DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

What is a Collaborative Practice Agreement?

2011-12-12T15:02:00.000-05:00

A"collaborative practice agreement" is a written and signed agreement,entered into voluntarily, between a pharmacist and one or more physicians thatdefines an agreed upon scope of practice in which the pharmacist andphysician(s) propose to engage. Collaborative practice agreements shall be madein the best interest of public health.

Learn more at our Dec. 14, 2011 Roundtable: "Collaborative Practice Agreements and Access to Health Care for Teens". To Register Click Here: http://tinyurl.com/7djzyk2

2011 Winners of 501 (c) Tech Technology Innovation Award

2011-11-11T11:27:00.001-05:00

We are so excited to announce that DC Campaign is the 2011 Winner of the 501 (c) Tech Technology Innovation for creating and implementing the girls-only Media Youth Leadership Task Force. This Youth Leadership Task Force is a different approach to traditional advocacy. Girls are provided with the tools to create videos to tell their stories, blog pieces about the topic and social media promotion. Learn more about our Youth Leadership Task Force on their blog.

DC Campaign Finalist for Video Contest!!

2011-11-11T11:01:00.001-05:00

We are honored to announce that DCCampaign was awarded Finalist in theEverydayHeroes and Heroines video contest for the Cataloguefor Philanthropy: Greater Washington Inspiration to Action 2011Awards Ceremony. Check out the video here:

Check out more videos done by the Youth Leadership Task Force on our Youth Blog!

Fighting Teen Pregnancy Does Not Mean Attacking Teen Mothers

2011-10-19T12:58:00.000-04:00

The facts are clear. Teen Pregnancy is in no oneʼs best interest. Not the child, not the teen parents and not the city as a whole. Preventing teen pregnancy gives young people a better chance at a good future and saves millions of dollars in tax revenue that would otherwise be spent on programs that support families started by teens or deal with the other consequences. Preventing teen pregnancy is a high leverage intervention that is much more cost effective than after the fact measures that do not fix the root cause of the issue or even fully treat the symptoms.

That being said, we still have a large population of pregnant and parenting teens that need our support and guidance. DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy believes that this population is very vulnerable and must receive the highest level of services possible. One program that DC Campaign recommends is the Nurse Family Partnership (NFP). NFP is an evidence based and rigorously tested program for first time low income teen mothers that has been proven to work in many other states. It provides pregnant teens just the sort of support that they need not only to be successful parents but to also prevent subsequent teen births. By promoting birth spacing NFP has been proven to reduce these sorts of births significantly. This form of secondary prevention is key to cutting the teen pregnancy rate and ensuring the well being of teen parents and their children.

DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy has worked hand in hand with Crittenton Services of Greater Washington along with Teen Alliance for Prepared Parenting (TAPP) and Healthy Generations. DC Campaign believes that children in the District need all of the help and support that we, as caring adults, can provide. They also deserve the truth. We must not sugar coat the research and facts surrounding the effects of teen pregnancy on teens, their families, and the city as a whole.

DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy believes that every child deserves a childhood. Teen pregnancy takes that away from them.

DC Leaders Focus on Teen Pregnancy

2011-10-13T10:22:00.001-04:00

Updated: Tuesday, 11 Oct 2011, 6:03 PM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 11 Oct 2011, 6:03 PM EDT

Matt Ackland twitter/mattackland
FOX 5 Reporter
By MATT ACKLAND/myfoxdc

WASHINGTON - Did you know 60 percent of all pregnancies in the District are not planned? And public officials say many of those are involving teenagers in D.C.

On Tuesday, several council members came together to speak out on an issue that is hurting young people academically, financially, and appears to be linked to higher juvenile arrest rates.

The Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy got the support of many city leaders on the front steps of the Wilson building. City leaders say not enough is being done to teach young people the consequences of having sex early in life.

Leaders say teenagers should receive more sex education not only at school, but also at home

View video here

Dinner for six with Jose Andres!

2011-10-13T10:11:00.000-04:00

Join DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy at our Annual Celebrity Auction and Fundraiser and bid on once in a lifetime experiences like dinner for six at the home of Jose Andres! Be sure to check back regularly for information on more exciting auction experiences!

Thursday Evening, October 13, 2011

Cocktail Reception 6:00pm

Live Auction 7:30pm

DLA Piper

500 Eighth Street NW

Washington, DC 20004

Tickets : $150 per person $275 per couple

Buy Tickets

Click on Image to Enlarge

Breakfast with Andrea Roane!

2011-10-12T15:23:00.000-04:00

Join DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy at our Annual Celebrity Auction and Fundraiser and bid on once in a lifetime experiences like breakfast with Channel 9 news host Andrea Roane! Be sure to check back regularly for information on more exciting auction experiences!

Thursday Evening, October 13, 2011

Cocktail Reception 6:00pm

Live Auction 7:30pm

DLA Piper

500 Eighth Street NW

Washington, DC 20004

Tickets : $150 per person $275 per couple

Buy Tickets

Click on Image to Enlarge

DC Campaign's Historic Press Conference in the News!

2011-10-12T15:18:00.000-04:00

Full story and video click here

District has among the highest rates of teen pregnancy in the nation, with some 60 out of every 1,000 teen girls becoming mothers each year.
“We're not doing right by our young people and we've gotta do a better job,” said Brenda Rhodes Miller of the D.C. campaign to prevent teen pregnancy.
Along with the campaign, city leaders are advising District youth that teen pregnancy is in no one's best interest. The goal is to encourage teens to act responsibly, live healthy and make informed choices.
      “We have to engage young people, we have to put money so folk understand if people need other counseling -- and parenting, but not just parenting your own kids, but the community as well,” said councilmember Michael Brown.
     Data shows much of the burden of teen pregnancies falls on taxpayers: More than 50 percent of people who receive temporary assistance for needy families -- or TANF -- started families when they were teens.
    More than three-quarters of children placed in foster care were born to teen parents, and sons of teen mothers are three times more likely to enter the criminal justice system.
     “People look at the one teen boy or girl and the baby and go ‘oh.’ But in fact this isn’t an individual problem, it one that affects the whole community and it's a problem that reflects the social and economical health of our city,” Rhodes Miller said.
     The D.C. campaign to cut teen pregnancy is focused on cutting the city's teen pregnancy rate in half by 2015. They insist it's a crucial step in ensuring a better future for the city's teens and the city itself.
“You’ll see young people living better jobs. They'll attend school instead of working a night job. They'll go on to college instead of staying here and taking care of a child. They'll be better more productive citizens and then go on to have a better and healthier family,” the campaign’s Jay Cooper said.

