PLANNED PARENTHOOD KICKS OFF SEX ED WEEK OF ACTION

West Palm Beach — Planned Parenthood of South Florida and the Treasure Coast is working to raise awareness about the need for Congress to fully fund medically accurate, age-appropriate sex education for all teens during a week of action (September 28 – October 2, 2009) called Sex Education: Protecting Our Future.

Amid the news that the United States has the highest rate of teen pregnancy of the most developed countries in the world and that at least one in four teenage girls has a sexually transmitted infection, Planned Parenthood affiliates and Vox®: Voices for Planned Parenthood campus chapters nationwide are sponsoring grassroots events and contacting elected officials to urge them to fully fund sex education to address these public health issues.

“An estimated 729,000 teenagers are expected to become pregnant this year, and nearly four million will contract a sexually transmitted infection,” said Lillian A. Tamayo, President/CEO of Planned Parenthood of South Florida and the Treasure Coast.  “To reduce these alarmingly high numbers, teens should have access to comprehensive, age-appropriate information and education, giving them resources to make responsible decisions about their health and their lives.”

The mission of Planned Parenthood of South Florida and the Treasure Coast is to provide comprehensive sexual health care through the provision of clinical services, education and advocacy. We do so by understanding and responding to the needs of those seeking our services, and by protecting and respecting the essential privacy rights, dignity and culture of each individual. www.ppsoflo.org