News

 

National HHS Study Released by Obama Administration    8/24/2010


Last week, NAEA encouraged interested persons to submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for the public release of a study of cultural values regarding sex education. Hundreds submitted the request for openness regarding the study. As a result, HHS posted the entire study report Monday, August 23.  NAEA applauds your timely efforts and the quick response by HHS to your well-intended requests.

The National Survey of Adolescents and Their Parents, a nationally representative sample of 1,000 adolescents and their “most knowledgeable parent” measured parent/adolescent attitudes and communication for youth who received classes or programs which delivered messages about waiting until marriage to engage in sex. Key findings included:

•    70% of parents agreed with the statement: “It is against your values for your adolescents to have sexual intercourse before marriage.

•    70% of parents agreed with the statement: “Having sexual intercourse is something only married people should do.”

•    Adolescents had similar responses for the two questions.

Access the entire report here.     

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Puberty Coming Earlier for Girls, Study Finds    8/9/2010

A new study published this week in Pediatrics finds more girls are starting puberty at younger ages. Researchers at the Cincinatti Children's Hospital studied 1,000 girls and found that, at age 7, 10.4% of white, 23.4% of black non-Hispanic, and 14.9% of Hispanic girls had reached puberty; by age 8 those numbers jumped to 18.3%, 42.9% and 30.9%, respectively.

According to NPR, some of these figures are double what puberty rates for these age groups were just a decade ago.

Researchers point to the rise in childhood obesity, as well as environment and genetic factors, as possible links to the rise in puberty rates.

Click here to continue on to http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/08/09/129079589/puberty-comes-earlier-for-today-s-girls

Teen Birth Rates Decline After Two Years | 4/8/2010 |

The national birth rate declined by two percent in 2008, according to a recently-released Centers for Disease Control study. The teen birth rate declined dramatically between 1991 and 2005, but increased for the first time in 14 years by five percent between 2005 and 2007. However, the most recent statistics show that the birt hrate declined once again in 2008.

Valerie Huber, Executive Director of the National Abstinence Education Association, said regarding these recent stats, "Today's news shows that teens are able to make good decisions, even in the midst of a sex-saturated culture. We must assure that they continue to receive tools for achieving the best sexual health outcomes -- in order to escape all the risks of sexual activity."

Click here to see the full teen birth rate and teen pregnancy report on the CDC Web site.   

Bristol Palin Announces She is Waiting Until Marriage | 4/7/2010 | read more

Today Bristol Palin announced she is waiting until marriage to ever have sex again. After having her son, Tripp, at the age of 17 in December 2008, Palin said she wasn't prepared at all for the dramatic changes a baby brought into her life. She said that if teen girls realized how hard it is to be a teen mom, they would think twice about having sex at such a young age when they weren't ready to deal with the consequences.   

David Mahan Returns for Assemblies, Parent Workshop | 4/5/2010 |

Worth the Wait is bringing David Mahan, a nationally-known speaker, performer and abstinence supporter, back to the Panhandle in May. Mahan is returning to speak at 10 school assemblies as well as a parent workshop that he had to cancel in January because of a snow storm.

Mahan's primary message is taching and promoting true character in today's youth generation. He encourages a "frontline," where kids can be directly influenced and impacted in a positive way on a daily basis. Each assembly Mahan presents is fun, interactive and engaging for all students.

On May 4, Mahan will also present a FREE parent workshop entitled, Let's Talk About SEX, baby, which will be open to all parents in the community. Mahan will discusss parenting issues concerning teen sexuality, and Worth the Wait will raffle off several door prizes, including a Nintendo Wii, XBOX 360 and two $200 United Supermarket gift cards. The workshop will begin at 7 p.m. in the Amarillo ISD Board Room, located in the Amarillo ISD Administration Building off I-40 and Coulter Street.

The following is a schedule of assemblies:

Monday, May 3

-          Travis MS: 9 a.m.

-          Mann MS: 10:15 a.m.

-          Bowie MS:  1 p.m.

-          Austin MS:  2:15 p.m.

