Family Communication

The San Mateo Family Communication project is dedicated to promoting the health and well- being of youth in San Mateo County. We have developed a year-long public education campaign to provide advice to parents on communicating with their teens. Look for a new advertisement every other month in stores, community centers, health facilities, newspapers and buses.

By providing resources to parents on how to reach out to teens about health, sex, pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, we hope to nurture the adult involvement that teens need - and want - in dealing with these issues. For the health and safety of all San Mateo youth, we also seek to educate the public on the need for teen access to confidential reproductive health services.

We recognize that even in the closest of families, communication can break down. Teens who face difficult situations at home, such as abuse and alcoholism may not be able to talk safely with their parent or guardian. As a result, teens need a safe haven of professional, caring support when they can't talk to their parents.

For family resources or places teens can go for confidential health services, call 650-498-5437.

Three coalitions representing more than 100 organizations collaborated on this project:

The Teen Pregnancy Coalition of San Mateo County
650.780.7519
www.teenpregnancycoalition.org

The Teen Pregnancy Coalition of San Mateo County offers two programs within the community: "Teen Talk", an eight to ten hour comprehensive sexuality education program in middle and high schools, and "Plain Talk", a two-part workshop designed to help parents learn effective communication skills. Its mission is to provide educational programs to youth and adults on teen pregnancy prevention. It is committed to helping improve positive and honest communication between adults and youth, encouraging youth to make healthy choices to reduce teen pregnancy and HIV/STDs in the community.

The Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Network
The San Mateo County Health Services Agency
650.573.2208
www.smhealth.org

The mission of the San Mateo County Health Services Agency is to protect the public health of all citizens and the environment when those responsibilities are delegated to county government; provide medical care, mental health and protective services for vulnerable people who have no other alternatives; ensure emergency medical response to all people in San Mateo County; and cooperate with concerned citizens and committed volunteers who help Health Services achieve its mission.

The California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom
www.familycommunication.org

The California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom is a statewide advocacy organization dedicated to preserving access to a full range of reproductive health services in California.