Branding

If GCAPP could get a marketing firm to identify a "slogan or campaign" symbol, and all direct providers of adolescent pregnancy prevention initiatives in Guilford County decided to use this "slogan or campaign symbol" do you think we could brand teen pregnancy into the vision of our community. Until as a community we accept the fact that we must address this issue and attempt to alleviate unplanned,unwanted teen pregnancies, we cannot resolve the problem. Come on people- let's get on board.

Denial is not bliss

As a county, state and nation we continue to deny that adolesent pregnancy is a huge problem. As a county, our rate of adolescent pregnancy is worse than the State's rate. As a State, we are the ninth worse in the United States. As a nation, we have the worse teenage pregnancy rate of any industrialized country. Yet, we won't talk about sex and yet every commercial, song, advertisement, and billboard alludes to sex.. sells with sex. Wake up Guilford...Wake up North Carolina...Wake up America...Wake up parents. Talk with your children about sex. Everyone else does!!

Community Summit

Dr. Keith Debbage, Professor of Urban Development at UNCG, reports that a measure of a community's health is its teenage pregnancy rate. Furthermore, he states that Greensboro and Guilford County's high teenage pregnancy rate (56.8 per 1,000 teens age 15-19) provides bad economic news for our community. As a community, we have got to address this issue. Young people deserve the right to have a life - both as a teenager and as an adult. The two should not have to overlap and merge. I propose we have a community summit to address this issue and as a community, let's work together to prevent unintended teenage pregnancies. I know we can.

Sexting

What do girls think about when they send, to their boyfriends via the internet, pictures of their semi-nude body? Do they really believe that this boyfriend will be their lover, partner, soul-mate for life.... when they are currently sixteen???
What happens when the break-up occurs? Is he going to keep that picture private for eternity? Think before you push send --- your life can be forever altered by a technology mistake of your youthful years.

Teenage Pregnancy Continues to be ignored

Did you know that North Carolina has the eighth worse teenage pregnancy rate in the United States? Did you know that Guilford County's rate is worse than North Carolina's? Why are we ignoring this huge issue? Three teenagers get pregnant in Guilford County each day. Two of these deliver babies. Lives are being altered forever. Why can we not, as a community, address this situation.

Why can we not as a nation embrace the fact that sexuality is a normal function, a right of passage and an act pursued by virtually all teenagers? Let's address the topic, embrace it, debate it but accept that it is a normal human function. Parents, talk about sex, sexuality and parenthood with your children. Teach them your values and morals but do not be afraid for them to receive additional knowledge in the classrooms of the public schools. Let's work together to help reduce teen pregnancy. Get involved.

Additions

GCAPP has made some positive changes to our website. Go online and see if you can find them?
Also, please note that our November 17th networking meeting has now become our second membership meeting for the year. We are searching for a meeting place. Have you got any ideas?