Involving the Faith Community in Teen Pregnancy Prevention

7CHAPTERInvolving the Faith Communityin Teen Pregnancy PreventionWhy involve the faith community?Programs to reduce teen pregnancyand faith communities arenatural partners. A shared interestin strong families and the healthydevelopment of young peopleprovides an excellent foundationfor mutually beneficial activities.This chapter describes a variety ofways that religious communitiesand programs to prevent teenpregnancy can work togetherproductively.There are at least five reasonsto involve faith communities inpreventing teen pregnancy.Faith communities:• focus on values;• have community credibility;• have access to young people,parents, and potentialvolunteers;• have skills in reducingconflict; and• are willing to provide in-kindcontributions.Focus on valuesPreventing teen pregnancyinvolves more than just biology.In fact, it touches complexissues of values, personal standardsof behavior, power, parentchildrelationships, feelings, andbeliefs. These issues are at thecore of religious communities—what they teach about, prayover, and communicate. Assuch, they are natural allies forany program seeking to changethe high-risk behavior of teens.Interestingly, research is beginningto show what many havelong known from working withteens—that religious faith and astrong moral sense play vitalroles in protecting teenage boysand girls from too-early sexualactivity and teen pregnancy. Byteaching and preaching religiousvalues, faith communities helpshape the character of our childrenand give them answers totheir most heartfelt questions.• According to the 1995National Survey of FamilyGrowth, 48 percent of 15- to19-year-old girls said thatthey were virgins, and nearlyone-half of these youngWHAT DOES “FAITHCOMMUNITY” MEAN?In this chapter, the phrase isused in the most inclusiveway to refer to churches,synagogues, mosques, meetinghouses, and templeswithin a neighborhood, city,county, or state.31THE FAITH COMMUNITY

Their leadership can help teenpregnancy programs strengthentheir presence in the areas theyalready serve. Even more, faithcommunities can open doors tonew groups. A recent study fundedby the American Associationof Retired Persons found thateach American belongs, onaverage, to four communitygroups. The most commonlycited is a religious organization(Love, 1997). The networkingpotential is substantial.Moreover, in some communities,religious organizations are someof the only institutions that stillfunction well, have credibility,and can reach out to familieswith a values-based message.This community credibility thatfaith communities bring to a partnershipis crucial because it canbroaden the perception of a pregnancyprevention effort from alimited, “special interest” projectto one that is seen as more closelytied to the larger community.IT TAKES TWOThe IT TAKES TWO pregnancyprevention program, whichinvolves professional male andfemale presentation teamsdelivering lively, motivationalpresentations in local schools,began in Des Moines, Iowa, overten years ago. As it expandedto communities across the stateand country, many programsAccess to young people,parents, and potentialvolunteersFaith communities typically havea variety of special programs foryoung people, both boys andgirls, and for parents—just thegroups that most programs toprevent teen pregnancy target.As such, faith communitiesshould be at the top of anycommunity outreach list.Parents in particular have animportant part to play in preventingadolescent pregnancy,and religious congregations area good place to reach them.Parents who are active in a congregationalso tend to be activein the lives of their children, andfaith communities typically supportparents who are concernedfor and want to be involved withthe lives of their teens.Faith communities also can be asource of the volunteer help andexpertise that many programsneed. For example, manychurches and other religiousorganizations have strong traditionsof community servicelooked to volunteers from thecommunity. Several turned tothe faith community for help.Numerous clergy, representing avariety of traditions and denominations,have been trained asprogram presenters. These clergyhave taken the program to thecommunity and to their owncongregations.33THE FAITH COMMUNITY

FOR MORE ONHANDLING CONFLICTSee Chapter 17 (Volume 3), “MovingForward in the Face of Conflict.”INVOLVING THE KEY PLAYERS34and volunteering, and can helpprograms find mentors, publicspeakers, and other key players.There are few places a programcould go to get better expertiseor more diverse skills and professionalabilities.Skills in reducing conflictOne of the biggest stumblingblocks to reducing teen pregnancyis the amount of conflictand acrimony that this topic cancause among adults. Accordingly,finding ways to “turn down theheat” is often central to makingany progress, and in this connectionfaith communities maybe helpful.Religious leaders are oftenskilled at finding common groundbetween people with diverseviews and developing values oftolerance for differences. Theystrive to bridge differences andmake personal connections evenin difficult circumstances. Theseare all essential skills in decreasingthe conflict that can surroundcommunity-based programs toprevent teen pregnancy.Willingness to make inkindcontributionsFinally, faith communities canoffer significant in-kind contributions,such as mailing lists, spacein newsletters and newspapers,meeting facilities, child care,office support, help with transportation,and related services.Getting started on a partnershipLocal faith communities generallyare structured around congregations,religious organizations, orTHINKING ABOUTTHE MEANING OFCONGREGATION...A congregation is a place whereparents and their children canbe found at regular weeklyactivities, such as worshiptimes, religious education, familyfellowship, and committeemeetings, as well as at specialfaith-based family events.individuals. In addition, manycommunities have a variety of“interfaith” or ecumenical councilswhere leaders of various faithgroups come together for commonpurposes. Statewide, they may berepresented by denominationaloffices, affiliates of nationalreligious organizations, or publicissue groups with religious affiliations.Some major faiths alsohave national and even internationalorganizations. Programsmay choose to focus on individual

