Girls Inc. Official Partner of Project WORTH ME NOW...Baby Later Campaign

July 26, 2011 - PRLog -- For more information, please contact:                        
Anais Biera Miracle
Girls Inc. of San Antonio
(210) 212-2598
abiera@chshel.org

GIRLS INC. PARTNERS WITH PROJECT WORTH AND THE HEALTHY FUTURES ALLIANCE
San Antonio’s Largest Girl-Focused Organization to Combat Teenage Pregnancy

SAN ANTONIO — July 26, 2011 — Girls Inc. of San Antonio, whose mission is to “inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold,” has announced that they have partnered with Project WORTH, a Metro Health program and the Healthy Futures Alliance in advocating the ME NOW… baby later teen pregnancy prevention campaign.
   
Project WORTH (Working On Real Teen Health) is a City of San Antonio, Metro Health Department program that “inspires youth and empowers parents to prevent teen pregnancy by using evidence-based programs, promoting healthy behaviors, and cultivating community relationships.”  The Healthy Futures Alliance is a Healthy Futures of Texas coalition working to prevent teen and unplanned pregnancy.  ME NOW… baby later is an exciting campaign developed by the Healthy Futures Alliance and offered in collaboration with Project WORTH and Metro Health.  ME NOW encourages teens to pursue their goals and postpone parenthood until later.

In a 2008 Project WORTH report, there were almost 3,900 births to females ranging from 10 to 19 years old, costing Bexar County approximately $83.4 million in healthcare, child welfare, etc.  Rhonda Williamson, President and CEO of Girls Inc. of San Antonio, hopes that this collaboration will drastically decrease teen birth rates and its effects on our city. “Girls Inc. of San Antonio is very proud to be joining this campaign. In an effort to continue the dialogue on teen pregnancy and its prevention, we hope to create an important milestone for our city and its citizens.”

With this campaign comes ME NOW Teen Ambassadors, led by local teens.  Joi Stevens is a Girls Inc. participant and new ambassador for the ME NOW…baby later campaign. “This is a great opportunity for San Antonio to really become aware of the high birth rates that are prevalent within our city. ME NOW… baby later is a great way to educate teens and their parents on the importance of waiting to have a baby.” They will be building their skills in leadership, mentoring, public speaking, and interpersonal communication while advocating abstinence and safe-sex practices. They will also receive training on topics such as having healthy relationships, social media, sexually transmitted diseases, goals and dreams, and how to deal with peer pressure.  Ambassadors will be the role models for other young teens.

The primary focus of the campaign is to encourage teens to enjoy their life now by making healthy choices, complete their education and avoid early parenthood while providing them with accurate information.

About Girls Inc.
Girls Inc. delivers life-changing programs that inspire girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Research based curricula, delivered by trained professionals, equip girls to achieve academically; lead healthy and physically active lives; manage money; navigate media messages; and discover an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math. The network of local Girls Inc. nonprofit organizations serves 150,000 girls ages 6 - 18 annually at over 1,400 sites in 350 cities across the United States and Canada. Learn more about our programs and advocacy at www.girlsinc.org.

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Girls Incorporated® of San Antonio is an affiliate of Girls Incorporated®, a national non-profit organization that inspires all girls to be strong, smart and bold through research-based and highly evaluated programs.