BABY THINK IT OVER® uses Real Care® Baby infant simulators to give youth a taste of the 24/7 demands of teen parenting; an internal computer chip detects and records incidences of neglect and shaking. Although Baby Think It Over is not considered a "Best Practice" intervention when used alone, it has been used successfully in conjunction with other education curricula. Locally, babies are provided to local middle and high schools, churches and to agencies with high risk clients, such as Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) and the county’s Juvenile Arbitration Program and Drug Court . The program is evaluated through ongoing surveys of teachers, students, parents, and other youth-serving organizations. If interested in using the infant simulators, contact Sondra Thomas at (803) 648-8331 or e-mail sthomas@teenpregnancyaiken.org.

PARENT POWER is an initiative designed to equip parents in their role as their child’s primary sex educator. Parent Power classes address the “how to’s” of answering young children’s awkward sexuality questions; enhancing parent-teen relationships; improving parent-teen communication, particularly by developing better listening skills and safeguarding teens once they start dating. Classes also cover basic information on puberty, teen pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Classes are taught at Aiken Regional Medical Centers and at other locations upon request of businesses, churches and youth-serving organizations. Session length can be customized to fit the needs of class participants, and single or multiple sessions can be presented. A Parent Power column, with parenting tips and information on current teen trends, is published in the North Augusta Star. For more information on Parent Power programming , contact Susan Meehan at (803) 441-0016 or e-mail info@teenpregnancyaiken.org.

POSITIVE OUTCOMES-CLINIC targets sexually active teens visiting the Aiken County Health Department for pregnancy and STD testing. Teen reproductive health clients (male and female) are referred to an ATPP staff member who takes advantage of the "teachable moment" by providing educational counseling . The Positive Outcomes-Clinic Coordinator provides basic, accurate information about the risks of teen sexual activity; discusses pregnancy and STD prevention strategies; makes follow-up calls to assess clients’ contraception compliance; and stresses the importance of maintaining preconception health and wellness and getting good prenatal care in order to prevent preterm and low birth weight births. Prior to counseling, teenscomplete a survey that aids the ATPP staff in addressing clients’ individual needs and developing interventions that address the specific needs/beliefs of Aiken County’s high-risk youth more effectively. For more information, contact Jennifer Wilhoit, Positive Outcomes-Clinic Coordinator, at (803) 643-1988 or e-mail wilhoije@dhec.sc.gov.

POSITIVE OUTCOMES-COMMUNITY, partially funded by Medicaid Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (MAPPS), educates “at risk” youth on how to prevent pregnancy and STDs. A trained program coordinator implements best practice curricula designed to encourage abstinence; provide information on how to prevent teen pregnancy and the transmission of STD/HIV; and aid youth in making responsible decisions about sexual activity. Two research-proven HIV/AIDS prevention interventions, “Making Proud Choices” and “Wise Guys” are currently being used, and a Prevention Partnership grant, awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services, will provide funding for implementing the SiHLE (Sistering, Informing, Healing, Living and Empowering ) curriculum with African-American females. Positive Outcomes-Community groups typically have 12-15 youth for the duration of the curricula. For more information, contact Sondra Thomas, Positive Outcomes-Community Coordinator, at (803) 648-8331 or e-mail sthomas@teenpregnancyaiken.org .

SISTERING, INFORMING, HEALING, LIVING AND EMPOWERING (SiHLE) is an HIV/AIDS prevention intervention targeting sexually experienced African American adolescent girls. SiHLE is a small group, skills training intervention developed to reduce risky sexual behavior; prevent sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy; and enhance awareness of HIV risk reduction strategies such as abstinence, consistence condom use, and having fewer sex partners. SiHLE utilizes role play, skills rehearsal, lectures and group discussions to build participants’ confidence in initiating safer-sex conversations, negotiating for safer sex, and refusing unsafe sex encounters. For more details, contact Sondra Thomas at (803) 648-8331 or e-mail sthomas@teenpregnancyaiken.org.

STEWARDS OF CHILDREN is a revolutionary training program, developed by Darkness 2 Light, with the objective of shifting the responsibility for preventing child sexual abuse from children to adults. The comprehensive 3 hourtraining supplements workbook material and group discussions with a video featuring sexual abuse survivors sharing their personal stories of trauma and healing. The training is compelling and motivating and incorporates all the fundamentals youth-serving organizations need to create their own child protection policies and procedures. Currently, the registration fee is being waived for local parents and youth-serving organizations; , and the $10.00 cost of the workbooks is being underwritten by a local business. To schedule a Stewards of Children training, e-mail info@teenpregnancyaiken.org or call (803) 441-0016.