Teen Health Forum Makes A Difference
Teen Health A Huge Success
More than 2,400 eighth-grade students from public and private schools in Houston, Crawford and Dooly counties recently converged on the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry for the annual Teen Health Forum to learn valuable life lessons about making the right and wrong choices. Held on March 9th, this year’s forum focused on making smart decisions, taking responsibility for one’s health, staying safe and dealing with peer pressure.
According to Beth Jones, RNC, Director of Houston Healthcare’s Community Education, eighth grade is a critical point in a teenager’s life. “That’s the time we start seeing teens begin to make their own health decisions such as smoking, using alcohol, riding with someone who’s been drinking,” she says. “That’s the focus of the Forum—making the right choices. We talk a lot about how just one decision can affect the rest of your life.”
Houston County Board of Education representatives say the Teen Health Forum is unique in that Houston County is the only school system they know of in the state to host such an event for students. The largest event to date, this year’s Forum also included students from Crawford County schools as well as Fullington Academy in Pinehurst.
According to Jones, the students understand the importance of the Forum. “One student shared with me that they realize it is important to know the facts and the Teen Health Forum gives accurate information or education so they can make a good decision,” adds Jones. “We believe the Forum is very effective in educating the students. We often have past participants come back and tell us that it definitely made a difference in their lives. For example, a student shared with us years later after attending the Forum that the event showed them there was a better way of living and that they did have a choice in what they became later in life. Our students’ response and the desire to make a difference is what motivate us to provide this Forum each year.”
Jones says the information presented at the annual Forum is determined by current health issues facing the students. In a 2009 Central Georgia survey, 24.5 percent of eighth graders described themselves as overweight; 24.8 percent reported trying cigarettes; 39.7 percent stated they watch more than three hours of television every day; and 36.3 percent stated they have ridden in a car driven by someone who had been drinking alcohol. “Mercer University School of Public Health works closely with us in determining the issues that should be addressed and provides an on-line survey for the students to take as a follow-up to the Forum,” continues Jones.
According to Jones, Houston Healthcare, along with other collaborative members, sponsors the Forum each year because they want to make a difference in the community by promoting wellness. “It is important to start educating children when they are most influential so as to encourage them to have healthier lifestyles as adults by avoiding the types of unhealthy risk factors we seek to educate them about at the Forum each year,” states Jones.
Guest speakers for the 2010 Teen Health Forum included:
- Dr. Harold P. Katner, FACP, FIDSA, Chief of Infectious Diseases and Professor of Internal Medicine at Mercer University, presented information related to HIV and AIDS as well as the vaccine for cervical cancer;
- Karen Stokes, Warner Robins Police Department, discussed gang facts and prevention;
- Raymond Scott, Willingway Recovery Facility, discussed drugs and their consequences;
- Jason Respert, former All-American lineman with Northside High School and University of Tennessee football player, talked with students about peer pressure and avoiding alcohol and drugs.
- Performances by FutureNowTM, a Christian ministry group from Valdosta that uses live music, drama and real-life stories to communicate to teens that the choices they make today determine their future.
The annual Teen Health Forum is the result of a strong community collaborative led by Houston Healthcare that includes Community Health Works, Magnolia Coastland Area Agency on Aging, Peachbelt Medical Society, the American Cancer Society, Houston County School System, Belvaunaca Club, and Mercer University.