ORLANDO- The Orange County Health Department (OCHD) recognizes May as Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month, a time to increase public awareness of the need to address the effects of unintended teen pregnancy and continue working to help reduce the rate of teen pregnancy in Orange County.

The OCHD’s Office of Community Health is sponsoring a Youth Leadership Summit and a Teen Pregnancy Prevention Awareness Poster contest for students in grades 6-12. First place winner will receive $50 in gift cards and second place winner will receive a $25 gift card. The winning entry will be used to promote teen pregnancy prevention awareness to students throughout Orange County.

The youth summit will take place Saturday, May 22, 2010 from 9:30am-2:00pm at the Northwest Community Center located at 3955 WD Judge Drive, Orlando, FL. This free summit includes: guest speakers, a job and education fair, community resources, youth and parenting sessions and a teen panel. To register for the Youth Leadership Summit or for additional information please call 407-858-1400 extension 1220. Please register by May 19, 2010.

“We are committed to helping teens make informed decisions. The health department provides abstinence and family planning education and services to help improve the future of Florida’s youth”, said Dr. Kevin M. Sherin, Director of the Orange County Health Department.

During 2007, Orange County had 574 resident births from girls ages 15-17 years. The good news is that teen pregnancy is 100 percent preventable. There are many things parents and adults can do to reduce the risk of youth becoming pregnant when they are young, such as:

• Develop a strong, close relationship with your children
• Talk to your children early and often about sex, and be specific
• Supervise and monitor your children’s activities
• Know your children’s friends and their families
• Discourage early, frequent, and steady dating
• Help your teenagers to have options for the future
• Let your kids know that you value education highly
• Let your teen know you value them
• Know what your kids are watching, reading, and listening to

For more information on teen pregnancy prevention and learning communication techniques for talking with your teen, visit www.greattowait.com and www.stayteen.org

Teen Leadership Flyer (PDF 822kb)

Poster Contest Rules (PDF 454kb)