Special teen pregnancy prevention summer sessions established for Knoxville boys and girls

This isn't your mama's summer camp.

Knox Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Initiative (KAPPI) and several Boys and Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley locations are offering special summer sessions during the months of May and June aimed at preventing teen pregnancy.

Sessions will be held in May at the Halls/Powell and the Haslam Family Boys and Girls Clubs, and will be co-ed. The June sessions will be for girls only at the Haslam Family location beginning at 10:00 a.m. and the Moses Teen Center will begin at 1:00 p.m. Topics include discussions and demonstrations on healthy relationships, self esteem, the Reality Works baby simulators and the empathy belly, which simulates what it's like to be 8 months pregnant.

"This is a new endeavor for the KAPPI and Boys and Girl Club partnership," said Cynthia Hudson, KAPPI coordinator for Knox County Health Department. "It's a great way to present important information in an engaging and interactive way to the kids. What better time to enrich their lives than during summer vacation?"

Pregnancy Prevention Project Schedule:

May 29 – Reality Works simulators are very realistic "babies" who mimic really babies' behaviors but with a computer chip to record neglect and abuses. Unhealthy baby simulators realistically demonstrate the characteristics and behaviors of a fetal alcohol syndrome baby, a drug addicted newborn and the effects of shaking an infant. The Reality Works simulators are used to teach young people the reality of children having children. Co-ed, Halls/Powell, 1819 Dry Gap Pike.
May 30 — Healthy relationships will be explored and discussed. Haslam Family Club, 407 Caswell Avenue
May 29 — Healthy relationships will be explored and discussed.
May 30 - Reality Works baby simulators, both healthy and unhealthy, will be demonstrated.
May 31 – The topic is Stand Up for Yourself, which explores self esteem and why it's important for making healthy choices in life.
June 1 – The empathy belly will be demonstrated. The 35-pound pregnancy simulator gives the person who wears it a realistic understanding of what it's like to be 8 months pregnant. The belly makes walking difficult and puts pressure points on the bladder and other areas to mimic the discomfort women often experience in their third trimester.

Girls only, Haslam Family Club, 407 Caswell Avenue
June 11 – Information and discussion about puberty.
June 12 – The importance of good nutrition and exercise for the body to mature during the teen years.
June 13 – Female and Male anatomy
June 14 – Healthy relationships and how they impact every aspect of life. At 5:30 that evening, the girls and their mothers or other significant female in their life will attend a Hawaiian themed Petals and Pearls party. The evening will consist of games and other methods to open the door of communications, especially on difficult topics like sexuality. Rev. Latisha Reeves is the featured speaker, with a strong message about her own teenage pregnancy and the importance of communications on the tough topics.
June 15 – Open discussion on the week's topics and the participants will write journals about their experiences. Moses Teen Center, 220 Carrick Street
June 18 – The Reality Works baby simulators
June 19 – The empathy belly pregnancy simulator June 20 – Female and Male anatomy
June 21 – Healthy relationships At 5:30 that evening, another Petals and Pearls event for the girls and their mothers or significant women will have a traditional tea party theme. The purpose is to build communications and Rev. Reeves is again the featured speaker.
June 22 – Open discussion on the week's topics and the participants will write journals about their experiences.

KAPPI's mission is to prevent adolescent pregnancy through a comprehensive, community wide collaborative effort that promotes abstinence, self respect, and responsible decision making about sexuality and other health issues.

The Knox Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Initiative (KAPPI) is a community coalition of more than 30 community organizations committed to preventing teen pregnancy and other risky behaviors. Since 1991, KAPPI has encouraged community-wide support for teen pregnancy prevention under the auspices of the Knox County Health Department. Currently there are more than 60 agencies represented on KAPPI, including Knox County Schools, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, UT Medical Center and Knox County Juvenile Court to name a few.

Published May 27, 2012