12th National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, May 1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 30, 2013

LAS VEGAS – May 1 marks the 12th National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, an annual observance to educate teens about the importance of postponing pregnancies and parenthood. This year’s theme is “Sex has consequences.” An interactive quiz will be available on www.StayTeen.org that challenges teens to consider how they would handle real life situations in a series of interactive scenarios. Parents are encouraged to take the quiz with their teens. In 2012, more than 700,000 teens participated in the quiz throughout the month of May. The health district offers free sexual health education classes for parents and teens. For information, visit www.SNHD.info or call (702) 759-0894.

Although teen pregnancy rates have declined, nearly one in 10 girls becomes pregnant by the age of 20 and many have second births while still in their teens. Nevada ranks number four in the nation for teenage pregnancies and 13th for teenage births. Between 1991 and 2008, there were approximately 66,069 teen births in Nevada costing taxpayers a total of $1.3 billion during that time period.

To address the issue of teen pregnancy, the Southern Nevada Health District Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program offers, a free, three-day class for teens called Be Proud! Be Responsible! which helps teens make responsible and safer sexual decisions to prevent STDs and pregnancies. The teen classes are offered at the health district’s East Las Vegas Public Health Center, 570 N. Nellis Blvd., Ste. D-1. Classes are scheduled in May, June, July and August. The Southern Nevada Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition offers workshops in English and Spanish for parents and guardians to help them discuss sexuality, birth control, abstinence and STDs with their teens. The 2 ½ hour workshops are designed to provide parents and guardians with tools to be ‘askable’ parents.

As part of last year’s National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, the Southern Nevada District Board of Health supported a resolution that encouraged access to health services and appropriate information for teens, referrals and information for parents and guardians as well as teachers and case workers, and the development of community partnerships to address the issue of teen pregnancy prevention.

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.