DATE: Wednesday, March 12, 1997             TAG: 9703120440

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B01  EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY MASON PETERS, STAFF WRITER

DATELINE: WINDSOR                           LENGTH:   32 lines

TEEN-AGE PREGNANCY WILL BE FOCUS OF FORUM AT BERTIE COUNTY HIGH

Teen-age pregnancy and out-of-wedlock childbearing will be the focus of a forum sponsored by U.S. Rep. Eva M. Clayton, D-Warren, Saturday, March 22, in Bertie County High School at Windsor.

``The number of sexually active adolescents has increased dramatically,'' Clayton said Tuesday. She said her effort to reduce the number of teen-aged mothers and their children will bring several outspoken experts to the forum. .

Topics will include:

``Going Farther When You Don't Go All The Way,'' a discussion by Linda Rigsby, state president of the N.C. Coalition on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention in Chapel Hill.

``How to Say `No' With Lines And Comebacks'' from June Vetter, executive director of the Pregnancy Life Care Center in Raleigh.

``Legal Ramifications of Statutory Rape,'' definitions of sexual assault from District Court Judge W. Robert Lewis II, of the 6th Judicial District.

``What Being A Man Means,'' comments on the macho influence on male self-esteem, by Danny Butler, Martin County 4-H agent.

Clayton said separate workshops will be organized to help focus topics of interest to special groups.

``I am pleased to note that the concurrent sessions will be conducted by various agencies and individuals to specifically target youth and parents.

``Afterward, professionals will be on hand to answer questions regarding resources and avenues to prevent teen-aged pregnancies,'' she said.

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