
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, March 20, 1995                   TAG: 9503210019
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 6   EDITION: METRO  
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Volunteer community-service hours to groups like Teen Outreach Program (TOP), which builds self-esteem among at-risk freshmen and sophomores through community service. Director Cheri Hartman needs adults to volunteer to drive youths to work sites and tutor them in school. Call 985-0151.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Roanoke Valley has a waiting list of 32 young males waiting for adult mentors or "buddies." It also needs volunteers, men and women, to work with 7- to 14-year-olds in group recreational settings. Call Lee Pusha at 345-9604.

The Roanoke Adolescent Health Partnership (RAHP) needs adults to present educational talks to young teens about careers and other topics. Also on its wish list: invitations from companies to tour their business sites, and sponsors for program refreshments and trips. Call Deneen Evans at 857-7284.

Voice your opinion. Roanoke city recently sent out its Adolescent Pregnancy Community Survey, polling people for their opinions on pregnancy-prevention programs. To receive a copy of the survey, call Glenna Radcliffe at 981-2302.

The Department of Social Services needs and accepts donations of baby clothes, strollers and other infant items for its Pregnant Teen/Teen Parent program. Call 981-2666 to donate items.

Initiate conversations with your own children about sexuality. Planned Parenthood of the Blue Ridge can help with resources and materials on helping your child postpone sexual involvement, as well as information on birth control, anatomy and developmental stages. Call Jeanie Seay or Marcia Shernoff at 362-3968.

The Crisis Pregnancy Center offers abstinence-based sexuality counseling and educational programs for parents and teens. Call 362-9492.

Donate time or money to the West End Center, which serves as an after-school home-away-from-home for many youngsters in the West End. The center needs volunteers to tutor, clean up and help in the kitchen. It also needs donations of money, school supplies, books, food, computers and computer programs. Call 342-0902.

Contact your church or synagogue about joining or starting community outreach programs for at-risk youth. Make sure your church is addressing prevention of at-risk behaviors in youth clubs and from the pulpit.

Keywords:
TEEN PREGNANCY

by CNB