The Elko Family Resource Center recently received a grant that will allow instructors to travel to Winnemucca to teach abstinence-only education to students ages 9-12 and abstinence/contraception classes to students ages 13-18.
Sarah Bliss, a teen advocate with the center, was at Tuesday's city council meeting to present the "Promoting Health Among Teens!" program to councilmen and community members in order to help spread the word about what it offers.
The grant which makes the program available locally is from the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.
Bliss said the program originated in Carson City, then moved to Elko County. She said the program can essentially go anywhere in Nevada now, because it was determined that the need extended throughout the state.
Groups and organizations in Humboldt County can set up a class with Bliss and she said she will do lessons for anywhere from four students to 20 students. She said she has a very flexible schedule and can make the trip on weekdays or weekends.
According to the Elko Family Resource Center, abstinence is the only 100 percent effective method of birth control and STD, HIV and AIDS prevention. The center provides several reasons why the abstinence education program is needed:
• Research shows that early sexual activity has been linked to a greater number of sexual partners over time and an increased risk of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (Centers for Disease Control).
• In 2011, young people aged 13-24 accounted for about 21 percent of all new HIV diagnoses in the United States (Centers for Disease Control).
• Unintended pregnancy rates for sexually active teens is more than twice that of all females between the ages of 15-44 (Guttmacher Institute).
• Children of teen mothers are likely to have lower birth weight, with an increased chance the infant will become deaf, blind or develop mental retardation, chronic respiratory problems or mental illness (Centers for Disease Control).
• Babies of teen mothers often suffer disabilities during their developmental phases which can hinder a child's learning ability (Centers from Disease Control).
• Each year the federal government spends $15 billion to help families that began with a teenage birth. These costs are associated primarily associated with welfare, health care, foster care and criminal justice (Centers for Disease Control).
The program, which is completely free for participants, is available in many community settings including schools, churches and youth-serving agencies. Program options include 12 one-hour sessions, six two-hour sessions or four three-hour sessions. Upon successful completion of the program, students receive rewards like free movie tickets, gift cards and backpacks stocked with school supplies.
Any group interesting in arranging dates for the program can contact Bliss at the Elko Family Resource Center at (775) 753-7352 or at elkofrc2@frontier.com.
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