 Tuesday, May 4

-          Claude ISD:  8:30 a.m.

-          White Deer ISD:  11 a.m.

-          Highland Park ISD: 2:30 p.m.

  Wednesday, May 5

-          Bushland HS:  8:30 a.m.

-          Groom ISD: 11 a.m.

-          Spearman ISD: 2 p.m. 

 

  

  

Worth the Wait Brings Harlem Ambassadors Tour to Amarillo  |3/1/2010 |

The internationally-acclaimed Harlem Ambassadors will be visiting Amarillo for a basketball game at the Palo Duro High School gym on March 1 at 7:30 p.m.

The Harlem Ambassadors offer a unique brand of Harlem-style basketball, featuring high-flying slam dunks, dazzling ball-handling tricks and hilarious comedy routines as well as deliver a positive message for kids wherever they play. 

"At our shows, we want the kids to know that they're part of our team too," Coach Lade Majic said. "We invite as many kids as we can to come sit on the bench, have a front row seat during the show and get involved in all of the fun stuff we do."

The Ambassadors set themselves apart from other "Harlem-style" basketball teams by working with local non-profit and service organizations and holding Harlem Ambassadors shows as community fundraising events. For Amarillo's event the Ambassadors have partnered with Worth the Wait to help raise funds to fight against and reduce teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

The Ambassadors have worked extensively with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Boys & Girls Clubs, Big Brothers Big Sisters and American Red Cross as well as Rotary, Lions and Kiwanis clubs in communities throughout the U.S., and perform more than 200 shows a year. Those shows have helped raise millions of dollars - an accomplishment of which Ambassadors President Dale Moss is very proud.

"It feels good to be able to provide quality entertainment and create memories that the fans will take with them," Moss said. "We're able to give even more when we can help provide funding for a Habitat for Humanity house or new computers for the school library, and that feels great."  

Quinceañera Event WINNER! | 2/26/2010 | see more pics  

This year's Quinceañera Rites of Passage Event winner was Yamilex Avila! She is pictured below with her mother, Ayde Monarrez. Yamilex received a package to help her get started in planning her Quinceañera celebration for writing the winning essay at the conclusion of the Event. The package included the last doll, her jewelry set she will wear during her Quinceañera, nail salon gift certificate, gift certificate for a cake, pillow, tiara, guestbook and DJ services.     

  

National Teen Dating Violence Awareness & Prevention Month | 2/12/2010 |

read more  

February is the official month for National Teen Dating Violence Awareness & Prevention. If you or someone you know may be subject to teen dating abuse of any kind, please click here to stay informed and get help. YOU are worth it!   

Worth the Wait to host 3rd Annual Quinceañera Rites of Passage Program 

| 2/4/2010 |

As part of a special Hispanic Outreach program, Worth the Wait presents its 3rd Annual Rites of Passage Program for Latina youth in the community. The event will be from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Feb. 20, at the Chase Tower, dowtown (9th floor). The seminar will also target the Latinas' parents as well, teaching them their specific roles in their daughters' Quiceañera celebration. All girls who are interested in attending the event MUST pre-register, and space is limited. WTW will provide lunch for all attendees and parents. For more information or to register, contact Samantha or Jeremiah at 806-326-1070.   

The program is designed for young, Latina girls, ages 14-15, to attend a one-day interactive seminar event that teaches the girls the true meaning of why they have a Quinceañera celebration. As part of the Latin cultures, girls traditionally have a Quinceañera to mark their 15th birthday. However, WTW is helping these girls to realize that it is not just a birthday celebration, but also a festivity that symbolizes the girl's journey from childhood to becoming a woman - it is her rite of passage.

At the end of the event, the girls will be required to write an essay on, "What a Quinceañera Means to Me," reflecting on what they learned during the seminar. A winning essay will be selected and the winner will receive a prize package that will help her get started in planning her Quinceañera.    

New Study Shows Abstinence Education is Working! | 2/2/2010 | read more

A new study from the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine medical journal shows that abstinence-based education has significant long-term effects on delaying and reducing teen sexual activity among middle school students. The journal is published by the American Medical Association. Click here to read the study.   

