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![teenprojects](images/titles/teenprojects.gif)
Youth
Empowered by Abstinence
Sponsored
by Washington State Department of Health and coordinated by Teen Futures
Media Network at the University of Washington, Youth
Empowered by Abstinence (YEA!)
was formed in 1998 when twelve teen groups from across Washington state
met for a conference to discuss ways that they could promote sexual abstinence
to their peers using the media. The teens attending the meeting represented
school-based groups, groups supported through local health departments
and other community agencies, and faith-based organizations.
Since 1998,
members of this statewide group have worked to gather support in their
local communities. Some activities:
- 1999:
A very successful statewide media contest in which approximately 1000
teens participated. YEA! members directed all aspects of the contest
including the judging of winners.
- 2000:
the 22 groups involved in YEA! were given the materials and help they
needed, including prize money, to launch their own local media contests.
- 2001:
Some YEA! representatives were given the opportunity to serve as presenters
during a special banquet program at the Images of Youth: Growing Up
in a Media Culture conference held in Spokanes West Coast Grand
Hotel. All travel arrangements for these representatives were covered
by YEA!
- 2002:
YEA! held a statewide summit
in April to celebrate the sexual abstinence programs in Washington State
which have used media as a primary strategy to publicize the many abstinence-based
teen pregnancy prevention efforts. At the Summit, participating groups
shared products and ideas developed and learned skills in media promotion.
Teen Aware
The Office
of Superintendent of Public Instruction's Teen
Aware Project is part of a statewide effort to reduce teen
pregnancy. Since 1994, students in over 200 schools in 100 districts across
the state of Washington have participated in the Teen Aware Project. Teen
Aware middle and high school students research, develop and produce media
campaigns to promote teen sexual abstinence.
Student-developed
media include video and radio productions, posters, bookmarks, theater
productions, brochures, print advertising, multimedia, Web sites, tee-shirts,
bus posters, buttons and more. Teen Aware media productions have received
national awards and recognition. In addition, the Washington State Department
of Health has incorporated the statewide distribution of student-developed
Teen Aware Project posters into its teen pregnancy prevention campaign
strategy.
For more
information about the Teen Aware program, visit:
http://www.k12.wa.us/teenaware/
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