Nationally recognized teen advocacy group is seeking new members

Contacts
Erin Meyer, Planned Parenthood
(314) 531-7526, ext. 336
erin.meyer@ppslr.org
Published: 08.12.08

NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED TEEN ADVOCACY GROUP IS SEEKING NEW MEMBERS
Teen Advocates for Sexual Health is looking for loud and outspoken new leaders!

The applications have been rolling in and St. Louis high school students only have one more month to apply.  The deadline for applications for Teen Advocates for Sexual Health (TASH) is Friday, September 12.  A coalition of students from area high schools, TASH meets twice a month to discuss issues that are important to members and their peers: healthy relationships, body image and eating disorders, parental pressure, sexual peer pressure and more. 

“TASH is amazing!” remarked a recent member.  “I love being able to ask questions about things that are ‘tricky’ or controversial, or just things that I don’t understand”. 

Recent statistics from the CDC found that half all teens are sexually active, while one in four teenage females are infected with an STD and the teen pregnancy rate just keeps climbing.  TASH works to combat these statistics by lobbying for prevention first legislation in Jefferson City, talking with their school boards about the need for comprehensive sex education and writing about these issues for their school newspapers. 

TASH members have been recognized as leaders on a local and national level.  Several members participated in the National Youth Summit in Washington, DC, received the Missouri Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice’s Faith and Freedom award and have won Choice-USA’s Sex and Health Education Award.

Students, grades 9 through 11, are encouraged to learn more about TASH by visiting www.plannedparenthood.org/stlouis and filling out the application online.  The deadline for applications is Friday, September 12.

For more information about TASH, or any other Planned Parenthood education program, call (314) 531-7526, ext. 339.