Latest News Winter News 2008
National AIDS Fund REACHES Out to Aiken County
The National AIDS Fund (NAF) recently notified ATPP it was selected as a recipient of a Southern REACH (Regional Expansion of Access and Capacity to Address HIV/AIDS) organizational support grant. The Southern REACH initiative, funded by the Ford Foundation and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, was established to broaden and strengthen community capacity to address HIV/AIDS among at-risk populations in nine southern states. Approximately 170 community-based organizations (CBOs) applied for a Southern REACH grant; ATPP was one of only 30 CBOs awarded funding.
"We're very excited to have been selected as one of the Southern REACH grantees," said Susan Meehan, ATPP Executive Director. "Over the years, our programming has evolved to include sexually transmitted disease and HIV/AIDS prevention, as well as teen pregnancy prevention. Consequently, our current programming exceeds the scope of our mission. We'll be using some of the funding to formally ammend our strategic plan."
Ms. Meehan said ATPP will also use the funding to create a new public awareness campaign (focusing on sexually transmitted disease (STD) and HIV/AIDS prevention, as well as teen pregnancy prevention); to create a teen-friendly environment at the Health Department by purchasing updated curricula, DVD's and youth friendly printed materials; and to build organizational capacity in areas such as professional and organizational development, strategic planning, fundraising, and advocacy and promotion.

Teen Sex Factoid

According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy publication, Parent Power: What Parents Need to Know and Do to Help Prevent Teen Pregnancy,
9 out of 10 teens think it’s important to be given a strong message from society that they should not have sex until they are at least out of high school.

Mother Daughter Luncheon
Mark Your Calendars...
Miss Teen South Carolina, Lauren Elizabeth Lytle, will speak at ATPP's Annual Mother-Daughter Lunch at the Aiken Center for the Arts on Saturday, May 17th from 12:00-2:00pm. The Mother Daughter Lunch, held each spring, has become ATPP's signature event for National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month.
The Mother-Daughter Luncheon celebrates the special relationship between mothers and their middle school aged daughters. Miss Lytle, will encourage mothers to work on strengthening their relationship with their daughters by emphasizing that they can greatly influence the lifestyle choices their daughters will make in their teens and early twenties. She will encourage mothers to be positive role models for their daughters through AIM: Awareness, Interaction, Mentoring.
All girls along with a positive female role-model (grandmother, aunt, mentor etc) from throughout Aiken County are invited to attend the lunch, provided compliments of Aiken Regional Medical Centers. The lunch will be held from 12:00 noon - 2:00pm, and although there is no charge for the lunch, reservations are required and will be accepted effective April 1st .
The Aiken Center for the Arts is located at 122 Laurens Street SW in Downtown Aiken. To make a reservation or get more information, e-mail info@teenpregnancyaiken.org or call (803) 441-0016.

Local Mom Praises Training
The following is an actual letter of appreciation written by a parent who participates (with her teenage son) in one of ATPP's Positive Outcomes-Community programs. The class, led by ATPP's Sondra Thomas, is designed to provide basic reproductive health information and to teach skills that will improve parent-teen communication.

To whom it may concern:
My name is Laura Parker (name changed to protect identity.) My son and I, William (not real name,) attend the Family Counseling Group at the Aiken Center in connection with the Drug Court Program. William and I have really enjoyed attending the program for Sex Education and Family Communication. This is led by Sondra Thomas. I have been very impressed with the program.
It is very difficult for parents and teens to communicate and even more difficult to discuss sex. This program has greatly enhanced the communication skills between William and I. It has also been beneficial to others in the class.
I realize that teens are desperately seeking information about their bodies, feelings, and sexual encounters. They need someone to talk to them in an honest and caring way. It takes a community to educate teens in this world in which we live. Parents should be the first line of defense in arming our children with the proper information to protect them from unwanted disease and pregnancy. Unfortunately, most parents are unable or unwilling to talk to their teen about the information that is needed. This class has helped to open the lines of communication and start families talking about these important issues.
I am very impressed with Sondra and her candidness and the rapport that she has with both parents an teens. She makes all involved feel at ease talking about a subject that to most is taboo. I only wish that every student in the Aiken County school system had the opportunity to be in this group. Parents and students need this information to make critical life choices. I hope that in the future this program could be implemented in the schools.
William and I have been very fortunate to be a part of this program. Thank you for this great class and its wonderful instructor. Please feel free to contact me if you need further information.

Sincerely,
Laura Parker