Resources
Talking with your children about sex, love, abstinence and relationships is almost always more effective when you have the facts on your side. To help you stay up-to-date on these issues, we’ve included several valuable links to state and national information resources. Communicating the importance of abstinence and the prevention of teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases helps to increase your child’s chances of leading a happier and healthier life.
Disclaimer: Please note providing this information does not constitute endorsement of a particular organization or its publications, nor is the Teen and Young Adult Health Program or the Maine
TOPIC INDEX:
Abstinence and Teen Sexuality
Family/Parenting
Adolescent Health
Statistics/More information
Abstinence & Teen Sexuality Topics
Campaign for our Children http://www.cfoc.org/ParentRes/
Campaign For Our Children, Inc., develops research-based prevention messages and abstinence educational campaigns which encourage healthy, responsible sexual decisions among early-adolescent youth and raise public awareness about adolescent preventive health issues that deal with sexual activity. The on-line parent resource center educates parents and guardians about teen risk-taking behaviors, including sexual activity. It provides sexuality education, recent statistics, tips about communication, resources and links.
National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy www.teenpregnancy.org
Statistics, information for parents on communicating with teens, resources and publications. This organization seeks to improve the well-being of children, youth and families by reducing teen pregnancy.
Not Me Not Now www.notmenotnow.org
Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program designed to give parents advice on how to talk with their kids ages 9-14 about personal issues, including sex. The Not Me, Not Now Program encourages young teens to abstain from sexual activity.
Kaiser Family Foundation http://www.kff.org/youthhivstds/sexeducation.cfm
This site contains the Youth & Sexual Health Knowledge, Attitudes and Experiences report that examines what kinds of pressure young people face to be sexually active and how they handle them, their knowledge of HIV/AIDS, STDs, contraception and protection, and what sources inform and influence their decision-making.
Family Planning Association of Maine www.mainefamilyplanning.org
The Family Planning Association of Maine provides funding, technical support and quality assurance to 30 clinics statewide serving over 30,000 women and teens annually. Their web site also contains tips for parents of children ages 11-14 on the topic of talking with their children about sexuality.
Maine CDC HIV/STD Program http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/boh/ddc/hiv_std_vh.htm
The Maine HIV/STD Program is a statewide program of the Maine Department of Human Services, and is housed within the
Family/Parenting
Maine Parent Campaign of the Maine Office of Substance Abuse (OSA) www.maineparents.net
OSA is the single state administrative authority responsible for the planning, development, implementation, regulation, and evaluation of substance abuse services. Log on to get a free guide for parents with practical tips, useful facts, and valuable statewide resources to help you monitor and prevent alcohol use by your teen.
Talking with Kids about Tough Issues www.talkingwithkids.org
A national initiative by Children Now and the Kaiser Family Foundation to encourage parents to talk with their children earlier and more often about tough issues like sex, HIV/AIDS, violence, alcohol, and drug abuse. Phone: 1-800-CHILD-44
Adolescent Health
The American Academy of Pediatrics www.aap.org
The American Academy of Pediatrics has many resources for parents of adolescents, including, tips on making the most of the most of talking with teenagers, and “Media Matters,” a national public education campaign launched to help pediatricians, parents, and children become more aware of the influence that media (television, movies, computer and video games, Internet, advertising, popular music, etc.) have on child and adolescent health. Phone: (847) 434-4000
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry www.aacap.org
Promotes mentally healthy children, adolescents and families through research, training, advocacy, prevention, comprehensive diagnosis and treatment, peer support and collaboration. Site includes helpful facts for families and other resources. Phone: (202) 966-7300
American Medical Association Adolescent Health Web site
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/1981.html
The American Medical Association (AMA) has developed many resource materials on adolescent health related issues for physicians to use in their practice and professional activities. Some materials are designed specifically for physicians to share with parents of teens.
AMA Hand out for Parents on Communicating with Their Teen
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/39/teencomm.pdf
AMA Parent Resource Pack on Many Teen Issues- including tobacco and alcohol use, depression, violence and injury prevention, nutrition, physical activity, and much more. To download the packet visit: http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/upload/mm/39/parentinfo.pdf
Statistics/More Information
Survey of Maine Parents' Perceptions of Teenage Sexual Behavior (PDF 4.7MB)
In May 2004, the Maine CDC's Teen and Young Adult Health Program asked Strategic Marketing Services of Portland, ME to conduct a state-wide survey of Maine parents1. The purpose of the survey was to determine their attitudes and understanding of teenage sexual behavior. The survey looked at parental attitudes around the issue of teen sex, their awareness of their child's current sexual behavior, and their perceptions of conversations with their teen on topics of sexuality and abstinence. The first of its kind, the Survey of Maine Parents' Perceptions of Teenage Sexual Behavior indicates that parents are having conversations with their child about the consequences of having sex. Parents also recognize that they are a strong influence on their child's decision to have sex or not. However, the study also revealed that as many as 78% of Maine parents may be in the dark when it comes to their child's sexual behavior. This research has been used to develop a statewide, television media campaign designed to improve communication between parents and teens on the topics of sexuality and abstinence.
National Vital Statistics Report: Births to Teenagers in the United States, 1940-2000. NVSS Volume 49, Number 10, September 25,2001 cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr49/nvsr4910.pdf
Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (YRBS)
http://www.maine.gov/education/hiv/yrbs.html
The survey monitors priority health-risk behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death, injury, illness, and social problems among youth and adults in the United States. These behaviors fall into six categories including unintentional and intentional injuries, tobacco use, alcohol and other drug use, sexual behaviors, and dietary behaviors, and physical activity. The survey is conducted every other year, and the most recent survey was completed in 2007 . Data is available at the state level. In 2009, the YRBS will be combined with other state school health surveys, and become part of the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey. Similar information will be available at the state level, and some additional data will be available at the Public Health District, County, and School Unit levels.
Maine Kids Count http://www.mekids.org/
Annual report produced by the Maine Children’s Alliance, a non-profit, non-partisan group advocating for the well being of Maine’s children, youth and families. It covers the status of Maine’s children and youth, and is a comprehensive and reliable collection of data on the health and well-being of Maine children and families. Data is provided at the state and county level and includes teen birth data.
Maine Marks for Children, Families and Communities www.mainemarks.org
Maine Marks is a project of the Children's Cabinet. Governor Angus S. King, Jr. established the Children's Cabinet in 1995 to oversee and coordinate the delivery of services to children in Maine. Maine Marks seeks to measure progress towards the achievement of 12 specific outcomes. Maine Marks is a collection of indicators of the health and well being of children and families in Maine.
1Please note that the specific purpose of this research was to gather information that could be used by Ethos Marketing and Design and the Teen and Young Adult Health Program to develop and implement a statewide Abstinence Education Media campaign.