Bid on a Piece of History!

2011-10-12T09:58:00.000-04:00

Join DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy at our Annual Celebrity Auction and Fundraiser and bid on one of a kind art pieces like this beautiful Gee's Bend inspired quilt from the collection of Avis Robinson ! Be sure to check back regularly for information on more exciting auction experiences!

Thursday Evening, October 13, 2011

Cocktail Reception 6:00pm

Live Auction 7:30pm

DLA Piper

500 Eighth Street NW

Washington, DC 20004

Tickets : $150 per person $275 per couple

Buy Tickets

Click on image to enlarge

Backstage Tour of Washington Week with Gwen Ifill

2011-10-07T15:12:00.000-04:00

Join DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy at our Annual Celebrity Auction and Fundraiser and bid on a chance to talk news with nationally known journalist Gwen Ifill! Be sure to check back regularly for information on more exciting auction experiences!

Thursday Evening, October 13, 2011

Cocktail Reception 6:00pm

Live Auction 7:30pm

DLA Piper

500 Eighth Street NW

Washington, DC 20004

Tickets : $150 per person $275 per couple

Buy Tickets

Click on Image to Enlarge

Be a Part of a Holiday Tradition!!!

2011-10-07T13:00:00.000-04:00

Join DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy at our Annual Celebrity Auction and Fundraiser and bid on a chance to win four tickets and backstage access to the Nutcracker with Septime Webre! Be sure to check back regularly for information on more exciting auction experiences!

Thursday Evening, October 13, 2011

Cocktail Reception 6:00pm

Live Auction 7:30pm

DLA Piper

500 Eighth Street NW

Washington, DC 20004

Tickets : $150 per person $275 per couple

Buy Tickets

Click on Image to Enlarge

Dinner for four @ the Chef's table at Ris!

2011-10-05T15:46:00.000-04:00

Join DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy at our Annual Celebrity Auction and Fundraiser and bid on a chance to enjoy dinner for four at the Chef's table at Ris! Be sure to check back regularly for information on more exciting auction experiences!

Thursday Evening, October 13, 2011

Cocktail Reception 6:00pm

Live Auction 7:30pm

DLA Piper

500 Eighth Street NW

Washington, DC 20004

Tickets : $150 per person $275 per couple

Buy Tickets

Click on Image to Enlarge

Lunch with Richard Wolffe!

2011-10-03T15:21:00.000-04:00

Join DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy at our Annual Celebrity Auction and Fundraiser and bid on a chance to enjoy lunch with Richard Wolffe! Be sure to check back regularly for information on more exciting auction experiences!

Thursday Evening, October 13, 2011

Cocktail Reception 6:00pm

Live Auction 7:30pm

DLA Piper

500 Eighth Street NW

Washington, DC 20004

Tickets : $150 per person $275 per couple

Buy Tickets

Click on Image to Enlarge

Tea Time with Michele Norris!!

2011-09-30T13:09:00.000-04:00

Join DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy at our Annual Celebrity Auction and Fundraiser and bid on a chance to win tea time with Michele Norris! Be sure to check back regularly for information on more exciting auction experiences!

Thursday Evening, October 13, 2011

Cocktail Reception 6:00pm

Live Auction 7:30pm

DLA Piper

500 Eighth Street NW

Washington, DC 20004

Tickets : $150 per person $275 per couple

Buy Tickets

Click on Image to Enlarge

Talk Sports with Michael Wilbon!

2011-09-28T13:28:00.001-04:00

Join DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy at our Annual Celebrity Auction and Fundraiser and bid on a chance to Talk Sports with Michael Wilbon! Be sure to check back regularly for information on more exciting auction experiences!

Thursday Evening, October 13, 2011

Cocktail Reception 6:00pm

Live Auction 7:30pm

DLA Piper

500 Eighth Street NW

Washington, DC 20004

Tickets : $150 per person $275 per couple

Buy Tickets

Click on picture to enlarge

DC Councilmember Michael A. Brown says "teen pregnancy is in no one's best interest"

2011-09-27T16:30:00.000-04:00

16 and Well-Adjusted is the New 16 and Pregnant!

2011-08-08T13:34:00.004-04:00

Check out this video: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/31/landlines-16-and-well-adjusted_n_914298.html

DON'T MISS THIS SALE!!!

2011-08-02T15:27:00.000-04:00

Check out or newest PSA, an informerical parady showing how little sense teen pregnancy makes.

DC Campaign to be featured on Deals for Deeds!

2011-07-26T12:20:00.000-04:00

We asked for your support, and we got it! We want to thank everyone for being a continued supporter of our work and taking time out to vote for us to be a featured nonprofit on Deals for Deeds. Please stay tuned for more information about how you can enjoy the great deal that will support our cause. With your help DC Campaign is one step closer to making teen pregnancy a thing of the past!

Check out our newest PSA: DOORS

2011-07-25T15:35:00.000-04:00

Teen pregnancy closes doors. Did you know that research says that teen mothers are less likely to complete high school and go on to higher education? Research also says that children of teen parents are more likely to struggle early in school and become teen parents themselves thus continuing the cycle of teen pregnancy in our communities. Help DC Campaign make teen pregnancy a thing of the past. For more information visit our website: www.dccampaign.org

Check out this new trailer!