WAYS TO LEARN ABOUT FAITH COMMUNITIES• talk to others in theprogram who may beactive in various faithgroups or know aboutthis general area• talk to community leaders• seek the advice of localfoundations, who typicallyknow their community well• use the library• visit public meetings ofvarious faith communities,including worship services• read their publications(this is a good way tolearn a lot about the membershipand its faith andpractices)INVOLVING THE KEY PLAYERS36Select potential partnersAfter developing a general understandingof the faith communitiesactive in the area, programs willneed to select a few as potentialpartners. The most promisingpossibilities will be those thatalready show signs of beinginterested in the issue of preventingteen pregnancy. Forexample, potential faith communitypartners are probably:• known for their work withteens (for example, theymight have a youth office andstaff member assigned toyouth work, activities andprograms for kids and teens,youth serving in leadershiproles); the more involved aparticular faith communityalready is with youth, themore likely it is to becomeinvolved with a pregnancyprevention project;• involved in community initiativeson other youth socialproblems, like drug andalcohol abuse, tobacco use,violence, poverty, and juvenilecrime; and• already partnering with othernonprofit organizations onissues involving youth.A second, important step, forgottenby many of those seekingto work with the faith community,is to understand the faith contextof that organization andhow it might influence a group’sapproach to teen pregnancy prevention.Each faith communitywill have a different “startingpoint” on teen pregnancy—thatis, its basic ideas and beliefsabout young people, sexuality,and outreach to the community.Programs also should learnabout who makes decisions.Some faith groups are governedlocally, with each individualhouse of worship or faith leaderexercising autonomous decisionmaking.For others, a leadershipgroup (such as a parish councilor board) will be the decisionmakingbody. Some faith communitiesinvolve the wholemembership in decisions. Stillothers are guided by regionaland national leadership groupsthat establish policy and set prioritieswithin a denomination.

Reach out respectfullyand carefullyWith the basic research done,programs can make concreteovertures to specific faith communitiesby:• asking to meet with faithleaders—the best place tostart is usually one-on-onemeetings;• outlining the problem of teenpregnancy;• explaining what the programis already doing; and• raising the issue of the faithcommunity becoming moreinvolved in teen pregnancyprevention.In beginning the process ofestablishing a relationship—andpossibly even a concrete program—withone or more groups,there are two key ideas for programsto keep in mind.If faith communities are to signon as partners in preventingteen pregnancy, they must firstagree that teen pregnancy is aproblem. This may seem likestating the obvious, but it bearsemphasis. Not all groups andindividuals see teen pregnancyas a problem, or perhaps not asa very important one, so it isessential that any real relationshipbegin with some basicinformation and explanation.Points to cover:• Why is teen pregnancy aproblem?• What are its consequences?• How large a problem is it inthe community?• Is it getting worse or gettingbetter?• What is its relevance to thisparticular faith community andwhy should this group care?37THE FAITH COMMUNITYKEYS TO SUCCESS WHEN SELECTINGPOTENTIAL PARTNERSRecognize that faith communities have varied startingpoints on teen pregnancy:• basic ideas and beliefs about young people,sexuality, and community outreach will differ fromcommunity to community.Recognize that faith communities have varied decisionmakingstructures. Decisions can be made by:• individual faith leaders;• leadership groups, such as a parish council;• the entire membership; or• regional or national denomination leaders.

