[Archived] Alexandria Residents Encouraged to Help Prevent Teen Pregnancy

For immediate release: March 13, 2019

In recognition of Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month, the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy (ACAP) encourages residents to learn more about ways to continue the reduction of teen pregnancy in the Alexandria community.

Teen pregnancy in Alexandria is at an all-time low since 1979, dropping 21% from 2016 to 2017, reflecting in part ACAP’s unwavering dedication to reduce teen pregnancy through evidence-based approaches and strong alliances between City agencies and community partners including the Health Department's Teen Wellness Center.

ACAP and its partners engage the community with evidence-based prevention education resources, training, support and programs for teens, parents, schools and youth-serving organizations, including:

• Education at school and community sites on reproductive health and pregnancy prevention, puberty, parent-child communication, working with LGBTQ youth and positive youth development
• Youth leadership opportunities through the Keep It 360 Club, an after-school club at TC Williams that facilitates conversations about issues that impact youth and works on youth-led initiatives, and through the Youth Peer Educator Program, in which six high school students have provided 900 hours of service since spring 2018 through workshops, panel discussions, Titan Takeover teen nights at recreation centers and the annual Youth Leadership Conference
• Youth Text Line, where teens can text the word SEX to 30644 to get answers to questions on  health, relationships, pregnancy and more
• Online resources for parents and teens at KeepIt360.org 

Residents and community members can help prevent teen pregnancy and contribute to the well-being of youth through a variety of opportunities, including:

• Joining ACAP or an ACAP subcommittee
• Mentoring a child, youth or pregnant/parenting teen through opportunities listed at alexandriava.gov/mentoring
• Posting or distributing ACAP and Teen Wellness Center materials in community locations
• Hosting a parent discussion led by an ACAP member focusing on reproductive health, risky behaviors and ways to get involved in preventing adolescent pregnancy
• Referring Alexandria teens, including those who are not ACPS students, to the Teen Wellness Center for free and confidential reproductive health appointments
  

Learn about these and other opportunities at Keepit360.org.

ACAP is a community coalition working with individuals and community organizations that are committed to the health and well being of youth with the mission to empower Alexandria’s young people while keeping teen pregnancy rates at their lowest. For more information, visit KeepIt360.org or contact ACAP Coordinator Lisette Torres at Lisette.Torres@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3266.