Pregnant in the USA: Sex Sells | 1/13/2010 |

Check out Keith Deltano's latest YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e1ZhFGb0GA    

  

  

Nationally-Known Speaker David Mahan to Present at 2010 School Assemblies  |1/07/2010 | see pictures

It is time for Worth the Wait's annual school assemblies, which are scheduled for the week of Jan. 25-29. This year's lead presenter is David Mahan, a nationally-known speaker, performer and abstinence supporter. 
Mahan will travel across the Texas Panhandle, and speak at 20 different assemblies at various schools in the area. His primary message is teaching and promoting true character in today's youth generation. He encourages a "frontline," where kids can be directly influenced and impacted in a positive way on a daily basis. Each assembly Mahan presents is fun, interactive and engaging for all students.

Cenee Graham, Program Director for Worth the Wait, says Mahan was chosen to be this year's speaker because he has a great message that will inspire many students.

"Worth the Wait feels that David Mahan will speak directly about a touchy subject in a tasteful, energetic and fun way that will connect to students in our area schools," Graham says.

On Jan. 28, Mahan will also present a FREE parent workshop, entitled Let's Talk About Sex, baby, which will be open to all parents in the community. Mahan will discuss parenting issues concerning teen sexuality, and Worth the Wait will raffle off several door prizes, including a Nintendo Wii, XBOX 360 and two $200 grocery gift cards. The workshop will begin at 7 p.m. in the Amarillo ISD Board Room, located off I-40 and Coulter.

For more information about David Mahan, go to www.frontline4youth.com.         

Twilight Saga Bites Teens With Abstinence Message? | 12/1/2009 | read more

The director of "New Moon" Chris Weitz says that sexual abstinence is central to the film's appeal.  

 

  

CDC Releases New STD Statistics, Chlamydia still most commonly reported

| 12/1/2009 | read more 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released its latest Sexually Transmitted Diseases Surveillance 2008 report, which is an annual update of STD/STI statistics and trends in the United States. Chlamydia is still the most common sexually transmitted infection, topping 1.2 million cases for the first time. The report shows that most of these cases are reported in females, ages 15-19.    

 

Parents Make a Positive Difference, Influence Teens' Decisions about Sex       

| 11/13/2009 |

According to a recent news release from Child Trends, a non-profit research organization that studies children at all stages of development, a recent research study has proven that parents make a positive difference and play a huge role in their teens' decisions about sex.

November 12, 2009 - Positive parent-teen relationships, high parental awareness and monitoring of whom their children are with, and family dinner routines are all linked to delayed sex among teens, according to a new Child Trends research brief. The brief, Parents Matter: The Role of Parents in Teens' Decisions about Sex, explores how parenting practices that occur before adolescents have had sexual intercourse are associated with the probability of first sex by age 16.

Among the findings:

• Better parent-adolescent relationships are associated with reduced risk of early sexual experience among teen girls.
  • Teen girls who reported high relationship quality with both parents were less likely to have sex at an early age (22 percent), compared with teen girls who reported low relationship quality with both parents (37 percent).
  • This finding holds true for teen girls’ relationships with their mothers and fathers separately, but no significant association was found for boys.
• Teen boys who eat dinner  with their family every day have a lower probability of having sex before age 16 (31 percent), compared with those who eat dinner with their family four days a week or less (37 percent). No significant association was found for teen girls on this measure.
• Adolescents whose parents are more aware of whom they were with when they were not home had first sex before age 16, compared with 43 percent who reported their parents knew little or nothing.

"These findings highlight the importance of parents in adolescents' lives," said study co-author Jennifer Manlove, Ph.D. "Parents can be involved beyond having the 'sex talk' with their adolescents - by fostering strong relationships, developing family routines such as eating dinner together regularly and being aware of where their children are when they are not at home."

 

This study is based on data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, sponsored and directed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor.