INVOLVING THE KEY PLAYERS38REMEMBER...At any initial meetings, staffshould be prepared to cover thisground. Without a commonunderstanding of the problem, littleenergy for a real partnershipwill develop.To help reduce teen pregnancy,faith communities do not have toimplement sexuality educationprograms or become familyplanning clinics. In particular,they do not have to change theirposition on the value of delayingsex until marriage. This may bethe most important idea of all.Much of what faith communitiesalready do is helping to reduceteen pregnancy, and at no pointshould it be suggested thatunless they begin providing sexeducation or related services,they are not helping to solve theproblem. It may be that a particularfaith community will wantto support contraceptive clinicsor sexuality education, but manywill not, and it is vitally importantthat whatever their takeon sex education, they stillbe among a program’s friendsand colleagues.Research increasingly suggeststhat broad youth developmentprograms—some of the best ofwhich are offered through faithcommunities—can make signiicantdents in teen pregnancy.Faith communities are alreadymaking an enormous contributionthrough their work withyouth generally, their supportof families and marriage, theirefforts to improve parent-childcommunication, their childcare services and after-schoolprograms, their sport and recreationalactivities, and theirdirect engagement with valuesand moral choices. Make itclear that regardless of whatspecific activities are undertaken,programs and faith communitiescan support each other aseach tries to reach the youngpeople within their particularsphere of influence. The mainmessage to faith groups is oneof support and respect.At some point, a program maywant to ask a community to dosomething more explicitly aimedat preventing teen pregnancy,but in making such a pitch, it isessential for programs to honorwhat faith communities arealready doing.One model for faith-based youthdevelopment is UnitingCongregations for YouthDevelopment. This is a multiyearproject designed to equipfaith communities to strengthenthe developmental foundationthat all children and youth needto grow up healthy. The projectoffers the opportunity for youthworkers to participate in interfaithnetworks. They receive

training and resource material.They also develop communitywidestrategies for positiveyouth development.The project is now being pilotedin seven communities throughoutthe country.As shown by the ChurchMentoring Network, mentoringis a strategy that teenpregnancy prevention initiativesand the faith community mayhave in common. Formed in1991, the Network believes thatcongregations are key players inpositive youth development. TheNetwork’s goal is to take a leadershiprole in starting mentoringand tutoring projects in faithcommunities. It also replicatessuccessful mentoring projects inother faith communities. Inaddition, it serves as a resourcecenter for organizations establishingtheir own programs.Volunteers trained by the ChurchMentoring Network learn how tobe mentors and how to trainother mentors in their own faithcommunities.39CASE IN POINTFellowship of FriendsThe Chicago Fellowship ofFriends has a 22-year history ofworking in the Cabrini-GreenHousing Project. For years, thisQuaker congregation has beenproviding after-school programmingfor students in kindergartenthrough grade seven. Parentssign a release to allow somereligious instruction. However,students are also taught basicsocial skills, friendship skills,and nonviolent conflict resolutionskills.The Chicago Fellowship ofFriends originally started as ayouth ministry in the 1970s. Ithas now become a faith communityin its own right for people ofall ages. Young men and womenwho grew up with the ChicagoFellowship of Friends are bringingtheir families back. They alsowant to give back by offering toother youth what they receivedthemselves.The surrounding neighborhoodturned to the Chicago Fellowshipof Friends when violence nearlyclosed down a neighborhoodschool. The Fellowship and thelocal ministerial association createda plan to keep the schoolopen and free of violence. TheSuperintendent of Schools agreedto let them try it. The planincluded parents’ meetings,Saturday activities for students,and escorts to accompany childrento school. The school alsoprovided a room where familiescould receive social services.The project quickly became apilot program that will soon beexpanded to several otherschools in the district.THE FAITH COMMUNITY

INVOLVING THE KEY PLAYERS40Be concreteOnce on firm ground, programscan offer some concrete suggestionsabout what the faith communitymight do to help reduceteen pregnancy and how suchactivities would fit in with otherparts of the program. For example,in Nine Tips to Help FaithLeaders and Their CommunitiesAddress Teen Pregnancy, theNational Campaign to PreventTeen Pregnancy provides suggestionsand resources to faith communities(see Appendix at theend of the chapter). A faith communitywill not join in an activitythat conflicts with its beliefs andvalues, so programs should notrequire the church to supporteverything a prevention programdoes as a condition of partnership.However, a conflict in onearea may still mean that a faithcommunity can participate inother areas.Offering a list of work needed,resources required, and activitiesto be undertaken gives a faithcommunity the opportunity tochoose activities that suit itbest. Examples of tangibleactivities include:• providing worship servicebulletin inserts and flyersthat draw attention to teenpregnancy;• creating teen pregnancyfocusedinterfaith/interdenominationalworshipservices with clergy;• offering to speak to religiouseducation classes;• sponsoring a coffee or brunchfor clergy and other faithcommunity leaders;• visiting ministerial or clergyassociations to raise awarenessof the teen pregnancyproblem;• inviting faith communityleaders to attend professionalconferences, seminars, andtraining sessions;• sponsoring seminars andother learning events justfor the faith community orits leaders;• using direct mail to keep theissue of teen pregnancybefore the faith community;• talking with faith communityleaders to exchange informationabout each other’s work; and• writing, printing, and distributingplacemats or othermaterials that provide factsand information about teenpregnancy for use at fellowshipdinners.An additional way to engagea given faith community is toask for its participation in acommunity-wide coalition focusedon preventing teen pregnancy. Afaith community can activelyparticipate in a coalition by:

