Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition offers 3rd workshop for parents and guardians

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 14, 2013

LAS VEGAS – The Southern Nevada Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition is hosting its third free workshop for parents and guardians interested in developing skills to effectively talk to their pre-teen and teen children about sexual relationships, preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. For more information, or to sign up for a workshop call (702) 759-0831. Space is limited.

The next workshop is 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 26 at Nevada Partners, 710 W. Lake Mead Blvd., North Las Vegas, 89030. More workshops are planned to serve parents and guardians in communities where teens may be at higher risk for unplanned pregnancy.

Nevada ranks number four in the nation for teenage pregnancies and 13th for teenage births. In order to better address this issue the Southern Nevada Health District Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program staff collaborated with local community organizations to form the Southern Nevada Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition to work together to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Southern Nevada youth through education, training, advocacy and increased access to services.

“According to recent estimates teen childbearing in Nevada cost taxpayers at least $84.3 million. This includes the costs of public health care, child welfare, increased incarceration costs and loss of tax revenue. If we are going to effectively reduce this burden on our community we knew we needed to engage the community and introduce innovative programs and new approaches to address our high rates of teen pregnancy,” said Bonnie Sorenson, director of clinics and nursing for the health district.

The health district received funding from the Office of Adolescent Health to develop a sustainable community coalition to reinforce positive messages about abstinence, safer sex and available sexual health services for Clark County’s diverse teen population. Parent Workshops will be offered in both English and Spanish.

The Southern Nevada Health District serves as the local public health authority for Clark County, Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. The agency safeguards the public health of the community’s residents and visitors through innovative programs, regulations, and initiatives focused on protecting and promoting their health and well-being. More information about the Health District, its programs, services, and the regulatory oversight it provides is available at www.SNHD.info. Follow the Health District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.