2011-07-18T12:07:00.000-04:00

It's Not OK

2011-07-12T11:06:00.003-04:00

How do you help teenage parents succeed without creating the impression that it's perfectly fine to be a teen parent? How do you teach young girls and boys that it's not OK, without condemning young parents? There's a fine line somewhere in there, and I have a feeling it won't be easy to find. The answer is the same as with most things, HONEST EDUCATION. Every child is valuable and teen parents are not excluded from that statement. They should not be discarded because they made an error in judgement. Responsible ADULTS however must make it clear that not using protection every time you have sex is in fact an error in judgement. Teen pregnancy is in no one's best interest. Not the parent, not the child and not the community as a whole. We can no longer let it be OK.

What are people so afraid of in the District of Columbia?

2011-06-22T09:45:00.007-04:00

Why do citizens leave it to reporters to castigate elected officials for wrong-doing? Leaving aside corruption, some of the wrong-doing that most desperately needs correcting is the way this city treats its adolescents.

At nearly every high school graduation, someone blabbers on about “youth are the future of this city” to audiences with untold numbers of students who can’t read on grade level.

Why aren't the prospects of most DCPS and public charter school graduates far brighter? Even with a high school diploma in hand, all too many DC teens aren't sufficiently prepared for college or trade school or the world of work. They may have all the enthusiasm and eagerness in the world, but still can’t see their way clear to self-sufficiency at some point in the future.

Isn't that what we want for our own children? To be able to make it on their own eventually. Why aren’t more parents up in arms?

Sometimes it seems this city believes in giving teens just the bare minimum. Teens and parents may be afraid that if they complain this isn’t good enough, even that bare minimum will get snatched away.

We should be ashamed of ourselves.

High expectations and rigorously evaluated efforts can lead to success. Platitudes rarely do. Keeping kids busy and out of your hair is not the same thing as actively investing in their success.

Why doesn’t the capital of the greatest nation in the history of the world have a clearly articulated youth policy that maps out steps to success for all of our children? Yeah, yeah, I know, teenagers don’t vote, they don’t have political power, money talks and every thing else better take a walk.

Teen Pregnancy Declines in Washington, DC

2011-06-14T10:39:00.002-04:00

(Washington, DC) – According to the most recent data* available, the teen pregnancy rate in Washington, DC is now 59.1 pregnancies per 1,000 girls 15 to 19 years old. DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy reports that while the 2009 rate shows a welcome 3.7 percent decline from 2008, the rate also means that 1,032 babies were born to teens in the same age group.

“Any reduction in the teen pregnancy rate is good news, but DC still has a long way to go,” says Brenda Rhodes Miller, executive director of DC Campaign. “What message are we sending when the capital of the greatest nation in the history of the world has double-digit teen pregnancy numbers?”

Teen pregnancy has a tremendous impact on everyone in the city, including taxpayers. Hundreds of millions of government dollars are spent annually to support families started by teens. “Huge expenditures on the back-end should be matched by strategic investments on the front end to prevent teen pregnancy and put a dent in the startling rates of poverty, crime, poor health, child abuse and neglect and school failure that have long plagued Washington, DC. Reducing teen pregnancy can lead to more stable families, stronger communities, a better prepared work force and healthier children,” Miller says.

Credit for the decline in teen pregnancies goes to adolescents themselves with the support of parents, many local teen pregnancy prevention advocates, community based organizations, schools, and churches.

Founded in 1999, DC Campaign is a private, non-profit 501 (c) (3) whose mission is to improve the lives and well being of adolescents in Washington, DC by cutting the teen pregnancy rate in half by 2015.

*The District of Columbia State Center for Health Statistics is the source of teen pregnancy data. Due to reporting schedules, the teen pregnancy rate typically lags 2-3 years behind real time.

2nd Annual Walk and Rally was HUGE SUCCESS!

2011-05-11T13:37:00.004-04:00

DC Campaign would like to thank all of the people who came out to support our 2nd Annual "Take a Step to Prevent Teen Pregnancy Walk and Rally" this past Saturday (May 7, 2011). Special Guest Included: Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Councilmember Harry "Tommy" Thomas, Jr., Assistant Chief Diane Groomes, and Angie Ange of WKYS Radio 93.9. Check out video from the event below!

DC Campaign's Second Annual "Take A Step to Prevent Teen Pregnancy" Walk and Rally

2011-04-22T12:03:00.000-04:00

You don't want to miss DC Campaign's second annual Take a Step to Prevent Teen Pregnancy Walk and Rally on Saturday May, 7, 2011 at 9:30am.

Bring your family, friends and neighbors to this exciting activity! The walk starts at Samuel Gompers Park, 11th and Mass. Avenue, NW and continues to the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Penn. Avenue, NW. Step out to make teen pregnancy a thing of the past with Councilmember Harry "Tommy" Thomas, Jr. (Ward 5) and Angie Ange of 93.9 WKYS, and others.

Register Today!

"Caught in the System" Provides Tips for Working with Teens

2011-04-15T12:39:00.000-04:00

Children in foster care are some of the most at risk youth in DC. Last week, DC Campaign hosted "Caught in the System" : a roundtable that linked foster care, teen pregnancy and child abuse. Representatives from DC Child and Family Services Agency, The Children's Agenda, The Children's Law Center and Safe Shores all gathered to discuss best practices on how to work with teens. Although the main focus of the roundtable was children in the foster care system, many of the points that were raised can be helpful to all adults who work with teens.

Some of the points discussed included:

When talking to teens it's important to include both boys and girls in the conversation.
Don't assume that anyone else has had in-depth conversations with the teen about sex and making healthy decisions.
Never assume you know the sexual orientation or level of sexual activity of the teen.
Remember to place sex in the greater context of what it means to have healthy relationships.

Having open and honest conversations with teens is one of the first steps to forming a strong relationship.

DC Campaign's Youth Leadership Task Force in The News!

2011-04-13T12:48:00.000-04:00

Check out the Youth Leadership Task Force featured on WAMU 88.5.