  

  

CDC Data Shows Abstinence Education Works | 11/10/2009 |

Washington, DC (Nov. 5, 2009) - Abstinence education is delaying sex among teens. Data from an analysis by the CDC shows positive evidence that abstinence education is delivering an effective message.

"These positive findings should be incorporated in any policy designed to reduce teen sexual activity in our nation," noted Valerie Huber, Executive Director of NAEA. "This is a time to assess what is working and capitalize on solutions that make a difference in the lives of youth."

The positive results came from 10 different studies by six different authors. Two members of the panel of consultants for the analysis reported that the abstinence education programs in the study produced a statistically significant reduction in teen sexual activity for periods averaging about one year.

The policy implications fo these findings argue for a continuation of abstinence education funding and raise questions about the advisability of ending such programs. At the very time that this encouraging evidence emerges Congress and the Administration have zeroed out all funding for abstinence education in their 2010 budget.

"The NAEA sincerely hopes that policymakers will be persuaded by scientific evidence. We need to reach teens. We need to find strategies that work, rather than fanning the flames of an ideological war over sex education. This research tells us that abstinence programs are helping teens delay sex."

Minority Report from CDC panel members available at http://www.instituteresearch.com/. The National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA) is comprised of leading abstinence educators and supporters who serve 2 million youth across the U.S. For more information go to http://www.abstinenceassociation.org/ or http://www.abstinenceworks.org/.  

Students in After-School Program Paint Cadillac, Stay Drug Free                       

| 11/10/2009 |

Students in the Worth the Wait After-School Program at Caprock High School participated in Red Ribbon Week during the last week of October. Red Ribbon Week is a special national campaign dedicated to keeping students and kids off drugs. As a highlight of the week, students from several schools within Amarillo ISD formed teams, traveled to the Cadillac Ranch and painted their own special message on the cars about staying drug free.  WTW students from Caprock came up with the slogan, "You're a Joke if you Poke," sending a message of staying away from steroids.

The students are shown below with Mayor Debra McCartt, who was invited to judge the Cadillac painting contest. Click here for more pictures of the special event.

   

New Programs & Presentations | 10/28/2009 |  

Did you know Worth the Wait has several presentations we do on several different topics? We can deliver presentations, programs and give talks on almost any subject regarding teens & parents, but a few examples include Teen Sex, A Crime?, on a Budget and Self-Esteem. If you would like us to come to your school, meeting or event, please contact us and let us know!      

  

Farmageddon HAUNTED Corn Maze | 09/24/2009 |

During the month of October, Worth the Wait is partnering with the Amazingly Fun Farm to present Farmageddon, a haunted corn maze! This attraction is not the traditional haunted house. Instead of being surrounded by four walls and walking through dark rooms and hallways, visitors of the maze will be completely out in the open in a darkened corn maze, trying to find their way through the tall corn stalks, while being surrounded by awful scenes of what could happen when things go terribly wrong at the farm. The only light to help them see is the moon light! So Beware...because only fear grows here.

"We are so excited to present this corn maze," said Amy Christie, Executive Director for Worth the Wait. "We think this is the perfect opportunity to reach out to the community as well as have a great fundraiser - all while having fun in the process! We are very honored to be partnering with the Amazingly Fun Farm and Derinda Patton to bring Farmageddon to the youth and the community."

Click here to find out more information about Farmageddon!   

Free Parent Workshop/Seriously Dating Seminar | 08/06/2009 |

We are offering a FREE Parent Workshop to all parents and a FREE Seriously Dating Seminar for teens and college students. Both events are scheduled for Sept. 19 at the Chase Building Downtown. The Parent Workshop is from 9 a.m. to Noon and the Dating Seminar is from 1 to 4 p.m., and lunch will be provided for both groups at Noon. You MUST call us at 806-326-1070 to register if you are interested in attending these events.

We will raffle off hundreds of dollars in FREE prizes at both events, including a laptop, two digital cameras , a Play Station 2, several MP3 players and several gift cards as well! So we hope to see you there! We will also have a special guest speaker at both events, Rodrick Glover. Check out his Web site at http://www.motivationsinc.org/.       

