Responsible Sex Education Institute and Healthy Colorado Youth Alliance to host panel on Sexual Health in the Digital Age

Senator Michael Bennet to open panel discussion

Event moderated by CBS 4's Gloria Neal

DENVER - Ten years ago Facebook didn’t exist; Twitter had yet to be invented, and cell phones were a form of technology owned primarily by adults. Today 75 percent of those between the ages of 13-17 own a cell phone, and 87 percent of them sleep with it turned on by their bed.

The advent of these new technologies combined with a constant barrage of sexual imagery in advertising, prime time television and all forms of popular media has created new obstacles to “the talk” that weren’t there just a decade ago. It takes a whole community to raise a healthy child, so it is vitally important for parents, community leaders and those who work with youth to understand the world our teens are facing.

In response to this need in the community, and in partnership with the Healthy Colorado Youth Alliance, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains’ Responsible Sex Education Institute will host a panel discussion entitled Sexual Health in the Digital Age at the Denver School of Science and Technology on Friday, June 8.

This panel will assemble experts from throughout the community to speak to the obstacles and opportunities presented by technology, and how we can use that technology to advance sexual health, address teen pregnancy rates, and in turn address high school graduation rates in our communities.

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey found that more than one in four 9th graders in Colorado has had sex. By 12th grade nearly 60 percent of youth reported having had sex and 30 percent of sexually active youth reported not using a condom during last sexual intercourse. With an estimated 750,000 American teens (15-19) becoming pregnant each year, the U.S. has the highest rates of teen pregnancy among comparable countries. The statics pertaining to STDs are just as alarming, with 1 in 2 sexually active young person contracting a common STD by age 25.

While “the talk” will always include the basics of puberty, healthy relationships, communication, birth control and STD prevention, today it is equally important for parents to also be informed and educated about how they can protect their teens online.

Event Details

DATE: June 8, 2012

TIME:
11:30 am – Doors open to the public
Denver School of Science and Technology
2000 Valentia Street
Denver, CO 80238

12 pm – Senator Michael Bennet to speak and open panel discussion

12:10- 1:30 pm – Panel discussion

Speakers and Panelists include:

• Senator Michael Bennet
• State Senator Angela Giron, Senate District 3
• Nicole Veltze, Principal of North High School
• Greta Klingler, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
• Alison Macklin, Director of the Responsible Sex Education Institute
• Stephanie Cisneros, recent graduate from Adams City High School
• And moderated by CBS 4’s Gloria Neal