News Release

HHS Announces New Communication Tools To Help Parents Talk To Their Teens About Abstinence

Web Site to Help Parents Discuss Important Issues about Healthy Choices, Sex and Relationships

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today announced a new set of communication tools to help equip parents to talk with their teens about sex and relationships while encouraging them to remain abstinent from unhealthy behaviors.

"Decisions about relationships and intimacy are made in a moment, but often have lasting consequences," Secretary Leavitt said. "These issues are some of the most important choices teens face physically and emotionally. Parents have a tremendous amount of influence on their children and we want them to talk with their teens about abstinence so that they can stay safe and healthy."

The new communication tools include the 4parents.gov Web site as well as Parents, Speak Up and Teen Chat guidebooks. The 4parents.gov Web site focuses on risk and promotes abstinence from multiple risk behaviors, including early sexual activity. In addition, the Web site provides medically accurate information about a variety of health topics. Some features of the 4parents.gov Web site include interactive tools, statistics and conversation starters.

The parent guide titled Parents, Speak Up is designed to complement 4parents.gov and equip parents of preteens and adolescents with the understanding, knowledge, skills and tools they need to talk with their teens about the risk associated with early sexual activity and the benefits of abstinence until marriage.

In addition, the Teen Chat guidebook is designed for preteens and teens through age 19. Teen Chat provides information about sex and relationships, including sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), peer pressure and abstinence. It provides suggested activities such as icebreakers for talking with parents, and a short quiz to increase awareness of STDs. Teen Chat can also be used as a resource for parents and organizations or institutions that work with teens.

Recent research continues to show that parents, not peers, have the greatest impact on teen's sexual decisions, yet many parents fail to take advantage of their influence. Also, some parents are embarrassed talking with their teens about sex, feeling they lack the knowledge or communications skills, and may be uncomfortable discussing with their teens choices the parents made when they were teens.

Teen Chat and Parents, Speak Up are collaborative efforts between HHS' Administration for Children and Families and the Office of Population Affairs. Copies of the guides are available via the Internet at www.4parents.gov or by contacting the Office of Population Affairs Clearinghouse at clearinghouse@dhhsopa.net.