Family Planning of Clallam County Adolescent Support Groups

	Adolescent Support Groups
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		The goal of FPCC's Adolescent Support Group Program is to improve the health and social well-being of Clallam County at-risk adolescents by reducing teen pregnancy and risk-taking behaviors. The objectives of the program are to increase youth awareness and use of clinical reproductive health services, improve adolescent's knowledge of unsafe behaviors, thus improving resiliency and decision-making skills, and provide referrals and advocacy to at-risk adolescent participants. FPCC's Adolescent Support Groups are essential for many reasons. For example, teen mothers are more likely to give birth out-of-wedlock, drop out of school, and up to 95% of these young mothers live in poverty. Furthermore, children born to teen mothers are three times more likely to be born premature or underweight, are at a greater risk of abuse and neglect, and frequently perform poorly in school. These children are more likely to be placed in foster care, engage in criminal activity, and ultimately more apt to bear children as teens, thus continuing this devastating cycle. Weekly support group sessions are offered at local schools, youth centers (including homeless youth), and on Native American reservations such as the Makah and Hoh Nations. Support groups are facilitated by trained FPCC female (for girls) and male (for boys) Health Educators and school counselors. Topics discussed in the support groups include, but are not limited to: healthy relationships, drugs and alcohol, sexual abuse, assertiveness, risky behaviors, suicide prevention, peer pressure, communication, positive decision-making skills, consequential thinking, sexuality issues, sexually transmitted diseases, birth control options (high school), and how to access support services. These consistent sessions are a tremendous opportunity for youth to discuss issues important to them with a caring and professional adult. With an average of eight adolescents per group, individualized services and advocacy are readily available. All sessions are strictly confidential and often are the only positive individualized link to an adult many of these youth have. FPCC Health Educators are trained in adolescent development and group facilitation. Their education, specialized training, and skills in designing teen-appropriate activities, as well as their ability to create warm and responsive relationships, allows FPCC staff to impact a teen's knowledge, skills, and behaviors. For information, please contact our offices at (360) 452-2954