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Diaspora Community Services was recently awarded funding by the New York State Department of Health, Division of Family Health, Bureau of Maternal and Child Health, Adolescent Health Unit under the new Comprehensive Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (CAPP) program. DCS’ STAR (Safe Teens Acting Responsibly) program will serve youth in Central Brooklyn and Corona, Queens to promote comprehensive adolescent reproductive sexual health.
The precise goals of STAR are:
1) Promoting healthy sexual behaviors ( abstinence and delaying the onset of sexual activity) and reduce the practice of risky sexual behaviors by using evidence based, medically accurate curriculums to provide comprehensive adolescent sexuality and reproductive health workshops in partner schools, Faith Based Organizations, and other Community Based Organizations . We will train a group of peer educators (STAR core group) in comprehensive sexuality education and the importance of family planning health services in order for them to obtain leadership roles and disseminate information in their communities.
2) Ensure access to comprehensive reproductive health care and family planning services for adolescents to prevent pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and HIV/AIDS.
STAR staff will work closely with community family planning service providers with definitive experience working with multicultural youth to accept referrals, and provide a full range of medical family planning services.
3) Expand opportunities and provide support and alternatives to sexual activity for adolescents, in order to promote an optimal transition through adolescent developmental milestones into a healthy young adulthood. Our positive youth development model utilizes workshops, educational, recreational, vocational, and community activities for youth that will improve self esteem and goal setting, and promote healthy relationships.
4) Advance a comprehensive and sustainable local community effort to improve the community environment for adolescents through the development of a coordinated community plan. STAR staff and Core Group will enhance the community’s knowledge of adolescent pregnancy prevention, STDs, HIV/AID prevention and the need to delay sexual activity and promote safe sex among adolescents.
Diaspora will build upon our extensive expertise and previous accomplishments working in the area of teen pregnancy for the past five (5) years through our CBAPP program. CBAPP provided services to 1,500 youth annually in central Brooklyn. Our program had a holistic approach by facilitating workshops for youth and their families that addressed issues such as healthy communication and provide educational workshops in public schools throughout the Brooklyn community. We are excited and looking forward to continuing our work of youth empowerment by assisting in creating positive life outcomes for our young people in central Brooklyn and now our expansion to Corona, Queens.
Referrals, inquires, interest in being on our Community Advisory Council, or to arrange workshops for your adolescents or parent group: Contact Saeeda Dunston, STAR/Youth Program Director, (718) 399-0200 ext 231