New Photo Gallery! | 07/01/2009 |
We now have a photo gallery on our Web site! Click on the MEDIA tab at the top and then scroll down on click on the "camera" icon to see our pictures we have taken at different places and events. You will also find links to our MySpace, facebook and twitter pages in the MEDIA tab as well.   

  

  

Texas House Rejects Attacks on Abstinence-Based Education! |06/03/2009 | read more

Since Texas began using abstinence education in its school systems, teen pregnancies have went down 24 percent, teen abortions have dropped by 41 percent and teen births went down 22 percent. Because of these important statistics, the Texas House rejected ammendments that were brought to the Senate that would have had a drastic negative affect on abstinence-based education in the State.   

  

Bristol Palin Sets Off on Abstinence Tour |05/07/2009 |

Bristol Palin, daughter of Alaskan Governor and 2008 GOP Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin, set off on an Abstinence Tour yesterday in highlight of the National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Day. Bristol is a teenage mother and gave birth to her son, Tripp, in December 2008. She is now promoting abstinence as the healthiest, safest choice for teens. Bristol wants other teens to learn from her actions and know that being a parent is much harder than she expected. She launched her tour with a live interview on Good Morning America yesterday morning and another interview on the Today Show.     

  

New Resources Reveal Abstinence Education is Successful |04/30/2009 |

Three news resources proving abstinence-based edcuation is successful according to research-based evidence have recently been released. 

The first of the three entitled, Abstinence Works 2009, identifies 40 studies that demonstrate abstinence having a significant positive impact on sexual behavior in teens. Another new study by Dr. Stan Weed, a prominent youth risk behavior researcher, places abstinence education and comprehensive sex education on a similar grid. He found that abstinence-based education has more of a behavioral impact than comprehensive educaction does. The third resource is a new Web site, Abstinence Works. The site is filled with information about abstinence-based education, and research that informs about the sex education debate and shows that abstinence education is successful.

"This valuable information proves that comprehensive sex education doesn't have anymore research of effectiveness than abstinence-based education does," says Amy Christie, Executive Director of Worth the Wait.  "These three resources also show abstinence education as a holistic program that focuses on all areas, such as goal setting, avoiding risky behaviors, making positive and healthy life choices, relationship skills, peer pressure and consequences, just to name a few." 

 On April 29, the National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA) hosted a congressional briefing on Capitol Hill that addressed these newly released resources.         

  

Talk Shows Address Teen Sex Issues| 04/21/2009 |

In a sex-crazed society, where the media and Hollywood glamorize the idea of sex, it’s about time somebody took a stand to remind people how incredibly bad and dangerous this notion is – particularly for teenagers. This is exactly the stand that several magazines and talk shows have finally begun to address, and point out that there is a definite problem with teen sex in our culture.

 

In the past few weeks, both Dr. Phil and Oprah have addressed the issues and dangers of teen sex. Even a recent article in the May edition of the Reader’s Digest addressed how dangerous and harmful “sexting” is. Sexting involves teens sending sexual and explicit photos and text messages to one another, via their cell phones. This article focused on how parents need to stand up and talk to their teens about sexting and sex issues.

Dr. Phil has devoted several recent shows about issues of teen sex as well. Like the Reader’s Digest article, he has covered the dangers of sexting, as well as children having children, where he had 10, 11 & 12-year-olds on the show who were already pregnant or had a baby.

Oprah has had similar topics on her show, with the idea that teens are so young and already wanting to have sex. On a recent show, she had a 14-year-old boy as a guest, where his mom allowed him to have sex but never even discussed the topic with him, or the dangers or consequences. She simply put a box of condoms in his underwear drawer and hoped for the best. In her mind she thought this was perfectly normal; however, Oprah openly addressed how much of a problem this was. Also, in the May edition of Oprah’s magazine, “O,” there was an article strictly devoted to sex, and discussed how crucial and important it is for mothers and daughters to talk about it and for mothers to communicate a positive attitude about sex so their daughters will make healthier choices.

