ERIC Number: ED240444
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1983-Oct
Pages: 13
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Using a Professional Conference Model to Teach Adolescents about School-Age Parenthood.
Schilmoeller, Gary L.; And Others
Although information regarding the consequences of adolescent pregnancy and childbirth is disseminated, the recipients of that information are most often adults. To present this information directly to never-pregnant adolescents, an annual conference, outside of the authority structure of the school was developed in Bangor, Maine. The three primary outcome goals of the conference are to identify community resources, identify resources for school-based follow-up programs, and to encourage teens to serve as resources to their peers. The conference is coordinated by four volunteer professionals, with an advisory panel of teens and adults assisting in planning the agenda and in identifying topics, facilitators, teen parents, and community professionals for panel discussions and film presentations. Community agencies and parents are solicited to underwrite costs. A small registration fee helps offset costs without prohibiting attendance. The organizers handle hall rental and advertising. The conference is held during school hours to maximize attendance. Evaluations of the conferences have shown that attendance increased from 180 the first year to 600 in subsequent years. Information about contraception, learning to say "no" to sexual involvement, and communicating with parents is consistently cited as most useful. Both films and teen panel discussions are rated highly. The focus of the conference has expanded from teenage pregnancy and sexuality to general adolescent development. (BL)
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Maine
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A