Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida Encourages Teens to Set Goals and Choose Their Future This Month

Sarasota, FL— Throughout National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month (May), Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida (PPSWCF) is encouraging teens to think about their future plans, and take steps to prevent unintended pregnancy so they can reach their long-term goals. In the U.S., teen pregnancy and birth rates have reached a historic low, and more young people are delaying sexual activity and using birth control when they do have sex. Around the world, young people are taking their health into their own hands, actively seeking out education and health services that help them  live healthier lives.

“All young people deserve the sex education and health care they need to stay healthy, as well as support from their families, schools, and communities to set goals and decide for themselves if or when they want to become a parent,” said Barbara Zdravecky, CEO of PPSWCF. “Planned Parenthood is proud to provide sex education and health services that help teens plan their future and prevent both unintended pregnancies and STDs.”

High-quality sex education and access to family planning services are critical to helping teens stay safe and healthy all over the world. Access to quality health care, resources, and education is a fundamental right for all people and shouldn’t depend on who you are or where you live—yet there are still significant disparities around making sure that all young people have the information and resources they need to prevent unintended pregnancy.

“Planned Parenthood supports young parents,” said Zdravecky. “Young people who decide to parent deserve support and respect. We need to ensure they too have the education and resources they need to keep themselves and their families safe and healthy. This includes helping them prevent future unintended pregnancies, as well as supporting them in reaching their life goals.”

Planned Parenthood believes that pregnant and parenting teens deserve the resources and information they need to make the best decisions for themselves and their family. This includes accessible child care to help young parents reach their educational and career goals. Some Planned Parenthood affiliates offer programs specifically geared toward young parents, and we advocate for policies that support pregnant and parenting teens.

“Planned Parenthood is committed to helping teens stay safe and healthy. We work every day to educate teens about sexual health, communication skills, and relationships so they can make healthy decisions,” Nan Morgan, Director of Education for PPSWCF added. “We believe parents are the primary sex educators for their teens, and encourage them  to help their teens identify plans for the future, consider the impact an unintended pregnancy could have on those plans, and help them set short-term goals to ultimately achieve their dreams. ”

As the nation’s largest provider of sex education, Planned Parenthood works in schools and communities across the country to provide outstanding sex education programs. In 2014, Planned Parenthood provided education and outreach to 1.5 million people of all ages across the country. The same year, Planned Parenthood Global, the international arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, partnered with organizations in Africa and Latin America to reach more than one million people with sexual and reproductive health information and services, including over 68,000 people served through our youth peer providers.

In addition, PPSWCF  provides high-quality, teen-friendly services, including all methods of birth control. Planned Parenthood also offers nine interactive mobile tools designed to help young people stay healthy and better plan for their futures. The tools bring together age-appropriate sex education with what teens like to do online, and have already been used by over 300,000 young people.

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