• becoming full members;• sending representatives toregular meetings;• acknowledging coalition leadershipat worship servicesand other public meetingsof the congregation;• printing coalition announcementsin publications;• bringing the concerns ofthe coalition before the membershipthrough sermons,lessons, and other types ofpresentations;• inviting coalition leaders tospeak to groups, committees,and classes within the faithcommunity; and• publicly supporting the workof the coalition.CASE IN POINTSome faith communities may bewilling to help offer sexualityeducation and even family planningservices within the contextof their faith traditions. A strongcase can be made that providingsuch information in the contextof personal faith and spiritualvalues can be very effective.Many young people are receptiveto such education when itcomes from their faith community.Parents in particular areunlikely to object because theyare confident that the instructionoffers good information inthe context of their faith’s teachings.Most important, sexualityeducation from the viewpoint ofa faith community encouragesyoung people to consider sexualityin the context of faith andspiritual values.If a faith community is uncomfortablewith highly visible roles,it can still be a vital “behind thescenes” player by, for example,offering volunteer leaders for41THE FAITH COMMUNITYPlanned Parenthood ofMetropolitan WashingtonPlanned Parenthood ofMetropolitan Washingtonlearned just how much a faithcommunity can offer. Allen ChapelAfrican Methodist EpiscopalChurch offered two day care centersfor the community. But AllenChapel’s pastor saw a greaterneed. He had a vision for a familyplanning clinic that would offeron-site services. He broughttogether leaders of his congregationand of Planned Parenthoodof Metropolitan Washington toshare his vision. The result was asuccessful collaboration that continuestoday. The church providedspace and other basic support forthe clinic. Planned Parenthoodprovided the expertise and staffto run the clinic for 15 to 20hours each week. Together acongregation and a PlannedParenthood helped a communityreceive much-needed services.

INVOLVING THE KEY PLAYERS42events and programs, or providingmeeting space for programactivities and special events.Define the relationshipIt is important for programs todefine the relationship betweentheir initiatives and the faithcommunity. Many questionsneed to be explored together:• How will the faith communitybe affiliated? Will it be anactive member? Does it preferto simply offer support froma distance?• Does the faith organizationfeel comfortable makingreferrals to other members ofthe coalition (where relevant)?Is it appropriate to makereferrals to the faith organization?For what services?• How much direction over thecharacteristics and growth ofthe community program doesthe faith group expect to provide?How will this directionhappen? Will representativesbe appointed to a governingboard, various committees,or both?This discussion helps establisha trusting, respectful, and clearrelationship. It also allowsprograms to get to know, andbe known better by, the faithcommunity.CASE IN POINTNational Black Religious Summiton SexualityAn extensive effort to increasethe capacity of churches to dealwith teen pregnancy is currentlybeing conducted by the NationalBlack Religious Summit onSexuality. In the summer of1997, over 250 people met inthe first Summit, which washosted by the Howard UniversitySchool of Divinity and sponsoredby the Religious Coalitionfor Reproductive Choice. TheSummit addressed issues ofsexuality, teen pregnancy prevention,and other matters ofreproductive health. Primarily itsought “to break the silence onpreviously taboo topics anddevelop a sound theologicalframework” from which toaddress sexuality issues withinchurches. This Summit is a valuableresource for facilitatingsimilar dialogues at the local orstatewide level. A secondSummit took place in 1998, andadditional Summits are planned.Videos and print materials areavailable from the 1997 Summit.

Sustaining a relationship with faithcommunity partnersSeveral activities can help turna new partnership with the faithcommunity into a long-termrelationship.Make sure communicationis regular and personalA successful partnership needsto be nourished by an ongoingconversation that includes allthose involved. This dialogueallows the entire group to findcommon ground as well as tounderstand what ground cannotbe shared. In addition, programsshould solicit feedback onCASE IN POINTOur Lady of GuadeloupeCatholic Churchsubstantive issues from faithcommunity partners. They areknowledgeable about youth andworking in the community, andtheir feedback, observations,and suggestions can strengthena teen pregnancy preventioninitiative.As programs establish and continuea dialogue, they need toremember that similar conversationsalso may be going onwithin the faith communityitself. In many communities,teen pregnancy can be a controversialissue. The members mayhave agreed that teen pregnancy43THE FAITH COMMUNITYMembers of Our Lady ofGuadeloupe Catholic Churchin Denver, Colorado, were concernedthat uninsured people inthe predominantly Latino neighborhoodcould not get decent,basic health care. They decidedto establish a free health clinic.Exams, immunizations, anddiabetes screening are amongthe services offered by ClínicaTpeyac. As the clinic’s clientelegrew, staff began to focus onthe needs of the young peoplein the neighborhood and parish.In response, the clinic startedNuestros Milagros (OurMiracles) to provide regularactivities for youth.In September 1997, the clinicconducted a survey of more than100 parish and neighborhoodyouth. In the survey, the youthidentified two problems that theyfelt the clinic and the churchneeded to address—drug abuseand teen pregnancy. Clinic,church, and youth leaders fromthe Nuestros Milagros youthgroup agreed to focus on theissue of teen pregnancy. By theend of the year, they werepreparing a training for peer educatorsand writing curricula forprograms. By spring of 1998, thepeer educators were ready fortheir programs.

