Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 16, 1993 TAG: 9311160329
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
That was part of the message given to City Council on Monday by Dr. Don Stern, outgoing director of the city Health Department.
"We need to focus more on training males to be more responsible," Stern said in his final annual report to council.
The Health Department has a part-time employee who works with adolescent males to help reduce teenage pregnancy. The city provides $8,000 a year to help pay the employee.
But Stern said the program should be expanded so there will be at least one full-time person.
Stern told council that he believes parents should teach their children values, particularly in sexual behavior.
"We ought to be teaching children which direction they should be going in," he said.
Unless parents teach values, he said, the children can't tell right from wrong.
Stern is leaving Roanoke to accept a post with the state Health Department in Richmond.
Stern said he does not favor the distribution of condoms to teen-agers. But he added that officials in some localities are "almost forced" to do so to help reduce pregnancies.
He said he wished more men would become involved in programs to reduce teen pregnancies.
There are 12,000 adolescent males in the city, and many of them live in homes without fathers or male role models. Forty percent of the children in city schools live in single-parent households.
Councilman James Harvey said he liked Stern's message, particularly the part about parents teaching values and making children more responsible for their actions.
On other issues, Stern said:
The Health Department needs a new building to replace its 40-year-old headquarters on Eighth Street Southwest. The department has 69 employees scattered across the city, and could operate more efficiently with new administrative offices. The satellite offices would be retained.
The Comprehensive Health Investment Project is an excellent program and needs to be expanded. It provides health care and related services for children from low-income families. Nearly 1,000 children are in the project, and another 1,000 are on the waiting list.
\ ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL AT A GLANCE
In other action Monday, council: Hiring local, minority and women-owned businesses: Asked for reports on the hiring of workers and businesses for the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center project. Councilman William White said he wants detailed records as construction proceeds and workers are hired to staff the hotel and conference center.
Drug Abuse Resistance Education: Asked City Manager Bob Herbert to contact schools officials to see if they believe that the DARE program in the elementary and middle schools should be offered in the high schools. Councilman Delvis "Mac" McCadden said he believes it is needed in the high schools.
Housing funds for low-income families: Approved an agreement with the Virginia Housing Development Authority that provides $200,000 for renovating rental houses, which will then be sold to homeowners who will occupy the units.
Getting ready for winter: Accepted a bid by Southern Salt Co. for 1,000 tons of deicing salt at a cost of $43.10 per ton.
by CNB