Teen Wellness Task Force History
2005-2006
The Teen Wellness Task Force held
four successful professional educational in-services. Topics and presenters
were: "A ‘Meth’od to this Madness: Methanphetamines,"
by Ms. Carla Dunlap-Spinks of Neighborhood Drug Awareness Corps; "From
Bullying to Battering," by Ms. Chrysia Melnyk of Washington Women's
Shelter, Inc.; "Internet Safety Program," by Ms. Joanna L. Dragan,
MA, of SPHS CARE Center STTARS Program; and "Sexually Transmitted
Infections," by Ms. Denise Kapp of Adagio Health.
A professional conference titled, "Understanding and Supporting LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered) Youth," was held on March 17, 2006, by Ms. Elizabeth Schroeder, EdD (c), MSW.
Four student forum peer educator trainings were held at Avella, Bentworth, Burgettstown, and Charleroi high schools, and these peer educators led the group facilitation during the student forums at their respective schools with the entire 10th grade class.
A county-wide youth conference titled, "Tomorrow's Leaders Today," was held on April 19, 2006, on the campus of Washington & Jefferson College. Ninety-eight students attended from the five school-based student forums. As a result of the youth conference, the students resolved the following action plan:
1. To compile their comments and send them to
administrators.
2. To add a committee to the Teen Outreach
Adolescent Advisory Board called the "Teen Action
Task Force," consisting of teens willing to explore
the issues brought out in the conference with the
focus on finding solutions.
3. To conduct focus groups in area high schools on the
topics focused upon at the conference.
4. To create a Teen Peer Educator Advisory Board for
the “Ask Mary Jo” newspaper column.
5. To provide teen support for the Yellow Ribbon
Campaign that is currently being spearheaded by the
Teen Wellness Task Force.
2004-2005
The Teen Wellness Task Force held four successful professional educational in-services. Topics and presenters were “Bullying” by Dan Gittins and “Real Talk About Sexuality” by Mary Jo Podgurski of The Washington Hospital Teen Outreach; “Teen Dating Violence” by Chrysia Melnyk of Washington Women’s Shelter; and “All the Rave: The Latest on Drugs” by Jaime Henderson of Neighborhood Drug Awareness Corps.
Tom Klaus, MA, spoke to professionals (entitled, “Beer, Babes, Butts and Boys”) and parents (entitled, “Wisdom from the Barnyard”) in October 2004. A school-based teen forum was held at Chartiers-Houston High School with the entire 10th grade class in March 2005. Trained Peer Educators facilitated the forums that were focused on finding teen-based solutions to health issues identified as priorities in the 2003 teen focus groups.
2003-2004
The Teen Wellness Task Force held two successful parent educational conferences entitled, "I Know What Your Kid Did Last Summer," in the fall of 2003 at Ringgold and Burgettstown high schools. Topics included club drugs, date rape, teen sexuality, sexually transmitted infections, and tobacco use.
The task force decided that in order to address the health issues identified as priorities in the teen focus groups, a series of professional, parent, and teen mobilization events need to be held, culminating in a county wide youth summit. The task force applied for and received two grants to implement this two-year plan—$10,000 from the PA DOH and $5,000 from Washington Drug and Alcohol Commission, Inc.
2002-2003
The Teen Wellness Task Force held two successful parent educational conferences
entitled, "Sex, Drugs, and Rock N' Roll--Do you know what your kids
know?" in the fall of 2002, one at California University of Pennsylvania
and the other at Washington & Jefferson College. Topics included club
drugs, date rape, teen sexuality, sexually transmitted infections, and
tobacco use. Based on these successes, the task force held two more parent
educational conferences entitled, "I Know What Your Kid Did Last
Summer," in the fall of 2003.
2002 Community Health Assessment Findings
The task force agreed that education is its primary goal.
The problems mentioned in the focus groups included pregnancy/sexual
activity/sexually transmitted infections; drugs/alcohol/tobacco; stress/depression/eating
disorders; and
hygiene.
The task force discussed some themes that emerged from the focus groups. Teens felt that transportation to services is not available. Teens were not aware of where to get services. Some teens agreed with requiring parental consent before teens can access health services, while other teens did not agree. Teens thought that all their problems were interrelated. Health education needed to start in earlier grades. Parents and teachers needed to be educated. More peer education needed to be added.
2001-2002
The Teen Wellness Task Force's project for the last year has been planning
and hosting two parent educational conferences, entitled "Sex, Drugs,
and Rock N' Roll - Do You Know What Your Kids Know?"