ABOUT US

Since 1994, Teen Futures has been promoting media literacy education to youth and those who work with youth across Washington State. Much of Teen Futures work has focused on media-literacy based approaches to major teen health issues including the prevention of teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, tobacco, alcohol and other drugs, youth violence, and nutrition and body image.

Curriculum Development
Over the past several years Teen Futures has become known for its innovative approaches to curriculum design involving youth in the development of its materials. In addition to working with groups of youth across Washington in the design of the materials, highly diverse groups of high school age youth regularly become the presenters of these curriculum materials to their peers as well as younger students.

Research
Teen Futures Media Network focuses its research efforts on examining the influence of the media on a youth audience. Its most recent research efforts have required that Teen Futures involve independent evaluators from Washington State University since Teen Futures considers it critical to examine the results being produced by the curricula that it has been developing and implementing in both classrooms and community groups. For example, research that has been conducted by these independent evaluators with its newest curriculum Take It Seriously: Sex, Abstinence & Media (TISSAM) indicates that this program is achieving significant results with its target audiences.

Training
Teen Futures Media Network regularly provides media literacy education training to those working with youth in both classrooms and community group settings. Classes, workshops and conferences focused on media literacy education are all available. Contact Teen Futures for more information at (206) 543-9414 or 1-888-833-6638.

Website Resources
In order to make scarce resources concerning health issues and media more readily available, Teen Futures Media Network has devoted considerable effort to website development. Among the sites it has developed are: www.teenhealthandthemedia.org, www.teenawareresources.org, and www.nutritionandmedia.org