 

Our sex-saturated world is becoming more and more of a problem every day. It is good that these talk shows are addressing the issue and working toward a solution. We all need to ban together to work toward a solution and reduce teen sex, teen pregnancy and teen STDs. Let’s make a difference in our teens’ lives. We need to educate, equip and empower them to choose abstinence and make positive and healthy life choices!

 

Here are a few resources that might be helpful:

 

O Magazine

Dove

Net Nanny

Spector Pro

McGruff Safeguard

 

 

  

Congrats to Plainview Quinceanera Event Winner! | 03/10/09 |

Worth the Wait would like to congratulate this year's Plainview Quinceanera Rites of Passage Program winner, Kassanera Flores. Kassanera, a student from Coronado Middle School, attended the event on March 7 and wrote the winning essay. Her prize package included, a Quinceanera doll, guest book, tiara, pillow, hair up-do style and a free 16''x20" framed Quinceanera photograph. Worth the Wait extends a special thanks to the following businesses in Plainview for making the prize package possible: Traditions, Mr. Doyce Formal Wear, Crystal Rincon at Aspire Hair Salon and Treasured Memories Portrait Studio.  

  

    

Driving While InTEXTicated | 02/25/2009 |

In the modern age of cell phones, there have been more and more reported car accidents being caused by people who are texting while they are driving. The most recent term for this, particularly for teen drivers, is "Driving While Intexticated." Statistics show that driving and text messaging is as dangerous as driving while intoxicated by alcohol, and cause just as many accidents. Worth the Wait just wants all parents and their teens to be aware of the dangers this could easily lead to. Click here to see an example of what could happen if you, "Drive While Intexticated."

Congrats to Amarillo Quinceanera Event Winner! | 02/24/2009 |

Worth the Wait would like to congratulate this year's Amarillo Quinceanera Rites of Passage Program winner, Leticia Contreras. Leticia, a student from Sam Houston middle school, attended the event on Saturday and wrote the winning essay. Her $650 prize package included, a Quinceanera doll, guest book, tiara, pillow, cake, cookies, manicure and pedicure, hair cut and style, $50 gift certificate to Brides and an outdoor photography session and discount certificate. Worth the Wait extends a special thanks to the following local businesses for making the prize package possible: Cakes-N-More, Exposito School of Hair Design, Miss Piggy's, La Tapatia, Brides, Wild Hair and Creative Touch Photography.

Worth the Wait After-School Program | 02/09/2009 |

Since Worth the Wait began in the Amarillo Independent School District in 2002, the organization has always provided an abstinence-until-marriage curriculum in science and health classes in middle schools and high schools. However, what many might not realize is that Worth the Wait also offers an After-School Program at two schools within AISD, as well as the North Branch YMCA.   

The After-School Program is implemented at the North Branch YMCA on Mondays, Caprock High School on Wednesdays and Bowie Middle School on Thursdays. The program is designed to educate and equip the students to make good decisions so they can have a successful future, but in a relaxed and interactive atmosphere. 

Brenda Rodriguez, the Hispanic Outreach Coordinator for Worth the Wait, currently teaches the After-School Programs. She says the programs are a great way for the students to get together and interact outside of a classroom setting, but still be in a positive, school environment.

"But sometimes we just play games, sit and talk and have snacks," Brenda says. "It's a great opportunity for them to sit and share things they just need to talk about."

Each After-School Program begins at 3:35 p.m. and is for any students who want to attend. For more information about Worth the Wait's After-School Program, call 806-326-1070.

After-School students write jingles | 02/09/2009 |

Students in the Worth the Wait After-School Program at Bowie Middle School got a little creative and wrote some jingles about Worth the Wait and abstinence. We thought they were so good, we wanted to share them with everybody. So here are those special jingles:

Jingle No. 1  

Worth the Wait is really cool, We come every Thursday after school.

Chicka Chicka Chicka Chicka BOOM 

So stop that silly nonsense, And stay abstinent.

Chicka Chicka Chicka Chicka BOOM 

Worth the Wait is catchin’ on, All of us good kids got it goin’ on.

Chicka Chicka Chicka Chicka BOOM

Most teens think maybe a little bit, But you all know it ain’t worth it.

