A special clinic just for teens provides health care, birth control and education to help teens make healthy choices Contemporary music plays in the background, and groups of teens are relaxing on flashy-colored futons and discussing the latest episode of Hype. Family Health Council's downtown office has been caring for teens since the 1970's - but now special hours and atmosphere have been added exclusively for them. Health education is a basic part of all the services, and teens can come in just to talk or get a question answered. Young adults are common among staff. Melissa Kovtun, Family Health Council office manager, explained that the goal of the program is to inform teens about healthy sexuality through peer education.
Kids get their information from each other.
Peer Educators receive more than 60 hours of training in human anatomy, reproductive health and social skills. Family Health Council's downtown office currently sees nearly 1,000 teens each year. We want teens to know that all services are confidential. Family Health Council's Peer Education Program, a component of the Center for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, has been working to reduce teen pregnancies and improve the reproductive health of adolescents in western Pennsylvania since 1992. Trained Peer Educators work as group leaders, role models and facilitators in schools, churches, and community-based sessions.