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October 2005 Monthly Monitor
Advocates for Youth's Youth of Color Initiative
Feature: parent-child communication
Parents can help in promoting healthy behaviors among young people. Studies show that positive communication between parents and youth regarding sexual and reproductive health issues helps young people to establish individual values and make sexually healthy decisions [1]. Research also suggests that young people who report feeling a lack of parental warmth, love, or caring are also more likely to report emotional distress, lower self-esteem, school problems, drug use, and sexual risk behaviors [2].
Studies conducted among youth in communities of color suggest that young people respond positively to open and honest discussions about sexuality, especially when sex is addressed along with issues of racism and discrimination [3].
Initiating conversations about sexual and reproductive health might be difficult for some parents. Advocates for Youth has compiled the following tips that can help parents open the lines of communication with their children [4].
- First, reassure your teen or child that they can talk to you about anything.
- Take advantage of teachable moments. A friend's pregnancy, a news article, or a TV show can help start a conversation.
- Listen more than you talk. Think about what you're being asked. Confirm with your child that what you heard is in fact what he or she meant to ask.
- Don't jump to conclusions. The fact that a teen asks about sex does not mean he/she is having or thinking about having sex.
- Answer questions simply and directly. Give factual, honest, short, and straightforward answers.
- Respect your teen’s or child's views. Share your thoughts and values and encourage your kids to express their views.
- Reassure young people that they are normal and that their questions and thoughts are normal.
- Teach teens how make healthy decisions about sex—decisions that are right for them. Coach them on how to get out of risky situations.
- Admit when you don't know the answer to a question. Suggest that the two of you find the answer together on the Internet or in the library.
- Acknowledge that, at times, your teen may feel more comfortable talking with someone else. Together, think of other adults whom they can trust and with whom they can talk.
1.Lagina N et al, Parent-Child Communication: Promoting Sexually Healthy Youth, [The Facts] Washington, DC: Advocates for Youth, 2002.
2. Resnick MD et al. Protecting adolescents from harm: findings from the National Longitudinal Study on Adolescent Health. JAMA 1997; 278:823-32
3.Phinney JS, Chavira V. Parental ethic socialization and adolescent coping with problems related to ethnicity. J Research Adolesc 1995; 5:31-53
4. Huberman B et al, Ten Tips for Talking about the Facts of Life, [Parent’s Sex Ed Center] Washington, DC: Advocates for Youth, 2002
Capacity building & professional development
NIDA Health Disparities Conference: Bridging Science & Culture to Improve Drug Abuse Research in Minority Communities. The conference, to be held 10/24/2005 - 10/26/2005 in Atlanta GA, will address a wide-range of issues related to drug use and addiction in racial/ethnic, minority, and other populations affected by health disparities. Conference participants will have the opportunity to attend:
- Morning plenary sessions on genetics research, health disparities, HIV and AIDS, the criminal justice system, and community-based models on drug prevention in racial/ethnic and other minority populations;
- Afternoon sessions on prevention and treatment, research careers, pharmacology, rural communities, HIV and AIDS, criminal justice, and many other topics relevant to addiction in populations affected by health disparities;
- Poster session; and
- Grants Development Workshop.
By the end of the conference, participants will be able to describe recent drug use research findings, including epidemiology, neuroscience, and HIV and AIDS in populations affected by health disparities. Participants also will be able to discuss prevention, treatment, and services programs that show promise in minority and other populations. For additional information or to register, contact J. Richardson by e-mail: jrichardson@encoreinc.com
National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) invites you to attend the 13th Annual Ryan White National Youth Conference on HIV & AIDS (RWNYC) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, February 18-20, 2005. RWNYC offers an unmatched opportunity to learn about effective HIV prevention, treatment, advocacy and support services; to share challenges and successes; and to network with others who seek to end the HIV and AIDS crisis for America's youth. For more information please visit http://www.napwa.org/rwnyc
Funding Opportunities
The Elton John AIDS Foundation funds nonprofit organizations providing 1) direct care for persons with HIV or AIDS or 2) p revention education programs directed towards persons practicing high risk behavior. The Foundation aims to increase funding for projects to prevent HIV infection and to prevent the progression of HIV to AIDS, while continuing support for services for individuals affected by HIV and AIDS. As such, the Foundation has established a relationship with the National AIDS Fund, a partnership of communities dedicated to HIV and AIDS care and prevention. There is no deadline for the grant. Please contact the Program Officer at the National AIDS Fund at 202-408-4848 for more information.
The MAC AIDS Fund encourages charitable, nonprofit organizations to submit applications now for funding in a number of program areas related to HIV and AIDS. Grant categories include:
- Basic Needs Grants (for basic needs, such as food, clothing, housing or shelter (short-term or transitional)
- Education, Prevention and Awareness Grants (for programs that bring HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention issues to public attention)
- Direct Service Grants (for direct services related to health care; social services; transportation for medical visits, outpatient visits and other social services; and health-related recreational activities)
- Event Sponsorship (The Fund will consider event sponsorship requests when the event is designed to raise money that will directly benefit an HIV and AIDS organization and its clients. Proposals need to be received at least three weeks prior to quarterly board meetings, usually held in March, June, September, and December.)
- Special Needs (The Fund will consider requests for special needs on a case-by-case basis throughout the year. These requests should be submitted in a letter to the Fund and are not part of the quarterly grant giving process.)
For more information, please contact Lilia Leyva at macaidsfund@maccosmetics.com or at 866.244.2356.
Announcements
Let's Talk Month Planning Guidebook
Advocates for Youth sponsors Let's Talk Month. Observed each October by states and communities throughout the country, Let's Talk Month emphasizes the importance of young people and the adults they trust talking about sex. Advocates for Youth recently updated its Let's Talk Month Planning Guidebook. The guidebook provides strategic tips and examples to help local communities plan and implement activities for Let's Talk Month. It also includes fact sheets, guidance for involving youth and working with the media, and sample forms. For more information, please visit http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/ltm.htm
Resources
For additional resources on parent-child communication, please visit:
Advocates for Youth’s Parent’s Sex Ed Center
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/parents/index.htm
You can help Advocates for Youth with a contribution today. To donate, visit http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/about/donatetoday.htm
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