 

Chicka Chicka Chicka Chicka BOOM 

 

WORTH THE WAIT!

 

Jingle No. 2  

Worth the Wait is new to school, They teach us about abstinence and tools 

They talk about safe sex, And use understandable text 

Abstinence is really cool, It helps everyone stay in school 

Remain abstinent for awhile, And stay drug free so you and your spouse can walk down the aisle 

Talkin' 'bout them drugs, They're so bad they'll give you bugs 

They don't know what you've been through, They just wanna get inside of you 

Sex and drugs aren't the way, Just do Worth the Wait!

  

2nd Annual Quinceanera Rites of Passage Program | 02/05/2009 |

As part of a special Hispanic Outreach event, Worth the Wait will host its 2nd Annual Rites of Passage Program, in which we will present three different day-long seminars, one in Amarillo, one in Plainview and one in Perryton.  

The program is designed for young, Latina girls, aged 13-14, to attend a day-long seminar that teaches them the true meaning of why they have a Quinceanera celebration. As part of the Latin culture, girls usually have a Quinceanera to mark their 15th birthday. However, Worth the Wait is helping these girls to realize that it is not just a birthday celebration, but also a festivity that symbolizes the girl's journey from childhood to becoming a woman -- it is her Rite of Passage.

As part of the events, the girls will learn about topics such as the expectations of young ladies and men in the Latino culture. These expectations keep young people safe and healthy and include respect for family and self, being a role model to other teens and children, remaining abstinent until marriage, community service and leadership and spiritual commitment.

Each event will be from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The Amarillo Rite of Passage Program is scheduled for Feb. 21 at the Chase Tower, downtown (on the 9th floor), the Plainview Program is on March 7 at South Plains College Plainview Center and the Perryton Program is on April 18 at Perryton High School. The seminars will also target the Latinas' parents as well, teaching them their specific roles in their daughters' Quinceanera celebration.

At the end of each event, the girls will be required to write an essay on, "What a Quinceanera Means to Me," reflecting on what they learned during the seminar. A winning essay will be selected at each event and the winner will receive a prize package that will help them get a head start at planning her Quinceanera.

For more information, contact Worth the Wait at 806-326-1070.

Worth the Wait Gorillas Night | 02/02/2009 |

Worth the Wait sponored s a night at the Gorillas Hockey Game on Saturday, Jan. 31. We sold raffle tickets for $1 for chances to win four different prizes. The prizes consisted of a Ski Trip getaway at Sipapu Ski Resort, A Valentine's Day package, a Spa package and also a complete Birthday Party package at Western Bowl! Four different lucky winners each walked away with one of these prizes. We hope to see you all during the Dusters season, as well as the Dillas baseball season! Be looking for upcoming details and events.

New Teen Pregnancy Stats Released, Texas ranks 3rd in the Nation

| 01/07/2009 |

 The National Campaign to Prevent Teen & Unplanned Pregnancies recently released new teen pregnancy statistics for 2006. The overall report showed that the teen birth rate went up by 3 percent, and Texas was a state that showed an increase. However, Worth the Wait has discovered that the Panhandle region does not rank as high as other areas of the state.

As of 2006, Texas shows to be ranked 3rd in the nation, behind New Mexico and Mississippi, for the highest teen birthrate. Despite the state increase, however; local statistics show that our Region is not ranked as high as other areas in the state.

One key factor in the new report from the National Campaign is that two-thirds of the teen pregnancies reported in 2006 were to 18 and 19 year-olds. This is an age group that Worth the Wait does not primarily focus on. Worth the Wait’s abstinence until marriage curriculum is primarily in the 6th-8th grades in all biology classes, and the curriculum is only received in one semester of high school health classes.

According to the most recent data from the Texas Department of State Health Services, Region 1, which includes the entire Texas Panhandle, is ranked 4th in the state for teen pregnancy rates. This is following Region 11 (Harlingen area) at No. 1, Region 10 (El Paso area) at No. 2 and Region 9 (El Paso area) at No. 3. Potter County alone, is ranked 18th in the state for teen pregnancy rates.

