DATE: Sunday, September 28, 1997            TAG: 9709280091

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY REBECCA MYERS CUTCHINS, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH                        LENGTH:   66 lines

PARENTS URGED TO DISCUSS SEX WITH THEIR KIDS

Parents will be asked to don more than the appropriate school colors at the I.C. Norcom-Churchland high school football game in a few weeks.

Stickers proclaiming ``I'm Askable'' will be distributed to parents to promote a communitywide campaign dubbed ``Let's Talk Month,'' which encourages parents to talk to their children freely and openly about sex and other sensitive issues. ``What we're trying to do is encourage parents to be approachable so kids can go to their parents to ask about information on sexuality,'' said Yvetta S. Grier of the Portsmouth Better Beginnings Coalition, the agency leading the campaign.

The program, which will span the month of October, is modeled after one that began in 1980 in North Carolina. Churches, schools, community agencies, the juvenile court system and youth groups have volunteered to promote the campaign by staging various activities throughout the month.

To kick off the endeavor, Vice Mayor Johnny M. Clemons will present a proclamation designating October as ``Let's Talk Month'' at 1:30 p.m. Saturday on the amphitheater stage at Portsmouth City Park. The proclamation will be followed by a short skit, ``I'm Worth Waiting For,'' presented by an abstinence-based drama team with the Crisis Pregnancy Center of Tidewater.

The Portsmouth Better Beginnings Coalition, which works to prevent teen pregnancy in Portsmouth, is sponsoring an essay contest for high school students. Cash prizes from $50 to $100 will be awarded to the top three essays on the importance of communication between parents and children about sexuality. Deadline for the contest is Oct. 10.

Throughout the month, the coalition also will distribute laminated ``Teen Help Cards,'' a phone listing of community agencies that target teens, ranging from Child Protective Services to the National Runaway Hotline. Other events promoting ``Let's Talk Month'' include:

An exhibit by the Better Beginnings Coalition at the Jeremiah Summit, a citywide summit to be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Oct. 5 at Willett Hall. The coalition also will participate in a panel discussion dealing with programs and ideas that individuals and churches could adopt to assist parents in need of resources.

A panel discussion on teen pregnancy and the importance of effective parent-child communication, to be held at a Teen Caucus scheduled for 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 11 at Woodrow Wilson High School, 1401 Elmhurst Lane.

A youth-adult discussion in a talk-show format, ``Shhh, Don't Talk About Sex,'' from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 14 at Mount Hermon Baptist Temple, 2901 London Blvd.

A parenting workshop, ``Parents, It's Time to Talk,'' which deals with discipline, behavior, sex and peer pressure, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at Brighton Rock AME Zion Church, 1300 Centre Ave.

A panel discussion, ``Talking About It,'' for adults and teens, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 22 at Places and Programs for Children, 620 London Blvd.

The city's public libraries plan to display publications on sexuality and teen development.

The month also will include a number of sex-education programs for parents or guardians and their daughters, ages 9 to 13.

In addition, organizers hope to receive donated space on billboards so they can tout the message ``There's No Place Like Home for Sex Education to Begin. Parents, It's Time to Talk.''

For more details about ``Let's Talk Month,'' call Yvetta Grier at 397-6740. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MARK MITCHELL/The Virginian-Pilot

Yvetta Grier of the Portsmouth Better Beginnings Coalition asks

parents to be ``approachable'' so kids can talk to them about

sensitive issues.

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