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Policy Leaders and Influencers Success Stories

 

Oregon Governor Signs Bill for Comprehensive Sex Education in the Classroom.

A significant advance has been made in Oregon for the health and well-being of young people. ORS 336.455 makes it clear to Oregon public schools that sex education shall be taught as an integral component of health education.

“Planned Parenthood believes that giving youth access to honest, accurate information is key to ensuring their health, safety and wellbeing now and into the future,” stated Mary Gossart, Vice President of Education for Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon. “The Governor and Legislature have shown real leadership.”

Click here to download the Oregon Revised Statute (ORS 336.455).
Click here to read the full text of the Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR 581-022-1440). The OAR is meant to be a tool for helping to implement and undestand the corresponding ORS.

If you would like more information on how The New 3Rs supported the passage of this bill, please contact us at new3Rsinfo@pphsso.org.

 

The Governor’s Proclamation

In developing an updated version of the Governor’s 2003 proclamation for Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month (May) in 2009, the Oregon Department of Human Services consulted with Planned Parenthood on revising the wording.

Thanks to this collaboration, the resulting language now promotes positive messages about adolescent sexuality, pregnancy-prevention goals, and trust in the capacity of young people to make responsible choices.

Read “before” and “after” versions of the 2003 Proclamation (.pdf), to see what a difference positive language can make.
To see the newly released 2009 Governor's proclamation in celebration of Youth Sexual Health Awareness Month, download the .pdf document here.

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County-Sponsored Ads Promote Family Communication

Who would have imagined that rural Southern Oregon could take the lead in the state with a mass media campaign promoting sexual health?

Thanks to a collaboration between Planned Parenthood and the Jackson County Health and Human Services Department, that’s exactly what happened.

In the summer of 2003, Planned Parenthood was preparing to host a series of luncheons featuring European public health professionals, who would be showcasing mass media campaigns that have been used in Europe to promote responsible sexual behavior.

Planned Parenthood approached Jackson County Health and Human Services to let them know that one of these luncheons would be taking place in their community. Not only did the department offer to co-sponsor the event, the director of the department, Hank Collins, also proposed the creation of European-style TV ads promoting condom use.

Hank suggested that these ads be prepared in time to be unveiled at the luncheon to be held in Medford in September, 2003. His aim was to use the occasion to get local support for broadcasting the ads on local television stations.

Working with a local media agency, the team created two television ads — one designed to appeal to youth, one to adults — that portrayed condom use in a positive light. Called "Love Mom & Dad," the ads were shown to a group of community leaders as part of the European luncheon. The group voiced their support for airing these ads on local stations.

During October and November of 2003, these condom ads were aired extensively throughout rural Southern Oregon, gaining widespread community and media attention.

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Launching Teen-Friendly Services

Wendy Shelden, a family nurse practitioner with Washington County Health and Human Services, has been instrumental in establishing two Teen Clinics — one in Tigard and the newest in Hillsboro. These clinics provide birth control, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, and other public health services to clients under the age of 20. The clinics were specifically created to help teens feel more welcome.

“The response from the community has been fantastic!” says Wendy, who reports that they are seeing 25% more teens since opening the clinics, and also serving 10% more males.

While teens may come in for services any time the regular public health clinic is open, the Teen Clinics are scheduled for after-school hours, which is typically more convenient for them. Services are provided on both a walk-in and appointment basis. At the Hillsboro Clinic, the entrance was actually changed so that teens would be able to enter the clinic without going through the waiting room, thus ensuring confidentiality.

Staff were trained on adolescent health issues prior to opening the clinics. The goal is to keep staff training current and focused on adolescent health. At both locations, Health Educators and Americorp volunteers provide additional health education. These individuals have helped make the Teen Clinics a more teen-friendly place — with music, food and education materials aimed specifically at teen clients.

“The focus in these clinics is The New 3Rs — providing care that respects our teen clients, and expects them to take responsibility for their own care with our support and guidance,” Wendy adds. “We believe that all teens deserve health care that helps them feel empowered and is the very best the community can offer.”

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A Public/Private Partnership Shapes a Statewide Agenda

In 2004, Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon was invited to join a committee charged with shaping a new “Action Agenda” on teen pregnancy prevention for the State of Oregon. As part of this team, Planned Parenthood staff successfully infused the conversation with The New 3Rs values and vision.

The positive vision of The New 3Rs was apparent in the name this team chose for itself. The original committee evolved into a permanent partnership called the “Teen Pregnancy Prevention and Sexual Health Partnership (TPP/SHP).”

This name represented a remarkable shift in approach — away from a negative, narrow focus on the “problem” of teen pregnancy toward a more youth-positive vision for health outcomes. The members of this public/private partnership* came to the table with very diverse viewpoints and agendas. But they found common ground in the forward-looking framework of The New 3Rs. Despite the fact that the national debate around teen pregnancy and teen sexuality continues to be highly acrimonious, Oregon has demonstrated the potential to move beyond entrenched positions and instead explore the shared goals and values that move us forward.

Over the course of five years TPP/SHP worked to develop a plan to guide Oregon communities in effectively addressing adolescent sexual health issues. The Youth Sexual Health Plan is an important resource for planning programs, advocating for policy, securing funding, and educating stakeholders to support the sexual health of Oregon's young people.

* Besides Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon, other members include the State Department of Human Services, including the Children, Adults and Families Division and the Public Health Division, Adolescent Health Section, AmeriCorps HOPE, Oregon Department of Education, Oregon Commission on Children and Families, Oregon Teen Pregnancy Task Force, Benton County Health Department, Jackson County Health Department, Multnomah County Department of Health, and our sister affiliate, Planned Parenthood of the Columbia Willamette.

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Teen Pregnancy Prevention and Sexual Health Partnership Develops State Plan to Promote Healthy Sexuality

The Oregon Youth Sexual Health Plan is the outcome of the Public/Private partnership that was developed in 2004, a four year process that resulted in the Oregon Youth Sexual Health Plan.

Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon has actively been involved in developing a new state plan that focuses on the promotion of youth sexual health.  The plan is a significant shift in guiding how adolescent sexual health issues are addressed at the state and local levels... moving far beyond a narrow emphasis on teen pregnancy prevention to promoting healthy sexuality.  The new state plan is a prime example of The New 3Rs at work at the state policy level.

The plan can be accessed at http://egov.oregon.gov/DHS/children/teens/tpp/.

There are two components of the state plan - the Oregon Youth Sexual Health Plan (PDF format), as well as the Oregon Youth Sexual Health Plan appendices (pdf format). Make sure to download and check out the appendices as well as the state plan as it contains all the research used to compile the state plan.

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