Dear editor:

Lakeland HealthCare would like to remind parents that Wednesday, May 5 is National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, a day that encourages teens to think carefully about sex, the possibility of pregnancy and the lifelong challenges of being a parent. Although teenage females in Berrien County continue to have a higher estimated teenage pregnancy rate (72.8 per 1,000 in 2007) than teenage females in Michigan (52.2 per 1,000 in 2005), there has been a definite decline in the rate since 1989, according to the Berrien County Health Department.

By honoring the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, all of us can support teens in making healthy decisions, which will have an impact on our entire community. Parents, you can encourage your teens to visit www.stayteen.org for more information about teen pregnancy and other serious consequences of sex, and to take a computerized quiz that presents real-life scenarios about risky sexual situations.

Sincerely,

Margaret Clayborn
Community Outreach Specialist
Lakeland HealthCare

Dear editor:

Lakeland HealthCare would like to remind parents that Wednesday, May 5 is National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, a day that encourages teens to think carefully about sex, the possibility of pregnancy and the lifelong challenges of being a parent. Although teenage females in Berrien County continue to have a higher estimated teenage pregnancy rate (72.8 per 1,000 in 2007) than teenage females in Michigan (52.2 per 1,000 in 2005), there has been a definite decline in the rate since 1989, according to the Berrien County Health Department.

By honoring the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, all of us can support teens in making healthy decisions, which will have an impact on our entire community. Parents, you can encourage your teens to visit www.stayteen.org for more information about teen pregnancy and other serious consequences of sex, and to take a computerized quiz that presents real-life scenarios about risky sexual situations.

Sincerely,

Margaret Clayborn
Community Outreach Specialist
Lakeland HealthCare