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Unfortunately, we live in a culture that both embraces and rejects issues surrounding sex and sexuality. These mixed messages make it particularly difficult for parents and other caregivers to discuss sexual matters at home. Since we are constantly bombarded with mixed messages, social pressures may conflict with family values creating a big problem when it comes to sexual education at home.

Thinking back on my own childhood I learned about sexual matters from my friends, and I might add most of the information was grossly incorrect. How about you?

How well did or does your family prepare you for sexual issues in your life? Did or do you ask them questions?

While most parents and caregivers want to talk to their children about sex many are unsure about how to confront the subject.

That's where we step in. Knowledge is power!

As a leading provider of education and health care in our community,Planned Parenthood knows firsthand the power of education to help teens make responsible decisions about their health. Every year, Planned Parenthood affiliates throughout Florida provide more than 100,000 women, men and teens with the health information and services they need to protect their health. Planned Parenthood reaches more than half a million adults and teens across the state through programs such as:

Healthy,Empowered and Real Teens!- In Orlando CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO!

Mother-Daughter's workshop for mothers and their 9-12 year old daughters- In Collier County
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO!

SOURCE Teen Theatre-IN Southwest & Central FL CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO!


Teen Time®- In the Miami area
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO!

FACES- In Northeast FL
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO!

Daddy's Little Girl- In Palm Beach & Broward Counties
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO!

A new resource guide titled "The Big Talk: Sex Ed at Home," is also available at all county libraries. In Gainesville, the brochure is available at Barnes & Noble, Goerings, and Omni bookstores.

At Planned Parenthood prevention is our goal everyday!

For online resources family members can go HERE where they can find tips and more information about sex education at home.

After reading about the crisis Manatee County is facing in regards to teen pregnancy one thing was evident; the county's approach to abstinence only sexual education is failing miserably. Here are the sobering facts:

Manatee County has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the state.

Out of 67 counties, Manatee is the 17th highest; and, in births to teens 10 to 14 years of age, Manatee has the 13th highest rate.

In 2006, one-third of 2,196 ninth-graders surveyed admitted that they had sexual intercourse. This was a 3 percent increase over the 2004 results.

Of the ninth-graders surveyed, one out of 10 acknowledged having had sex with four or more partners.

Manatee County has the 12th highest rate of newly-diagnosed HIV cases and the 12th highest rate of pediatric AIDS cases.

After reading these startling statistics I am sure you will ask yourself how much longer we can tolerate a sexual education program that does not educate our teens on how to protect themselves. The current sexual education program in Manatee County does not teach our teens how to avoid pregnancy, or how to protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases such as HPV, chlamydia and HIV/AIDS.

Manatee County is facing devastating problems. Many Manatee residents and Planned Parenthood of Southwest Florida have supported the concept of a Planned Parenthood in Manatee County that would be focused solely on education and prevention. Planned Parenthood's first message to teens is abstinence and, indeed, tells teens that abstinence is the only foolproof method of prevention. However, the fact is that many teens will continue to be sexually active, Planned Parenthood includes important, life-saving lessons for young people and their families on how to prevent unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

Besides providing this comprehensive, age-appropriate educational curriculum, Planned Parenthood will also be offering all women in Manatee County the opportunity for gynecological exams, cancer screenings, pregnancy testing and counseling (including adoption referral); and testing and treatment for sexually-transmitted infections, including testing for HIV/AIDS.

Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida announced plans in March to start a limited clinic in Manatee County by the summer of 2008. The location has not yet been decided. The mission of the Bradenton clinic, will be to offer birth control, pregnancy testing, counseling, and STD and HIV testing.