Crisis Pregnancy Agency Produces Supplement for Parents of Older Teenagers

330,000 copies to be distributed this weekend

Friday, November 23, 2007: State body, the Crisis Pregnancy Agency (CPA), has produced a supplement to support parents in talking openly to their teenagers about relationships and sex, by providing practical tips on communication and other relevant information. The 4-page newspaper-styled supplement, entitled “Parents, Make the Time to Talk”, is targeted at parents of older adolescents and covers a range of topics such as contraception, sexually transmitted infections, fertility awareness, and the effects of alcohol and drug consumption.

“Parents, Make the Time to Talk” also provides a self-test tool for parents and teenagers to test their current sexual health knowledge. Both Irish and international research shows that when there is an open communicative relationship between parents and their children about relationships and sex, it increases the likelihood that they will wait until they are 17 or older before having sex for the first time. Information in the supplement is supported by findings from the Irish Study of Sexual Health and Relationships (2006), a nationally representative study commissioned by the CPA and the Department of Health and Children. This study found that the median age for first sex in Ireland is 17.

Ms Katharine Bulbulia, Chair of the CPA, said developing resources for parents is a key priority in the CPA’s recently published five-year Strategy. “Parents as a group play the central role in the relationships and sexual education of their child/children. More than anyone, they give young people the confidence they need to develop mature attitudes to sex and relationships. Our materials including this supplement are designed to support parents in a practical way with sound advice and strategies for communication.”

The Irish Study of Sexual Health and Relationships has found that over 92% of people think that young people should get sex education and 80% believe it should be provided at home. However, only 21% of men and 38% of women under 25 received sex education in the home.

The priority of the CPA for the future is to improve knowledge about relationships and sexuality among adolescents through home, school and community-based education. The “You Can Talk To Me” DVD and booklet is available to parents of 11-15 year olds to help them to communicate with their children about sex and relationships. Over 53,000 of these packs have been distributed to parents and parents’ groups in 2007.

The CPA published a new five-year Strategy, the second in the six-year history of the organisation, earlier this week. The Strategy builds on the previous one and will continue the work of the Agency established in 2001 to reduce the number of crisis pregnancies and the number of women choosing abortion as an outcome of crisis pregnancy.

“Parents, Make the Time to Talk” will feature as a supplement in the Sunday Independent this weekend – Sunday November 25th 2007. Copies can also be ordered by texting to the word TALK followed by your name and address to 50123. The CPA will be happy to provide copies to parents’ groups and other groups on request.

Ends

For further information, contact:
Orla McGowan
Education and Information Officer
Crisis Pregnancy Agency
(086) 3785 366