explore the complex, yet all too common, issues related to repeat teen pregnancy. Educators and youth-serving professionals often struggle to understand the myriad issues that young parents are dealing with that prevent them from successfully preventing a second or third pregnancy. This dynamic workshop will provide a research update and practical strategies and tips to help delay subsequent pregnancies among teen parents.

   Track: Adolescent Sexual Health Education and Services

9. C9. Where are the gaps? Conducting a needs and resources assessment

   Nazmim Bhuiya, Institute for Community Health

   A needs and resources assessment is a critical step in planning an effective program or strategy. Participants attending this workshop will receive an introduction to needs and resources assessments and will learn about strategies to conducting an assessment. We will discuss the steps involved in conducting needs and resource assessments, highlight the benefits and challenges around conducting assessments, and interpret data to inform program priorities. The workshop will be interactive and will present case studies that will allow participants to apply the information presented during the workshop.

   Track: Program Planning and Administration

10. C10. Teaching pregnancy prevention to at-risk boys

    Megara Bell, Partners in Sex Education

    Pregnancy prevention is often geared to young women, ignoring the learning styles, needs and cultural biases of young men. Using concrete examples, this workshop will bridge the gap between supporting pregnancy prevention and supporting responsible fatherhood in young men. In this workshop, we will discuss some of the cultural and gender-based roadblocks to engaging boys in pregnancy prevention. It will give concrete activities for use when discussing teen pregnancy, family planning, pregnancy prevention, pregnancy options, childbirth and parenting goals with young men. All participants will get a CD containing the activities and handouts.

    Track: Adolescent Sexual Health Education and Services

11. C11. Teen pregnancy and nurse practitioner education: Community learning exchange model

    Gail Gall, NP, ROCA Youth Health Center

    In this workshop we will discuss how to improve young mothers’ self-efficacy to communicate with health care providers, their ability to deliver health information to peers and providers, improve student nurse practitioners’ understanding of the experiences of young Latina mothers as well as improve capacity to communicate and promote safe health practices.

    Track: Supporting Expectant and Parenting Teens