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New Knoxville-based web site offers information and resources for teens
KNOXVILLE -- Teens spend an average of 1.5 hours a day texting. Now teens can get health information and updates texted directly to their phones simply by texting the word BAware to 99000. That's just one of the resources found at Knox Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Initiative's (KAPPI) new website, www.mybodymyfuture.com. The site also has information for parents, teens of both sexes and teen parents.
Through May 18, visitors to the site can vote for their favorites in the video contest. Five videos created by Knox County teens are competing for prizes. The 30-second videos promote abstinence and warn of the dangers of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
"Teens need to understand about risky behavior before they get infected with a sexually transmitted disease," said Dr. Martha Buchanan, Knox County Health Department director. "Chlamydia is just one example: Every year since 2008, Knox County has had more than 1,000 cases of Chlamydia among 15-24 year olds."
The Knox Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Initiative (KAPPI) is a community coalition of more than 30 community organizations KAPPI's mission is to prevent adolescent pregnancy and other risky behaviors through a comprehensive, community wide collaborative effort that promotes abstinence, self respect, and responsible decision making about sexuality and other health issues. KAPPI is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and donations are tax deductible.
"We must all work together to teach our children that they are each a precious creation worthy of true love," said Judge Steven Sword, KAPPI board of directors chair. "This knowledge will allow them to make wise decisions regarding sexual behavior. Only then will we be able to reduce the number of teen pregnancies and avoid the horrible consequences of broken families, abused children, and lost generations."
Since 1991, KAPPI has encouraged community-wide support for teen pregnancy in partnership with the Knox County Health Department. Coalition activities seek to reach adolescents before they make choices that may negatively affect their health and well-being. KAPPI goals are to 1) promote total community involvement, 2) reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancy in Knox County and 3) improve coordination and services available for pregnant and parenting teens. KAPPI's success is due greatly to the collaborative efforts of schools, parents, and youth-serving agencies that work towards a common goal.
Published May 17, 2012
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