D.C. Students Take To Youtube To Talk Teen Pregnancy
Courtney Collins

April 13, 2011 - The DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy is teaching a group of teen girls to be peer educators and giving them a chance to star in their own short films at the same time.

Download

The teenagers are members of the Campaign's Youth Leadership Task Force, which enables young people to work to increase awareness among their friends and classmates about teen pregnancy.

Every few weeks, this group of girls produce their own video with a message. They've developed a "Teen Talk" sessions with real students discussing real issues, and also a "Trending Topics" series in which they act out scenarios that students are facing every day. In the past, they've tackled heavy topics like bullying and unprotected sex.

The students are filming their latest installment this week. While the process is involved, Program Manager Erica McKinney says the girls do it all themselves.

"Script, write, edit, produce and film their own videos that talk about their own personal experiences and experiences that other teens in D.C. are affected by," McKinney says.

The current video is about body image, and helping teens embrace their imperfections. One of the students, Nya, says working on this video is a great way to reach teens that would normally turn away from this kind of advice if it came from an adult.

"So as a group of teenagers we can say, 'we know what you're doing right now and we can relate to you because were a teenager too,'" Nya says.

The Youth Leadership Task Force video program is open to high school aged girls. The group meets weekly at two locations: the Campaign's offices in Shaw and the Woodson High School 9th Grade Academy, currently located in Ronald H. Brown Middle School.

A Tale of Two Cities

2011-03-30T09:53:00.001-04:00

The idea of DC being split into two cities is not a new phenomenon. For years the split between the affluent and non affluent communities has been evident leaving some harbored feelings of resentment and disconnect.

In an effort to bridge the gap, politicians have vowed to work toward making DC "one city". Promises of equality in resources and support have continuously been made, unfortunately with little or no progress.

The split of the District is more than just an idea though: it can be proven in statistics. Take teen pregnancy for instance. How can one section of the city have little to no teen births when the rest of the city has hundreds? It's no surprise that wards 7 and 8 where more than half of children live in poverty also suffer from the same high teen pregnancy and crime rates.

When breaking down teen pregnancy statistics, we find that people are often FLOORED when they hear that in any given year approximately 1,000 teens give birth. This trend shows that teens in lower income communities are not given the same chance at a healthy childhood.

Preventing teen pregnancy across the ENTIRE city is one sure way to solve this inequality. Making sure teens have access to health care and programs that promote making healthy decisions is essential. Cutting the teen pregnancy rate is not something that only half of the city can be concerned about. Instead, it's time for the District to unite and rally around this cause. Preventing teen pregnancy saves ALL DC taxpayers money and gives ALL DC youth a chance at a better future.

Caught in The System

2011-03-28T10:27:00.000-04:00

In the District of Columbia, 76% of children placed in foster care were born to parents who started their families as teens.

Families started by teens are extremely fragile and a startling number of children born when their parents were adolescents wind up in the child welfare system.

To learn more about this troubling connection, please join DC Campaign for the upcoming roundtable: Caught in the System

Watch the Trailer Here:

Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say

2011-03-25T12:03:00.002-04:00

Every week, an hour before I arrive at Woodson Senior High School for the Youth Leadership Task Force, I get the same text message: "Are you coming today?" And every week I smile to myself. It's endearing to know that my students care enough about the program to inquire if I will attend weekly. On the other hand though, it saddens me to know just how many times these girls have been let down.

This simple text message is a testament to a much larger issue: DC teens are used to being disappointed. The sad truth is that many teens in DC suffer from the same level of mistrust due to the inconsistency of adults who say that they are going to do something, but don’t. So often people and programs are brought into their lives and just as quickly as they come, they leave. Whether the intentions of those adults are good or not rarely matters in the grand scheme of things if they don't stay around. In fact, research shows that any program or mentoring opportunity actually does more harm than good if not continued for at least a year.

Offering teens a safe place where they can learn new skills and connect with their peers while being supervised by a trustworthy adult is one of the purposes of DC Campaign's Youth Leadership Task Force. Every week girls learn leadership skills that show them how to use their voice and media as forms of advocacy.

DC teens long for stability, guidance and someone they can trust. That's why it's no wonder that every week, regardless of my track record of always being there, the girls feel the need to double check. While making big plans to "save teens" or further our mission, it's important to remember the smallest of details: just being there. If we're really going to make a change in teens’ lives, it's important that we give them our most valuable of treasures: our time.

For more information about the Youth Leadership Task Force contact Erica McKinney at emckinney@dccampaing.org. Click here to check out the Youth Leadership Task Force's blog for videos and more!

Check out our Youth Leadership Task Force Blog!

2011-03-09T10:01:00.002-05:00

The Youth Leadership Task Force is a program designed to teach teen girls in the District how to use media as a form of advocacy. Girls are taught how to script, film, produce, edit, and promote videos that discuss issues that affect teens in the city. There are two YLTF groups : one that meets weekly at our Shaw office and another that meets at the Woodson High School 9th grade academy (temporarily located at Ronald H. Brown Middle School).

Every few weeks, both groups will produce a film and corresponding blog entries that will discuss the topic featured in the video. All blog entries and scripts are written by the teens. We hope that you enjoy and leave comments. www.yltf.blogspot.com

Lights...Camera...Action!

2011-02-28T13:14:00.001-05:00

Did you know that when teens spend their free time developing positive new skills they're less likely to get into trouble? Add adult supervision to the mix and you've got a recipe for success.

DC Campaign's Youth Leadership Task Force does both.

During weekly meetings with teen girls at Woodson Senior High School, temporarily located at the Ronald H. Brown Middle School, and at our office in Shaw, teen girls learn how to be their own best advocates through video production.

The girls pick the topics, do the research, write the scripts, tape the segments and edit the final product. They also learn how to use social networking for advocacy.

Led by a recent college graduate with a degree in broadcast journalism, the Youth Leadership Task Force helps teens find their voice.

Take a look at their most recent video.

