Preventing Teen Pregnancy

This article comes from Rachel Olis with Children's of Alabama.

Alabama has some of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the country. As an adult,
you should create a plan for discussing the facts about teen pregnancy with your son
or daughter. Parents are the first and primary educators for their children, so
start the conversation and arm them with the information they need to make safe and
healthy choices.
Some parents may find this a difficult discussion to have. Dr. Tina Simpson,
adolescent medicine physician at Children’s of Alabama, says that “the early stages
in the conversation don’t necessarily involve talking about sex.” As part of May’s
National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month, Children’s of Alabama offers these tips to
help you talk to your child about teen pregnancy:

Keep an open dialogue. This is the best way to prevent teen pregnancy.

Begin talking with them about sexuality when they are very young. Discussing body
parts with your child is very important at this age.

Follow their lead. Your child will have questions, and it’s up to you to answer them
with correct information and age-appropriate language. It’s better that they hear it
from you than other unreliable sources.

As your child gets older, ask them questions that are more developmentally
appropriate. This will help them consider their own changes during puberty as well
as the development of healthy relationships.

Emphasize family values. Go over where you expect your child to be and who you
expect them to be with. Education expectations and career goals are also important
to discuss.

Start to engage in more specific conversations. After the previous steps have been
taken, begin talking about sexuality, contraception, and other uncomfortable but
necessary topics. This will prepare your child for the possible reality of the
unintended consequences of sex, namely pregnancy.
Where to go for support:

The Adolescent Health Center at Children's of Alabama is open to every young person
ages 11-21.

Alabama Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy focuses on teen pregnancy prevention and
positive youth development.

Many community-based programs deal with teen sexuality and pregnancy prevention.
Talking with your child is the most important thing you can do to help your son or
daughter prevent teen pregnancy. Many parents regret not having done more once their
child is involved in a pregnancy, so take the necessary steps now to ensure they
grow up at just the right pace.
For more information, please visit childrensal.org.

Scholarships for Minority Students

Check out some of these great resources when searching for college scholarships. When it comes to money for school, there is something for everyone!
Asian and Pacific Islanders American Scholarship Fund
www.apiasf.org

Hispanic Scholarship Consortium
www.hispanicscholar.org

American Indian College Fund
www.collegefund.org

Association on American Indian Affairs
www.indian-affairs.org

United Negro College Fund
www.uncf.org

Gates Millennium Scholars
www.gmsp.org

WIA Youth Dual Enrollment

Dual enrollment serves youth who are currently attending secondary school in grades 10-12. The Alabama Workforce Investment Area has authorized Workforce Investment Act (WIA) In-school Youth funding for Career Technical Education Dual Enrollment Individual Referral (IR) for eligible students. Residents of all counties that comprise the 65 County Alabama Workforce Investment Area are eligible to participate, providing they meet the WIA eligibility requirements. If you or your child qualifies for the dual enrollment program or needs funds to pay for tuition/books to enroll in a technical degree/certificate program at a community college, please see Mrs. Champion, the Verbena High School counselor, for the information and application packet and to see if your student might be eligible for funding under the WIA act. Tara Thomas, Career Center specialist, who works at the Career Center in Alabaster is a contact for more information. Her number is (205)663-2542. See the income guidelines below:
Family Size / Income
1 / 11,490
2 / 15,510
3 / 19,919
4 / 24,592
5 / 29,025
6 / 33,946
For each additional family member above 6 add 4,921.

Verbena High Yearbooks are in!!!

The 2012-2013 Verbena High School yearbooks have arrived and they are red hot! If you did not order one, there are extra copies so don't despair! You can still get one. The cost for VHS staff or high school seniors is $50, all others is $60. Many thanks to Ms. L'toya Jones, Mrs. Christina Cochran, and the yearbook staff for all of their hard work! Please contact the school office at (205) 280-2820 and ask them to save you a copy today. There are also some older yearbooks for sale which you can ask about purchasing.

Concordia College Spring Fest 2013

Spring Fest 2013 for Concordia College is planned for April 26-27. On Friday, April 26, the activities include Spirit Day (wearing CCA apparel) and a Greek Step Show at Jenkins Center at 7 PM. On Saturday, April 27, the activities include Open House/Senior Day at Jenkins Center from 9 AM - 12 AM. Registration begins at 8 AM in the Jenkins Center. High school seniors and transfer students are especially invited to attend. Students will meet members of the faculty, staff, current students, and alumni. Be prepared for on-site admission by bringing your transcript and ACT scores. There will be a parade down Dallas Ave with the line-up beginning at 1 PM. The Spring football game will start at 3:30 PM in Bloch Park. There is also an after party concert beginning at 10 PM in Lehman Center. For additional information, please contact the CCA office at 334-874-5700, ext. 19762 or visit their website www.ccal.edu.

NextStepU Free Emag!

Copy and paste the following website to download a free May edition of the emag "NextStepU", http://www.nextstepu.com/emag/default.aspx?email=. NextStepU always contains alot of valuable information for juniors and seniors to help with financial aid, career planning, or choosing a college.

ACA Scholarship

The Alabama Counseling Association District VI Scholarship is available to individuals who are pursuing an undergraduate degree in education or counseling. Applicants must live within the counties of District VI, which consist of Autauga, Bibb, Butler, Chilton, Choctaw, Dallas, Lowndes, Marengo, Perry, and Wilcox. All applications must be submitted on or before May 10, 2013. Mail the application, two letters of recommendation, official transcript with ACT score, and a one-page essay on "Why do you want to pursue a career in education or counseling?" to ALCA Chapter VI, Attn: Kimberley Hicks, 2360 Highway 31 North, Deatsville, AL 36022. The essay must be typed and attached to the application. Applicants should have at least a 3.0 GPA and an ACT score of 18 or better. See Mrs. Champion or your counselor for a copy of the application.