THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 8, 1996 TAG: 9602060128
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SCOTT McCASKEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
They call themselves the Life Savers, four high school girls from South Hampton Roads who are ambassadors of a new program to help prevent teenage pregnancy, AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Called R.A.P., or Real Alternatives to Pregnancy, the program is a partnership between the Norfolk Department of Public Health and the Urban League of Hampton Roads.
For the last five months, these teenagers have been instructed in the scientific facts and the public-speaking skills necessary to deliver their message. Called Peer Facilitators, their primary target groups are friends in school and around the neighborhood.
``What's important here is that adolescents are much more inclined to listen to their peers than adults,'' said Joyce Luenstroth, a nurse and counselor with R.A.P. ``It's a nationally recognized strategy in dealing with all kinds of youth problems.''
The four students became the program's first graduates during a ceremony held Jan. 31 at the Norfolk Community Hospital on the Norfolk State University campus. Turquoise Talley, 17, a senior at Booker T. Washington High School; her sister, Tameka Talley, 16, a sophomore at Booker T. Washington; Tameka Harris, 16, a sophomore at Maury; and Faith Evans, 15, a sophomore at Western Branch in Chesapeake, were presented T-shirts, jackets and hats bearing their Life Savers title.
``So many times we don't give the young people a part of the problem-solving process,'' said Lisa Manley, R.A.P. program coordinator. ``This is about going in and talking to their peers and nurturing their young minds.''
Turquoise Talley came up with the Life Savers title.
``The name reflects what we're trying to do,'' she said.
The girls have been spreading their knowledge among fellow students and friends, and have spoken at Norfolk's Lake House group home for problem youths. Abstinence, self-esteem, contraception, AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases, and safe sex are covered in the curriculum and presentation.
``I feel this will give me an opportunity to educate myself and others, and help prevent these things,'' Harris said. ``The training wasn't that hard, except remembering some of the statistics.''
The R.A.P program started 2 1/2 years ago and offered mostly educational and family counseling services. The peer facilitator project began in September, made possible by a state grant to the Urban League, a non-profit group that works to expand opportunities for African Americans. The class began with nine girls, four of whom stayed with it to graduation.
``These are teenagers dealing with the highly charged subject of sexuality as an issue, and then having to continue on with their lives as teenagers,'' Luenstroth said. ``This is quite a challenge.''
Turquoise Talley has a 6-month-old girl named TyDazia.
``With a child myself, I think people will listen to me because I've had the experience,'' Talley said. ``It's difficult, but the program has helped give me hope and support.''
Upcoming R.A.P. classes will begin in March. Administrators expect a larger enrollment than the initial program.
``I think the youths will be very receptive to this,'' said Bernadette Felton, program designer for the Urban League. ``The kids are hearing the message of abstinence and responsibility. They see themselves in these young people standing before them.'' MEMO: For more information, call the R.A.P. program 531-2180.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY C. KNAPP
From left, R.A.P. graduates Faith Evans; Tameka Harris; Turquoise
Talley, holding her daughter TyDazia in front of her; and Tameka
Talley.
by CNB