Teaching leadership and advocacy skills, how to write testimony and letters to the editor, introducing teens to elected officials and giving teens lots of opportunities to speak out is something DC Campaign has been doing since 1999.

The Youth Leadership Task Force also gives DC Campaign real-time information on the lives of adolescents in the city: what they're doing, what they're afraid of and what they say they need to thrive.

Please help more teens by donating to DC Campaign today.

Kindly make your tax deductible contribution using your credit card or mailing a check to:

DC Campaign

1112 Eleventh St. NW

Suite 100

Washington, DC 20001

Thank you for helping DC Campaign make teen pregnancy a thing of the past.

Show your love for DC Campaign and help us win $5,000!!!!

2011-02-11T11:08:00.004-05:00

DC Campaign needs your help! We have an opportunity to win the $5,000 prize that GuideStar USA, Inc., the leading source of nonprofit information, and KIMBA, a group that empowers nonprofits and other organizations to increase giving, are making available through their Winter 2011 GuideStar-KIMBA Nonprofit Giveaway.

This generous gift would help us accomplish our mission, which is to improve the lives and well-being of adolescents in the District of Columbia by cutting the teen pregnancy rate in half no later than 2015.

Anyone with firsthand knowledge about DC Campaign can send in a review. That includes donors, volunteers, board members, someone who has attended a Roundtable, parent training, briefing or party, you can write a review about us on GuideStar. Your review will appear in our profile on both GuideStar and GreatNonprofits, GuideStar's partner that makes it possible to write and post reviews.

It does not cost anything, but you are limited to posting only one review from your organization. If you subscribe to Spreading the Word or attended our annual auction or gotten technical assistance from DC Campaign, I sincerely ask you to write a review so DC Campaign can win the $5,000. We can only win with your help.

It's fun and easy to write a review.

Here's a little sample:

I like DC Campaign because (please fill in the blanks). DC Campaign helped me by (please fill in the blanks). DC Campaign is the only organization in DC devoted entirely to cutting teen pregnancy in half.

Now you're ready to write your review. I know you've got a really busy life, but please take a few moments and submit your review now. The deadline is February 28, 2011 and we need lots of reviews to win!

Kindly click: http://www2.guidestar.org/organizations/52-2157224/dc-campaign-prevent-teen-pregnancy.aspx.

For more information, see the official rules at http://www2.guidestar.org/rxg/update-nonprofit-report/sweepstakes-official-rules.aspx

The giveaway ends 11:59 p.m. EDT, February 28, 2011

DC Campaign in the News!

2011-02-07T16:47:00.000-05:00

Check out Colbert King's Washington Post article featuring DC Campaign: "Celebrating black history as the black family disintegrates" : http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/04/AR2011020404934.html

Leave a comment and let us know what you think!

What are they thinking?

2011-02-03T16:01:00.000-05:00

Working with youth can be rewarding yet challenging. Ever wondered, “What are they thinking?” DC Campaign dared to ask this question at its roundtable on the adolescent brain.

Moderated by Renee Jenkins, MD, Professor and Chair emeritus of the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health at Howard University, the roundtable featured a keynote address by renown researcher in the field of the adolescent brain development, Jay N. Giedd, MD, Chief of Brain Imaging, National Institute of Mental Health and a distinguished panel of experts: Anita Chandra, Dr.PH, Behavioral Scientist & Manager of the Behavioral and Social Sciences Group, RAND; Harry Gill, MD, PhD, Executive Director of the Washington School of Psychiatry and Olga Acosta Price, PhD, Director of the Center for Health and Health Care in Schools.

Here’s what the presenters had to say:

Adults and teens have been shown to process emotions differently, they use different areas of their brain to recognize feelings
Plasticity is the ability of the human brain to change in response to challenges of the environment is the most compelling feature of adolescent brain development
Brain is built to learn by example, aka modeling
When reading emotion, teens rely more on the amygdata, while adults rely more on the frontal cortex
Boys are motivated by sex, girls are motivated by status

Research shows that the adolescent brain is a work in progress, which could explain why actions and consequences don’t always register for teens.

Please feel free to leave comments and your own personal stories of working with teens.

End Teen Pregnancy, Reduce Deficit!

2011-01-21T15:46:00.001-05:00

DC Campaign's Communications Director Joyce Fourth Clemons took to the radio airwaves to discuss teen pregnancy in DC.

Check out the full text of her WAMU 88.5 FM commentary below and listen here: http://wamu.org/news/11/01/14.php#40012: .

Also be sure to listen to her guest appearance on WPFW 89.3 FM 2K Nation : http://wpfw.org/archive/odplayer.php?link=2K%20Nation%202011-01-20%20Comp.mp3

Full Text From WAMU Commentary

January 12, 2011: The District of Columbia is in the midst of a crisis. The government is running out of money. And at the same time, child poverty is increasing to tragic levels.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or TANF is a big ticket item in D.C.'s budget. And more than half of all TANF recipients started their families when they were teens.

Teen pregnancy is a one way ticket to persistent poverty. Yet government continues to ignore a very important way to help children out of poverty and balance the budget.

There are only two ways to prevent pregnancy, be it teen or otherwise: Either don't have sex, or if you do, be sure to use birth control every single time.

Motivating teens to pick one of these options in the first place is the way to go.

Boys and girls who can see a good future are more likely to avoid pregnancy. It also helps when teens have a chance to learn new skills and develop talents in their free time.

School success from an early age seems to inoculate against teen pregnancy. So does having a sense of belonging, and teen friendly health care that is routine and regular.

And the number one way to prevent teen pregnancy is for boys and girls to feel connected -- to their schools, their neighborhoods and most of all, to the adults in their lives. But it's a two-way street.

Trustworthy adults play a big role by providing supervision and making a serious investment in the well-being of teens that they are responsible for. That means never giving up on them and remaining a reliable presence for the long haul.

The time is now for the District of Columbia to get serious about preventing teen pregnancy.

"Teen Pregnancy Perpetuates D.C. Poverty"

2011-01-10T15:48:00.003-05:00

Have you read Colbert King's Washington Post article "Teen Pregnancy Perpetuates D.C. Poverty"?