“Even though these stats are relatively high, we are still seeing a decrease in teen sexual activity and teen pregnancy among students in the Worth the Wait program,” said Amy Christie, Executive Director for Worth the Wait. Christie said that according to Worth the Wait’s researcher and evaluator, Dr. Jeff Tanner from Baylor University, students involved in Worth the Wait are not having sex as much as students in the rest of the state who are not involved in the program. “Compared to the rest of the state, our results are reasonably low,” Christie said, “and Worth the Wait’s results continue to improve through our evaluation process.”

These recent statistics for the Panhandle region show that Worth the Wait is continually doing its part to reduce the number of teen pregnancies. Students and parents will even get to see a live glimpse of how successful the Worth the Wait program is during the week of Jan. 12-16 for the annual school assemblies. This year, Worth the Wait is bringing in a nationally-known speaker and author, Keith Deltano, who will use serious comedy to get the message out of why it is “worth the wait” to have sex. 

 

School Assemblies | 01/05/2009 |  

Worth the Wait will begin the New Year with it's annual school assemblies, which will be held during the week of Jan. 12-16. This year's assemblies will feature the nationally-known comedian and author, Keith Deltano, who will be presenting an upbeat message about abstinence.   Keith will speak to middle and high school students and their parents as part of the state-mandated emphasis of sexual abstinence until marriage in the health and biology curricula. Keith will be presenting several school assemblies across the Panhandle, and he will present a parent workshop as well. The parent workshop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., on Jan. 15 at Region 16, located at Hillside and Bell.

During the week, Keith will be performing his show, Abstinence is Cool for middle and high school students. Keith’s shows will promote sexual abstinence and explore the logical reasons it is “worth the wait” to have sex. Worth the Wait’s most recent study showed students who are involved in the Worth the Wait program do not have sex as much as other students in the state who are not in the program. Also, in the first three years that Worth the Wait was implemented in Highland Park High School, the pregnancy rate decreased by 50 percent each year.

Worth the Wait is always looking for creative and innovative ways to reach students, and Keith Deltano's presentations are the perfect solution. In his assemblies, Keith will also use comedy to contrast teen culture with reality. For example, he will contrast the Hollywood concept of teen sex with the fact that one out of four teenage girls has a sexually transmitted disease.*

 

“There are so many problems in today’s society and I believe that humor can be key in addressing these issues,” Keith says. “Humor helps to break down people’s defenses and opens them up to listen. I want the youth to be entertained when I perform, but primarily I want them to know that I care and, more importantly, that there are alternatives to the negative insanity they see and feel every day.”

 

On Jan. 15, Keith will also be presenting his workshop for parents, Fighting Back: How to Promote Abstinence in a Sex Saturated World. This candid presentation will teach parents how to sell abstinence as a positive alternative, how to effectively monitor social life, why and how to monitor media input as well as how to deal with the “oral sex is not sex” attitude that is sweeping the nation’s schools.  Signed copies of Keith’s book, Fighting Back, will be given to the first 30 families that attend. During the workshop drawings will also be held to give away a $400 gift card and two Nintendo Wiis.

 

The workshop is free and is offered to all parents. The workshop begins at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 15 at Region 16. For more information on Keith Deltano, call Freedom Entertainment at 1-888-772-9863.

 

*1 in 4 teen girls has at least one of the most common STDs/Center for Disease Control/National conference on STDs, 2008

http://www.cdc.gov/stdconference/2008/media/release-11march2008.htm

 

The following is the Assembly schedule during the week of Jan. 12-16:

 

Monday, Jan. 12

8:30-9:15 a.m.               Mann Middle School

11-11:45 a.m.                 Ash 6th Grade - Plainview

1:30-2:15 p.m.               Coronado 7th Grade - Plainview

3-3:45 p.m.                     Estacado 8th Grade - Plainview

 

Tuesday, Jan. 13           

9:30-10:15 a.m.            7th & 8th Grade Assembly Teleconference (Region 16)