Parents and Teens Talk Straight About Sex Education
Teen Straight Talk allows parents and teens to discuss topics that have led to a high rate of problems like suicide and drug and alcohol abuse.
Teen Straight Talk, a free program designed to motivate adults and their children to talk about topics such as abstinence, teen pressures, sex education and responsible decision making, will be presented beginning at 12:30 p.m. April 2. The event will take place in the Academic Classroom Building on the Lubbock campus.
Teen Straight Talk is a community-based program supported by more than 60 community organizations, businesses and individuals.
This program is divided into two major parts. The first part of the program is presented by professional counselors, faculty and psychologists from the Lubbock community and surrounding areas of West Texas, and allows for open discussions on topics that have led to the high rate of teen problems such as depression, eating disorders, suicide, drug and alcohol abuse and sometimes teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Open Discussion Topics
- Teen pressures
- Dealing with peer pressures
- Depression
- Bullying
- Body image and self-esteem problems
The second part of the program presents the Big Decision, a comprehensive sex education program provided by faculty in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and residents, TTUHSC medical students, nursing faculty and nursing students. This program helps to open the lines of communication by instructing with pictures, diagrams and dialogue, along with providing resource materials for adults and adolescents on topics including:
Big Decision Topics
- How the body works
- Abstinence, sexual responsibility and consequences
- STDs
- Contraceptives and protection
Numerous community programs will have booths to explain their available resources.
The City of Lubbock will provide free Chlamydia and gonorrhea testing and the Lubbock Regional Mental Health Mental Retardation Center will offer free HIV and STD testing from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free child care for children ages 9 or younger will be available.
For more information, contact Teen Straight Talk Co-Chairs McPherson at (806) 743-2463, ext. 229 or email kathleen.mcpherson@ttuhsc.edu or Linda Brice, Ph.D., R.N., at (806) 241-3652 or linda.brice@ttuhsc.edu.
Related Stories
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Rural Adolescents
Leigh Ann Reel, Au.D., Ph.D., CCC-A, discussed the causes and prevention strategies for noise-induced hearing loss, particularly for adolescents in rural areas.
Willed Body Memorial Service Honors Those Who Donated
On Memorial Day each May, a service is conducted at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Institute of Anatomical Sciences to pay respect to the Willed Body Program donors and their families.
Molecular Pathology Preceptorship: Unmatched Value and Experience
Ericka Hendrix, PhD, MB(ASCP)CM, Program Director and Associate Professor in the Master of Science in Molecular Pathology program in the School of Health Professions spoke about the program’s preceptorship.
Recent Stories
The Future of Health: Musculoskeletal Care for Expectant Mothers
Dr. Deborah Y. Edwards, PT, DPT, ScD, OCS, discusses musculoskeletal care during pregnancy.
Logsdon Receives Grant to Study Vascular Side of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Supported by a three-year, $578,211 grant from the National Institutes of Health-National Institute on Aging, Aric F. Logsdon, Ph.D., will study how brain endothelial cells, or blood vessels within the brain, handle the stressors of neuroinflammation.
Historic collaboration brings shipping container-based health care clinic to Jeff Davis County
Texas A&M Health and TTUHSC joined with the student-led organization, Texas A&M BUILD—along with local leadership and other collaborators—to unveil a new, innovative medical care facility for a Trans-Pecos region rural community: a 40-foot, retro-fitted shipping container.