Check it out at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con

tent/article/2011/01/07/AR2011010704249.html .

Be a Kid. Don't Have One.

2011-01-07T15:32:00.007-05:00

What if babies could talk?

That's what DC Campaign board member Jennifer Burton asked groups of teens throughout the city. Burton, founding partner of Envision Communications, produced a series of edgy and provocative print ads focused on preventing teen pregnancy. Instead of adults lecturing teens to wait until they're older to have children, in these ads, babies talk directly to their teen parents.

"Be a Kid. Don't Have One." was the result.

DC Campaign's mission is to cut the city's teen pregnancy rate in half by 2015. These ads can help us get there. Look for them on buses all over town and at these metro stations: Addison Road-Seat Pleasant, Columbia Heights, Judiciary Square, Mt. Vernon 7th Street/Convention Center and Shaw-Howard University.

Everyone can help prevent teen pregnancy. Tell me now what you think about the ads and let me know what you'd like to do to help every teen in DC have a good future.

Click on comments and tell me what you think.

DC Campaign's 12 Days of Christmas

2010-12-20T12:42:00.000-05:00

On the first day of Christmas

DC Campaign gave to me

A teen pregnancy prevention strategy

On the second day of Christmas
DC Campaign gave to me
Two caring parents
And a teen pregnancy prevention strategy

On the third day of Christmas
DC Campaign gave to me
Three Youth Leadership Task Forces
Two caring parents
And a teen pregnancy prevention strategy

On the fourth day of Christmas
DC Campaign gave to me
Four Roundtables
Three Youth Leadership Task Forces
Two caring parents
And a teen pregnancy prevention strategy

On the fifth day of Christmas
DC Campaign gave to me
Five Teen Town Halls
Four Roundtables
Three Youth Leadership Task Forces
Two caring parents
And a teen pregnancy prevention strategy

On the sixth day of Christmas
DC Campaign gave to me
Six trustworthy adults
Five Teen Town Halls
Four Roundtables
Three Youth Leadership Task Forces
Two caring parents
And a teen pregnancy prevention strategy

On the seventh day of Christmas
DC Campaign gave to me
Seven schools that teach me
Six trustworthy adults
Five Teen Town Halls
Four Roundtables
Three Youth Leadership Task Forces
Two caring parents
And a teen pregnancy prevention strategy

On the eighth day of Christmas
DC Campaign gave to me
Eight safe Wards to live in
Seven schools that teach me
Six trustworthy adults
Five Teen Town Halls
Four Roundtables
Three Youth Leadership Task Forces
Two caring parents
And a teen pregnancy prevention strategy

On the ninth day of Christmas
DC Campaign gave to me
Nine year-round jobs
Eight safe Wards to live in
Seven schools that teach me
Six trustworthy adults
Five Teen Town Halls
Four Roundtables
Three Youth Leadership Task Forces Two caring parents
And a teen pregnancy prevention strategy

On the tenth day of Christmas
DC Campaign gave to me
Ten Parent Trainings
Nine year-round jobs
Eight safe Wards to live in
Seven schools that teach me
Six trustworthy adults
Five Teen Town Halls
Four Roundtables
Three Youth Leadership Task Forces
Two caring parents
And a teen pregnancy prevention strategy

On the eleventh day of Christmas
DC Campaign gave to me

Eleven after-school programs

Ten Parent Trainings

Nine year-round jobs

Eight safe Wards to live in

Seven schools that teach me

Six trustworthy adults

Five Teen Town Halls

Four Roundtables

Three Youth Leadership Task Forces

Two caring parents

And a teen pregnancy prevention strategy

On the twelfth day of Christmas

DC Campaign gave to me

Twelve years great schooling

Eleven after-school programs

Ten Parent Trainings

Nine year-round jobs

Eight safe Wards to live in

Seven schools that teach me

Six trustworthy adults

Five Teen Town Halls

Four Roundtables

Three Youth Leadership Task Forces

Two caring parents

And a teen pregnancy prevention strategy

Have a Wonderful Holiday Season

You're Support Can Make Teen Pregnancy a Thing of the Past

2010-12-15T13:31:00.000-05:00

Do you wish there was something you could do about child abuse, infant mortality, school failure, neighborhood instability and juvenile crime in the District of Columbia?

Well, there is. You can make teen pregnancy a thing of the past.

The simple truth is that families started by teens are extremely fragile. Despite the best of intentions, most teens are just not up to the challenge of being good parents. They don't have the resources or the maturity.

Please give every child in the District a chance to succeed. Make a generous year-end gift to DC Campaign.

Teen pregnancy is at the root of nearly every social problem facing the District today and DC Campaign is the only group in town devoted entirely to preventing teen pregnancy in the nation's capital.

DC Campaign teaches parents how to talk to their own children about values, love, sex and relationships.

DC Campaign builds leadership skills in high school boys and girls, helping them become their own best advocates.

Take advantage of a tax-deduction in 2010 by making your donation today. Or mail your donation to DC Campaign, 1112 Eleventh Street, NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20001.

If you've got friends who care about young people in DC too, please share this with them.

Preventing Teen Pregnancy Could Save DC Government a Mint!

2010-11-17T13:10:00.001-05:00

DC is in the midst of a crisis: the government is running out of money. At the same time, child poverty is increasing to epic proportions. In some neighborhoods one in three children is poor; while east of the river half of all children are poor.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Foster Care have long been big ticket items in the District of Columbia budget. Over fifty percent of the recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) started their families when they were teens. Seventy-six percent of children placed in foster care were born to teen parents. Teen pregnancy is a one way ticket to persistent poverty. Yet government continues to ignore an obvious way to help children get out of poverty and balance the budget.

According to Dr. Belle Sawhill of Brookings, "...preventing teen pregnancy and teen births is among the best chances a state has to make a long term difference in keeping welfare rolls down and, more importantly, reducing child poverty."

