Talk Early & Talk Often

Free workshops to give Newaygo County parents resources for talking to teen kids about abstinence, sex
 
NEWAYGO COUNTY – Schools in Newaygo County will host free workshops this Fall that are designed to provide resources, tips and empowerment for parents to have conversations with their teen children about abstinence and sex.
The nationally recognized workshops, called Talk Early & Talk Often, are two-hour sessions designed to help parents and caregivers recognize and use opportunities to open the door for conversation. The workshops will also help parents and caregivers listen to and respond with greater confidence and skill.
The free workshop is organized by LiveWell Newaygo County, with a grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund. A free dinner will be provided to attendees of the workshop, which is for adults only. Child care will be provided for parents with young children, who will also be provided with dinner. Attendees will be entered into gift prize drawings. Seating is limited, so interested parents can register online or by calling 231.924.5350.
The workshops are scheduled to be held:

• Newaygo Middle School: Monday, October 9, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Register online at bit.ly/NewaygoTETO
• Tamarac, Fremont: Thursday, October 12, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Register by calling 231.924.3073.
•  Grant Middle School: Thursday, October 26, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Register online at bit.ly/GrantTETO
•  White Cloud High School: Monday, November 6, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Register online at bit.ly/WhiteCloudTETO
•  Fremont High School: Thursday, November 9, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Register online at bit.ly/FremontTETO
• Hesperia High School: Monday, November 20, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Register online at bit.ly/HesperiaTETO

Pregnancy among women younger than 19 years old can impact the community, in addition to the health and wellbeing of the teen mothers themselves.
Teen pregnancies may increase the risk of repeat pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, according to the RWJ Foundation County Health Rankings.
Pregnant teens are more likely than older women to receive late or no prenatal care, which could negatively affect the health of the mother and her child. Teen moms are also more likely than older women to have pre-term deliveries and low birth-weight babies, which could impact the child’s development and overall health.
To proactively address the issue of teen pregnancy, Fremont Area Community Foundation applied for a grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund to support a multi-year community education effort led by LiveWell Newaygo County, the community health and wellness collaborative that includes Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial, NCRESA, District Health Department #10, Newaygo County Mental Health, Alpha Family Center, Family Health Care, and more.
In Spring, Fremont Public Schools hosted the first free workshop to provide resources, tips and empowerment for parents to have conversations with their teen children about abstinence and sex.
“As a parent and an educator, I found the workshop very informative because it really provides parents with the necessary tools to talk to our children about an issue that is hard to talk about,” said Christina Yuhasz, who attended the May 30 workshop at Fremont High School. “What’s great about the workshop is that it empowers parents to address a subject that’s sensitive, in a nonjudgmental way. I recommend the workshop to all parents because it can even help strengthen our relationship with our children.”
The workshop provides parents with the skills to:

•   Open the door to conversation about abstinence and sexuality
•   Address difficult situations and uncomfortable topics
•   Recognize and use teachable moments
•   Become an “askable” parent

“Young people will listen to their parents if there is a history of open communication between them,” said Scott Sherman, principal of Fremont High School. “We know that young people will engage in fewer risky behaviors when they are able to talk to their parents about those behaviors. It is critical that parents gain the knowledge and courage to begin having discussions about expectations surrounding abstinence, sex, sexting, and other forms of risky behaviors.”
ABOUT TALK EARLY & TALK OFTEN
For nearly a decade, Talk Early & Talk Often has received high praise from parents, educators and community leaders. The workshops are a project of the Parent Action for Healthy Kids, an organization based in Oakland County, Michigan, that aims to provide parents with resources to advocate for improved health initiatives in communities and schools. The organization also provides Teacher and Parent Education Workshops, Teacher Training, and Training of Trainers services for parents, teachers, school administrators, public health professionals and community-based organizations throughout our home state of Michigan and across the United States.