INVOLVING THE KEY PLAYERS44is a problem, but may have seriousdisagreements about thebest way to solve the problem.Just because congregations sitat one table does not mean theyagree on all things. The natureand depth of these differenceswill affect efforts to unite the faithcommunity on the issue of teenpregnancy. A program’s intentionaleffort to create ongoingdialogue among members of thefaith community will help themstay connected to the work.Recognize the faith community’scontributionAppreciate the efforts made bythe faith community to be apartner in prevention. Acknowledgeits contributions to buildingthose personal “assets” thatreduce the risks for adolescents.Programs should provide publicacknowledgment of the effortsbeing made by their faith communitypartners, and expresspersonal thanks to their partners.Explore additional waysto work togetherThe more programs involve thefaith community, the moreopportunities for additional collaborationwill materialize. Asnew ways open for programsand faith communities to worktogether, programs should beready to explore the openingfrontiers with faith communitypartners with the idea that itshould be good for both.ConclusionThe faith community is a keyconstituent in any community orstate. When a teen pregnancyprevention program initiatesand carries out a partnershipwith a faith community that ischaracterized by positive intention,respect, and carefulattention to cultivating areasof agreement and resolvingpotential areas of disagreement,it has everything to gain.

ReferencesBenson, P.L., Williams, D.L., &Elkin, C.H. (1990). EffectiveChristian education: A nationalstudy of Protestant congregations—A six-denomination report.Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute.Blum R., & Rinehart, P.M. (1997).Reducing the risk: Connections thatmake a difference in the lives ofyouth. Minneapolis, MN: Universityof Minnesota Division of GeneralPediatrics and Adolescent Health.(To order, write: Box 721, 420Delaware St., S.E., Minneapolis,MN 55455).Eklin, C.H., & Roehlkepartain, E.C.(February 1992). The faith factor:What role can churches play inat-risk prevention? SourceNewsletter, 8(1), 1.Love, A.A. (1997, December 18).Poll: Americans joiners, not loners.The Washington Post Internet site.National Center for Health Statistics(NCHS). (1995). 1995 NationalSurvey of Family Growth. Washington,DC: National Center for HealthStatistics.Roehlkepartain, E.C., & Scales, P.C.(1995). Youth development in congregations:An exploration of thepotential and barriers. Minneapolis,MN: Search Institute.45Programs mentioned in this chapterAllen Chapel AME ChurchRev. Leon Lipscombe2498 Alabama Ave., SEWashington, DC 20020(202) 889-7296Fax: (202) 889-2198Chicago Fellowship of FriendsSteve and Marlene Pedigo, Co-Pastors515 W. OakChicago, IL 60610(312) 944-4493Church Mentoring NetworkBennie L. Scott, Area MentoringDirector210 N. Community Center3601 N. Broad St.Philadelphia, PA 19140(215) 223-8574Fax: (215) 223-2105Clínica Tpeyac, NuestrosMilagros, and Our Lady ofGuadeloupe Catholic ChurchFlorencia Gonzalez or Virginia Munoz3617 Kalamath St.Denver, CO 80211(303) 458-5302Fax: (303) 433-7452HEART of OKCOklahoma Institute for ChildAdvocacySharon Rodine, Project Director420 N.W. 13th St., Suite 101Oklahoma City, OK 73103(405) 236-5437Fax: (405) 236-1690Email: sjrodine@aol.comTHE FAITH COMMUNITY