In 2010, for every dollar the city government spent on teen pregnancy prevention programs specifically, it spent $833 supporting families started by teens.

Tell your elected officials "It's past time to get serious about reducing child poverty. Spending money on the front end saves a mint later. Invest in proven teen pregnancy prevention programs based in research. We'll all be glad you did."

http://www.dccouncil.us/contactuscouncil

DC Campaign's Annual Celebrity Auction and Fundraiser!

2010-08-24T14:22:00.003-04:00

Support DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy at our fabulous Celebrity Auction Featuring:

• Lunch for two with Al and Franni Franken in the Senate Dining Room

• Full week passes to the 2011 US Open at the Congressional Country Club

• Lunch with award winning journalist, Michele Norris

• Tea with best-selling author, Kitty Kelley

• Behind the scenes tour of Washington Week with moderator, Gwen Ifill

and much, much more!

Dancing under a full moon…Incredible view of the skyline and a cocktail reception. It will be the most fun you’ll ever have at a fundraiser!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Six o’clock in the evening

Rooftop Terrace at DLA Piper

500 Eighth Street, NW

Washington, DC 20004

Support the cause and this wonderful event by becoming a sponsor!

Sponsorship Levels and Benefits:

• $10,000: Ten reception tickets, Logo on cover of program and our website

• $5,000: Six Reception tickets, website and program listing

• $2,500: Four reception tickets, website and program listing

• $1,000: Two reception tickets and website listing

Tickets:

$275 per couple (2 tickets)

$150 per person (1 ticket)

If you are unable to sponsor, but would like to contribute, visit our website where you can donate any amount at any time! www.dccampaign.org

To become a sponsor or purchase tickets, please call Erica McKinney at 202-789-4666 ext. 15 or email at emckinney@dccampaign.org

New Exciting Fundraising Ideas!

2010-07-28T09:52:00.000-04:00

DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy's mission is to cut the teen pregnancy rate in half by 2015. To reach this goal, we need your help! Below are some fun fundraising ideas to get your whole office involved!

Everyone loves a little friendly competition. Gather a group of co-workers and see who can raise the most money for teen pregnancy prevention. Set a deadline and award the winning employee with a prize (a gift card, lunch on the office...you decide). Once you have collected everyone's donations, just log onto DC Campaign's website at http://www.dccampaign.org/ and click on the icon that says: DONATE NOW. It's that simple. Start collecting today!
Let family and friends in on the fun. You can gather your family and friends just as you would your co-workers and let the giving begin!
Set a goal. You and your office can set a goal of how much you would like to raise and assign everyone an amount to personally raise or donate. This way you can reach your goals fast with the help and participation of the whole office!
Become a sponsor for DC Campaign's Annual Celebrity Auction and Fundraiser. Every year DC Campaign hosts a fundraiser to help raise funds toward our mission. This fabulous event features a celebrity auction, dancing, cocktails and lots of fun! Your company can become a sponsor by donating $10,000, $5,000, $2,500 or $1,000. Each sponsorship level comes with many great benefits such as free tickets to this unforgettable event and your company's logo listed on both our website and on the program. For more information about becoming a sponsor, please contact Erica McKinney by calling 202-789-4666 ext. 15 or by email at emckinney@dccampaign.org
Unable to sponsor but still want to attend the event? No worries! Tickets are on sale now. They are $275 per couple and $150 per ticket. To purchase tickets, please visit our website and go to the DONATE NOW icon.
Make a personal contribution. No contribution is too big or too small. You can make a donation for any amount on our website at any time! http://www.dccampaign.org/

Any way you choose to donate helps us get one step closer to our goal of cutting the teen pregnancy rate in half. Please donate today!

If not now...then when?

2010-07-13T13:09:00.002-04:00

Teen pregnancy is one of the MOST pressing issues to affect the DC area and it won’t just disappear…we have to take steps to make sure that the teen pregnancy rate goes down. DC Campaign’s original goal was to cut the teen pregnancy rate in half by 2005 and in 2005 we lived up to that mission. Our newest goal is to cut the teen pregnancy rate in half by 2015…and with your help we can meet that goal too! The most important part of a community is its youth because they are the future. Take steps today to ensure that we don’t raise another generation of children having children. You can start by learning more information on how you can be a part of the solution by logging on to dccampaign.org.

It's Time to Change the Conversation!!!

2010-07-06T11:00:00.000-04:00

For decades organizations that are geared toward teen pregnancy prevention have focused on teen girls. But really, why is that? It’s not like a girl can get pregnant alone…so why not combat the WHOLE issue. It’s time to change the conversation and our approach. If we only focus on teen girls we are missing 50 percent of our target. Deciding to have sexual intercourse is the decision of both parties as is deciding to use protection. So if we are trying to really help prevent teen pregnancy we have to educate both parties.

Doing this though, is never easy. The ways in which we communicate with teen boys and teen girls is dramatically different. For girls stress is put on the idea of a life change and loss of freedom after teen pregnancy but we know that this same tactic will not work for teen boys whose lives are not always dramatically affected. What does affect boys though, is the idea of financial loss. Once paternity is proven, young men are going to be responsible for child support for a large period of their lives. Now THIS gives them something to think about.

So now we want to give YOU something to think about. What do you think are some affective ways to reach teens that will be powerful enough to prevent pregnancy? There are no wrong answers. Please leave a comment with your feedback.

Teen Pregnancy Affects the Entire Community!!!

2010-07-01T14:11:00.004-04:00

When thinking of teen pregnancy, many people may blow it off as something that doesn't affect them directly. If the teen that becomes pregnancy has no relationship to them, then they may just see it as another issue for someone else to deal with. What people fail to realize though, is the major economic affects that teen pregnancy has on the entire community. DC has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates of anywhere in the nation, and whether you know it or not, all citizens and taxpayers are affected by this high rate.

Yearly the DC government spends nearly a billion dollars in direct cost associated with teen pregnancy. This means that almost half of the combined budgets of the Department of Health and the Department of Human services in DC are directed toward assistance programs for families begun by teens.

