DATE: Friday, April 25, 1997                TAG: 9704250057

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LA RHESA WILLIAMS, HIGH SCHOOL CORRESPONDENT 

                                            LENGTH:   64 lines

"LIFE SAVERS" ARE ON A MISSION TO EDUCATE

``DO YOU WANT to know what it feels like to be nine months pregnant? It's not as painless as it looks,'' a teen-age girl says to a group of high schoolers as she carefully lifts a 30-pound pregnancy simulator from a table and searches for a brave volunteer who will try it on.

She wants to give those in attendance the experience of being in the third trimester of a pregnancy.

Why?

She's doing it because she is a ``Life Saver,'' a peer facilitator in the Real Alternatives to Pregnancy, or RAP, program. The 30-pound Empathy Belly is just one of the tools the group uses in its HIV/AIDS and pregnancy prevention campaign.

``It's amazing how many people still don't know the myths from the facts about how some diseases, including AIDS, are contracted,'' said Life Saver Alicia Smith.

RAP began in 1985 as part of Norfolk's effort to battle its high teen pregnancy and HIV/AIDS rate.

Health department statistics show that there were 1,087 teen pregnancies in Norfolk in 1995, and 1,076 teen pregnancies in Virginia Beach. Last year, 111 teens in Hampton Roads were HIV infected; 11 contracted AIDS.

``Adolescent pregnancies are a universal problem,'' said training facilitator and social worker Cynthia Corbett. ``(This program) is important because of all the social problems which result from teen pregnancies.''

RAP is a joint effort between the Norfolk Department of Health and the Urban League of Hampton Roads. Over the years, it has grown to include the Life Savers, currently six young women, ages 16 to 18, from Norfolk and Chesapeake who spread the message of prevention.

``We know that teens listen to other teens and we've found that we get better reception when teens are with us doing presentations,'' Corbett said. ``The teen facilitator's program has been very beneficial to the community in providing information on life skills such as how to avoid unwanted pregnancies, contracting HIV/AIDS, and other helpful skills.''

The teen counselors talk to other teens and pre-teens at group homes, churches, recreation centers, and just about anywhere young people gather. They discuss self-esteem, puberty and decision-making skills. They promote abstinence. Counselors say they benefit from teaching their peers.

``I've even learned a lot by being part of the program,'' Smith said, ``and I already thought I knew all there was to know about contraception, protection and avoiding negative situations.''

Life Savers pledge to avoid destructive behaviors, including fighting, sexual activity, pregnancy, and drug use.

Although the group doesn't take sole credit, Norfolk's teen pregnancy has decreased since the program was established. That decline and their mission of helping other teens make the Life Savers hopeful.

``I get a really great feeling when I feel like I've educated someone for something that they didn't know before,'' Alicia said. ``Hopefully, I've helped save them from some kind of trouble.''

The Life Savers include: Alicia ``Awesom'' Smith of Norview High; Faith Evans of Western Branch; LaRhesa Williams, Granby, Tameka Harris and Shenika Small, both of Maury High, and Turquoise Talley, STOP Vocational School. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]

BETH BERGMAN

The Virginian-Pilot

From left, Shenika Small, Tameka Harris, LaRhesa Williams and Alicia

Smith ise a pregnancy simulator to teach teens about prevention.

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