INVOLVING THE KEY PLAYERS46IT TAKES TWO and Worth TheWait Pregnancy PreventionLegacy Resource GroupTom Klaus, PresidentP.O. Box 700Carlisle, Iowa 50047(515) 989-3360Fax: (515) 989-3391Email: legacyrg1@aol.comwww.legacyrgl.comNational Black Religious Summiton SexualityReligious Coalition for ReproductiveChoiceRev. Carlton Veazy, Executive Director1025 Vermont Ave., NW, #1130Washington, DC 20005Phone: (202) 628-7700Fax: (202) 628-7716Email: info@rcrc.orgWebsite: www.rcrc.orgUniting Congregations for YouthDevelopmentSearch InstituteAnn Betz, Project ManagerThresher Square West700 South Third St., Suite 210Minneapolis, MN 55415Phone: (612) 376-8955 or(800) 888-7828Fax: (612) 376-8956Website: www.search_institute.orgOther useful resourcesSIECUS Report, October/November1997 (Volume 26, Number 1)Sexuality Information and EducationCouncil of the United States(SIECUS)Monica Rodriquez, Director ofEducation130 West 42nd St., Suite 350New York, NY 10036-7802(212) 819-9770Fax: (212 ) 819-9776Email: siecus@siecus.orgWebsite: http://www.siecus.orgEvery article in this issue of thebimonthly publication would be helpful toprogram planners. Of particular interestare “The Journey of Sexuality Educatorsto Faith Communities” by Maggi Ruth P.Boyer and Ann Marie Donohue, as well as“The Sexuality Education Programs ofReligious Groups and Denominations” byElma Phillipson Cole. Also, SIECUS hasnumerous annotated bibliographies ofresources related to spirituality,religion, and sexuality.Roehlkepartain, Eugene C. (1998).Building assets in congregations: Apractical guide for helping youthgrow up healthy. Minneapolis, MN:Search Institute. (Cost: $18.95.To order, call Search Institute at800-888-7828.)This resource offers practical ideas forcongregations that want to engage in youthdevelopment through asset building.Chapter titles include: “Helping YouthGrow Up Healthy: A New Vision forCongregations,” “Developmental Assets: AFramework for Focusing CongregationalLife,” “Integrating Asset Building intoProgramming for Youth,” and “Reachinginto the Community for Asset Building.”

APPENDIXNine Tips to Help Faith Leaders andTheir Communities Address TeenPregnancyIntroductionResearch is beginning to show what many of us have long knownfrom working with teens—that religious faith and a strong moralsense play vital roles in protecting teenage boys and girls from tooearlysexual activity and teen pregnancy. For example, according tothe 1995 National Survey of Family Growth, 48 percent of 15- to19-year-old girls said that they were virgins, and nearly one-half ofthese young women said that the main reason they had abstainedfrom sex was that it was against their religion or morals. Clearly,the role of faith in preventing teen pregnancy is a vital and importantone. By teaching and preaching religious values, faith communitiescan help shape the character of our children and give themanswers to their most heartfelt questions.To support faith communities in this regard, the National Campaignto Prevent Teen Pregnancy’s Task Force on Religion and PublicValues has compiled Nine Tips to Help Faith Leaders and TheirCommunities Address Teen Pregnancy. This brochure summarizes awealth of experience and advice from faith leaders around the country.The members of the Task Force—religious and secular leadersrepresenting a broad ideological spectrum and a range of faith traditions—hopethese tips encourage religious leaders of all faithsand denominations to take on issue of teen pregnancy in the contextof their religious beliefs. At the end of the tips, you will also find alist of helpful books, lesson plans, and other educational resourcesavailable from a number of religious and secular organizations.47THE FAITH COMMUNITYTeen pregnancy and birth rates in the United States have begun todecline, although it remains true that our nation still has the highestrates in the industrialized world by far—with nearly one millionteen pregnancies every year. Communities of faith know that teenpregnancy is a complicated problem. They also know that their workwith young people must compete with messages from a wider culture——————————————This is an eight-page brochure from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.To order, contact the National Campaign, 2100 M St., NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC20037, www.teenpregnancy.org. First five copies free. Bulk orders available for purchase.

APPENDIXoften at odds with the ethics and morality of their religious traditionsand beliefs. That’s why it’s so important for faith communitiesto get kids when they’re young—and to stay with them through theirteen years. As teenagers yearn for spiritual guidance, faith communitiesare uniquely situated to minister to this need, and faith communitiesquite properly place questions about sex firmly within thecontext of religious values and moral traditions.INVOLVING THE KEY PLAYERSGod bless you as you continue the good work of helping young peoplemeet the many ethical and moral challenges they confront every day.Sister Mary Rose McGeadyPresident and Chief Executive Officer, Covenant House InternationalMember, National Campaign Task Force on Religion and Public ValuesNovember 199848The Nine Tips1. Address the need teens have for spiritual fulfillmentand help them find answers to the many challengingproblems they face.It is during the teenage years that many young people first strugglewith the enduring questions of human existence, and the intensityand urgency of these questions can be very powerful to them. Manyteens hunger for a framework of values and faith that can help themmake moral decisions and manage the everyday problems of livingthat can be so stressful in these transition years. They also wanthelp in seeing beyond the present moment. Because faith communitiesare uniquely able to provide the spiritual guidance that manyteenagers crave, they should embrace this responsibility with energyand commitment.2. Encourage parents to talk with their children aboutsex and morality within the context of your faith tradition.Many parents are embarrassed and uncomfortable talking with theirchildren about sex. This is not unusual, but it is unfortunate sinceparents are children’s first and best teachers about values andmoral expectations. A faith community is an ideal place for parentsand children to learn how to talk with each other about theseimportant topics. Consider sponsoring workshops for parents abouthow to talk with their children about sensitive subjects, such ashuman sexuality, according to the children’s age and maturity and