So why should this matter to you?

It matters because teen pregnancy is not a single issue; instead it is an issue that affects other social problems in our community. Teen childbearing is closely linked to poverty, welfare dependency and the use of many publicly funded social services. This means that every taxpayer in the district shares in the financial cost to support families begun by teens.

Still, don't be discouraged! You can help! Research has found that teen pregnancy prevention, may in the long run, be the single most productive strategy for promoting the well being of children and families, and in turn reduce their dependency on public support. DC Campaign's mission is prevention. Our goal is to cut the teen pregnancy rate in half by 2015 while improving the lives and well being of adolescents in the DC area. Join us in this fight to prevent teen pregnancy. Check our website to find out how! dccampaign.org.

WAMU Teen Pregnancy Commentary

2010-07-01T13:57:00.000-04:00

Last Tuesday Executive Director, Brenda Rhodes Miller, went to WAMU to discuss Teen Pregnancy. Below is the link to the commentary she made. http://wamu.org/news/10/06/29.php#35345 . We want your feedback! Tell us what you think about what she had to say.

Let's Keep the Conversation Going!

2007-07-20T12:08:00.000-04:00

Thank you to everyone who attended the July 18th Roundtable, "Helping Pregnant and Parenting Teens Graduate High School."

As promised, we want to give you all a space where you can keep the conversation going. If you want to ask questions, share comments or look for more resources, we are offering the comment section of our blog. You can post here and reach out to others who attended the roundtable. If you are still looking for more information, you can visit our website at www.teenpregnancydc.org to get in touch with us.

This is your space - let's keep the conversation going to help DC teens!

A Whole New Way to Change the Conversation About DC Teens

2006-10-03T13:09:00.000-04:00

Pop Quiz: In the capital of the greatest nation in the history of the world, where presidents, senators and Whitney Houston alike proclaim that children are our future, how do you think things are going for teens?

Good? Great? Who cares?

Sadly, the latter is closest to the truth.

In the summer of 2006, DC Campaign conducted its first ever online survey, "Express Yourself!", to hear from people in the city about what DC teens need. To sum it up, a lot. 75 percent of the almost 200 respondents said that life for DC teens was either "poor" or "very poor", and 87 percent said that the DC government is not doing enough for teens.

Hmm.....

This got us thinking. Why not conduct a survey that never ends? What could we do with a constant stream of public opinion, ideas and recommendations? Maybe further our mission improving the lives and well being of adolescent citizens?

Web logs, or blogs for short, have turned media on its head, featuring endless opportunities for people to say what's on their minds.

DC Campaign will use its blog to change the conversation about DC teens in a whole new way. Check our blog for facts, figures, new information on DC teens and what DC teens are saying. It's your chance to join an open forum on teen issues. If you have a common sense idea for an after school program, a 14-point youth plan, or an opinion on someone else's, you can be part of the discussion.

Within the next few months, there will be new voices leading the government. Our first question to you is: if you could write a youth policy for the new administration, what would it include? Tell us what programs and services DC teens need.

The floor is now yours.

For more information, visit our website at www.teenpregnancydc.org

DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy Logo

2006-08-23T15:46:00.000-04:00

Welcome!

2006-07-17T15:22:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the blog of DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy!

Check back with us soon for more information.

DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

What is a Collaborative Practice Agreement?

2011 Winners of 501 (c) Tech Technology Innovation Award

DC Campaign Finalist for Video Contest!!

Fighting Teen Pregnancy Does Not Mean Attacking Teen Mothers

DC Leaders Focus on Teen Pregnancy

Dinner for six with Jose Andres!

Breakfast with Andrea Roane!

DC Campaign's Historic Press Conference in the News!

Bid on a Piece of History!

Backstage Tour of Washington Week with Gwen Ifill

Be a Part of a Holiday Tradition!!!

Dinner for four @ the Chef's table at Ris!

Lunch with Richard Wolffe!

Tea Time with Michele Norris!!

Talk Sports with Michael Wilbon!

DC Councilmember Michael A. Brown says "teen pregnancy is in no one's best interest"

16 and Well-Adjusted is the New 16 and Pregnant!

DON'T MISS THIS SALE!!!

DC Campaign to be featured on Deals for Deeds!

Check out our newest PSA: DOORS

Check out this new trailer!

It's Not OK

What are people so afraid of in the District of Columbia?

Teen Pregnancy Declines in Washington, DC

2nd Annual Walk and Rally was HUGE SUCCESS!

DC Campaign's Second Annual "Take A Step to Prevent Teen Pregnancy" Walk and Rally

"Caught in the System" Provides Tips for Working with Teens

DC Campaign's Youth Leadership Task Force in The News!

D.C. Students Take To Youtube To Talk Teen PregnancyCourtney Collins

A Tale of Two Cities

Caught in The System

Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say

Check out our Youth Leadership Task Force Blog!

Lights...Camera...Action!

Show your love for DC Campaign and help us win $5,000!!!!

DC Campaign in the News!

What are they thinking?

End Teen Pregnancy, Reduce Deficit!

"Teen Pregnancy Perpetuates D.C. Poverty"

tent/article/2011/01/07/AR2011010704249.html .

Leave a comment below and let us know what you think!

Be a Kid. Don't Have One.

DC Campaign's 12 Days of Christmas

You're Support Can Make Teen Pregnancy a Thing of the Past

Preventing Teen Pregnancy Could Save DC Government a Mint!

DC Campaign's Annual Celebrity Auction and Fundraiser!

New Exciting Fundraising Ideas!

If not now...then when?

It's Time to Change the Conversation!!!

Teen Pregnancy Affects the Entire Community!!!

WAMU Teen Pregnancy Commentary

Let's Keep the Conversation Going!

A Whole New Way to Change the Conversation About DC Teens

DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy Logo

Welcome!

D.C. Students Take To Youtube To Talk Teen Pregnancy
Courtney Collins