Youth Empowerment Program Newsletter

Entre Nuestras Familias

1/27/09 ABCD HEALTH SERVICES ISSUE FOUR

Our Motto: P.A.C.T.

“Protecting our health

Appreciating our cultures

Celebrating ourselves and

Taking charge of our future.”

On the next page...

About Entre Nuestras Familias! Interview about de New Year with ENF participants!

Sudoku!

1/27/09 ABCD HEALTH SERVICES In the above picture a group of

parents from ABCD-Urban Collage

received their certificate for

completing workshops: “Talking to our

Children about Sex” from Silvia De la

Sota / ENF Program Coordinator.

ENF Activities!

Congratulations ENF Peer Leaders

and Parents!!!

On January 14th ENF participants Gabriella Cardona and Janelle Lyons

from Boston Adult Technology Academy (BATA) were certified as

ENF Peer Leaders. On January 23rd a group of parents from Mujeres Unidas

in Accion (MUA) received a certificate for completing a series of

workshops: “Talking to our Children about Sex.” A new group of parents

started the same training and are expected to finish the end of February 2009.

Entre Nuestras Familias is an ABCD-Health

Services program funded by Office of Adolescent Health and Youth Development / Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Obama, family planning

and foreign aid.

January 24, 2009

By Michael J.W. Stickings-The Reaction

President Obama struck down a rule Friday

that prohibits U.S. money from funding

international family-planning clinics that

promote abortion or provide counseling or

referrals about abortion services.

The policy says any organization receiving

U.S. family-planning funds from the U.S.

Agency for International Development

cannot offer abortions or abortion

counseling.

"It is time we end the politicization of this

issue," Obama said. "In the coming weeks,

my administration will initiate a fresh

conversation on family planning, working

to find areas of common ground to best

meet the needs of women and families at

home and around the world."

http://the-reaction.blogspot.com/2009/01/obama-

family-planning-and-foreign-aid.html

Entre Nuestras Familias

Between Our Families (ENF) is an

ABCD Health Services program provides

Intergenerational support to youth and

parents to increase family communication

preventing unplanned pregnancy, STDs and

HIV infection. ENF program has three

components: Participants, Peer Leaders and

Parents. ENF provides 8-10 week

workshops on how to talk comfortably

about sex, clarify and understand one’s own

values, enhance communication, identify

community resources and more. ENF trains

and certifies parents and teens to train

others in their communities. ENF program

is constantly trying to reach community

members to participate for short or long

term in ENF events. Also, ENF participants

are in search of Role Models that teens feel

they can relate to and can invite to our

events. One of ENF’s major annual events

is “Coming of Age or Quinceañera.”

From the CDC HIV/AIDS Fact Sheet of 2007

Entre Nuestras Familias

1/27/09 ABCD HEALTH SERVICES ISSUE FOUR

ENF staff interviewed participants

of our program at Spontaneous

Celebrations/ Festival of Arts

Afterschool Program about their

2009 New Year’s resolutions, the

importance of education, and

becoming peer leaders.

Here is what Kiara Colon,

Tatiana Hernandez, Grisel Seary,

Boma Dikibo and Mia Diers (12-

14 years old) shared with us:

Do you have a New Year’s

resolution?

“My New Year’s resolution is to lose

my negative attitude!” – “Calm my

attitude, do homework, pay attention.”

– “I want to pass 6th

grade and get to

know more friends.” – “To do better in

school.” – “Visiting family in different

places, like in Florida this year.”

What historical event did we all

witness this month?

“The first black president was

elected.” – “Obama became our

President.” – “Obama taking office”

– “Obama turned into our President

and the first black president in our

country.” – “Obama taking office.”

How important do you think

education is to reach one’s goals?

“Education is good for one to reach

their dreams. I think education is very

important.” – “I do think education is

important because it helps us get where

we want to be.” – “I want to get a

career, have a good life, and a good

family. I want to be a chef at a really

nice and famous restaurant.” –

“Education is very important because it

helps you in life and in the future.” –

“It is very important because if you

want to become a doctor you need to

do math, science, etc.”

What does it mean to be a peer

leader?

“They lead you into learning and help

teachers. They are good role models

and peers respect them.” – “If I were a

peer leader I would direct women/teens

in a right direction.” – “If I was a peer

leader I would make kids more

mature.” – “If I was a peer leader I

would help kids make better choices. I

will teach them the right things to do.”

– “If I was a peer leader I would say

what we are learning to other kids.”

Silvia De La Sota

ENF Program Coordinator

delasota@bostonabcd.org

(617) 348-6268

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=11844573077

ABCD Health Services

105 Chauncy Street, 4th floor

Boston, MA 02111