APPENDIXwithin the context of your faith tradition. And help your parents setproper limits for their children’s behavior.3. Enlist adults in your faith community to helpyoung people.Teenagers develop character and personal values through interactingwith respected and empathetic adults. Sometimes faith leadersthemselves are available to work directly with teenagers, but oftenthey carry so many responsibilities that they need help from others.If this is the case, ask highly trusted and knowledgeable adults inyour faith community to assist in the important work with teenagers.Whether the adults create an organized mentoring program or somethingmore informal, be sure they understand teenagers and cantalk about values and relationships within the context of yourfaith’s principles.4. Make sure the children and teenagers in your faithcommunity understand what your faith tradition says aboutsex, love, and marriage in general and teen pregnancy, inparticular. Use clear and unambiguous language.Young people need to know and understand where your faith traditionstands on matters of sexuality. Faith traditions can have a strongimpact on helping teens avoid too-early sexual activity and pregnancy,but messages need to be clear, direct, and precise. Encourage open,honest, and frank discussions about the challenges—and choices—that young people face in their daily lives. Discussions about sex,love, and marriage within the context of religious faith should beginwhen children are young, rather than waiting until they’re teens.49THE FAITH COMMUNITY5. Learn about contemporary youth culture—whatyour young people are reading, listening to, watching,and doing.Understanding the world of teens makes communicating with andcaring for them easier. The influence of the entertainment media, inparticular, on youth culture is extraordinary. Know the music thatyoung people enjoy. Watch the television shows they watch so you’llknow which characters they may be trying to emulate. Take a lookat the magazines they are reading. With such information in hand,you can better explore with teens how the cultural messages theyreceive agree with or differ from what is expected of them as membersof your faith community.

APPENDIXINVOLVING THE KEY PLAYERS506. Organize supervised group activities for teenagers inyour faith community.Teenagers need things to say “yes” to, especially when we are askingthem to say “no” to too-early sexual activity and pregnancy.Encourage the parents and other adults in your faith community toorganize and lead group activities with teens. All the activities thatyou sponsor for young people—from prayer circles to field trips—are excellent opportunities for fostering fellowship and supportivefriendships. By creating a positive and spiritually-oriented peerculture, you can help teens make the right decisions about sex.7. Reach out to teenagers who are not involved in anyfaith community.Though young people seek answers to spiritual questions, some arereluctant to find them in institutions of organized religion. And it isoften the teens who are outside of faith communities and unattachedto any positive group who are particularly likely to get in trouble.One dynamic youth minister in California reached out to neighborhoodteens by encouraging them to structure their own youth program. Healso moved his youth activities into a storefront center just a halfblockfrom the church. A youth group of thirty teens that once metin the church basement now numbers in the hundreds.8. Celebrate achievement and excellence.By specifically supporting excellence and achievement of youngpeople, faith communities can help to create an environment foryoung people that reduces the risk of early sexual activity and teenpregnancy. For example, research has shown that early school failureand dropping out of school are closely associated with becominga teen parent. By encouraging educational achievement, faith communitiesmay be able to help persuade teenagers to stay in school.Organize tutoring, homework assistance, and opportunities forcommunity service. Encourage or offer scholarships for collegeand vocational training.Celebrate spiritual and non-academic achievement as well, likevolunteer work or excellence in the arts. Consider recognition ceremoniesduring regular worship services or designate specific dayseach year to honor teenagers for their accomplishments in a widerange of areas. Give the teenagers in your faith community a placeto shine no matter what their abilities or interests.

APPENDIX9. Reach out to other faith communities, neighborhoodorganizations, and institutions that work with youngpeople.You don’t have to go it alone. Working together, faith leaders canmake a real difference in preventing teen pregnancy. Consider coordinatingwith fellow leaders to preach on the topic of teen pregnancythe same week. Or develop a particular prayer for all young peoplefacing choices about sex and relationships. Look to clergy associations,ecumenical councils, and other local faith networks for supportand collegiality in addressing this and other issues important toyoung people. And remember that other public and private institutionscan be valuable partners in helping young people in your faithcommunity—including schools, public health departments, YMCAsand YWCAs, Boys and Girls Clubs, libraries, and recreation centers.Resources for Faith Communities On Talking withKids About Love, Sex, and RelationshipsTo help faith communities talk more effectively about importantissues like sex and pregnancy, the National Campaign has assembledthis short list of faith-based resources. Although most of thesematerials are designed to be used within the setting of a faith community,they can also be helpful to others who want to teach andinstruct young people about issues like sex, love, and marriagewithin a religiously-based context.(NOTE: Inclusion in this list does not imply endorsement by theNational Campaign. Look to local seminaries, religious schools, andecumenical councils, as well as churches, synagogues, mosques,and temples, for materials that may be of use. In addition, manymajor denominations provide materials that can help explain sexualitywithin the context of their specific faith traditions.)51THE FAITH COMMUNITYHands-On Help for Youth Leaders: Addressing Sexuality—and SexualAbstinence. The American Baptist Youth Ministry’s four-page resourcelist provides an overview of a variety of print and audiovisual materialsfor educating youth and their parents about sexuality and the virtuesof sexual abstinence before marriage. Contact: EducationalMinistries, American Baptist Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, ValleyForge, PA 19482-0851. (800) ABC-3USA. Web: www.abc-usa.org.

APPENDIXAbstinence Education Resource Guide 1997. Not every listing in thisdirectory is faith-based, but the guide identifies particular programsas appropriate for religious group settings. Contact: Americans fora Sound HIV/AIDS Policy, P.O. Box 16433, Washington, DC 20041.(703) 471-7350.INVOLVING THE KEY PLAYERS52Parent-Teen Dialogue. Informal local dialogues between parents andtheir teens examine many contemporary topics, including sex, withina Jewish context. The B’nai B’rith Youth Organization (BBYO) alsodirects a national effort called “Mind, Body, Attitude” (M.B.A.), whichequips teen girls with the tools to make healthy decisions abouttheir bodies. Local chapters of BBYO also sponsor programs on topicslike safe sex. Contact: B’nai B’rith Youth Organization, 1640 RhodeIsland Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20036-3278. (202) 857-6600.Web: www.hubris.net/bnaibrith.org/bbyo/.The Catholic Chastity Curriculum Directory. A review of availablematerials that are acceptable under Catholic teaching. Contact: TheNational Conference of Catholic Bishops, 3211 Fourth St., NE,Washington, DC 20017. (202) 541-3070.1998 Directory of Abstinence Resources. This up-to-date catalog ofprograms and curricula includes many that are identified as havingChristian content. Contact: National Abstinence Clearinghouse, 801East 41st St., Sioux Falls, SD 57105. (888) 577-2966. Web:www.abstinence.net.FACTS. This value-based curriculum deals with many issues, includingdating, abstinence-until-marriage, and character education. Thecurriculum has three separate tracts—one for parents, one for junior-highkids, and one for senior-high teens. The organization alsooffers the Catholic family-life program, “Project Genesis.” Contact:Northwest Family Services, 4805 Glisan St., Portland, OR 97213.(503) 215-6377A Promise To Keep: God’s Gift of Human Sexuality. A Christianbasedprogram using videos, peer ministry, and dialogue activitiesto teach teens to be abstinent outside of marriage. The peer ministrycomponent is designed to have older, high school-aged studentsinteract with 6th to 9th graders. Contact: A Promise to Keep,1400 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46202. (317) 236-1478.

APPENDIXThe Role of Religious Congregations in Fostering Adolescent SexualHealth. A paper written by an experienced sexuality educationleader that details how communities of worship can build adolescentsexual well-being. Contact: The Religious Coalition forReproductive Choice, 1025 Vermont Ave., NW, Suite 1130,Washington, DC 20005, (202) 628-7700. Web: www.rcrc.org.Religion, Spirituality, and Sexuality. This annotated bibliographyincludes a broad range of resources, including curricula for religioussettings, that encourage a comprehensive approach. One ofthese resources, “Family Sexuality Education: A Course forParents,” by Rev. Joe Leonard, is a five-unit, twelve-hour coursethat includes exercises for teenagers. Contact: Sexuality Informationand Education Council of the United States (SIECUS), 130 West42nd St., Suite 350, New York, NY 10036-7802. (212) 819-9770.Web: www.siecus.org.Christian Sex Education Set. Published by the Southern BaptistConvention, the set contains Boys and Girls—Alike and Different (forages 4-7), My Body and Me (for ages 8 and 9), Sex! What’s That? (forages 10-13), Sexuality: God’s Gift (for ages 14-17), and Christian SexEducation: Parents and Church Leader Guide. Also available, “TrueLove Waits,” a popular abstinence campaign used in many faith settings.Teens sign commitment cards to abstain from sex before marriage.Supporting materials include promotional items, like t-shirtsand jewelry, and religiously-based sex education information in fourlanguages. Each item is also available separately. Contact: LifeWayChristian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, 127 NinthAve. North, Nashville, TN 37234, (615) 251-2000.53THE FAITH COMMUNITY