Most Teens and Adults Want Religious Leaders to Do More to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

PHILADELPHIA, June 17, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Most adults (52%) and teens (57%) think religious leaders and groups should be doing more to help prevent teen pregnancy, according to a new survey released today.  To help address this need as well as the high rates of teen pregnancy in the Hispanic community, Esperanza—one of the largest Latino faith-based evangelical networks in the United States—today releases a new resource, Countering the Silence: A Faith Leader's Toolkit for Preventing Teen Pregnancy.

This new resource was developed by Esperanza and will be released to 600 attendees of the annual Esperanza National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC on June 20.  Twenty faith leaders, working in partnership with Esperanza, will be trained to use the toolkit and will in turn train more than 200 additional faith leaders in major metropolitan areas nationwide. Countering the Silence is available online and free of charge in English and Spanish at http://www.esperanzatpp.com and www.TheNationalCampaign.org.

The Countering the Silence toolkit includes data and research on teen pregnancy and related issues, more than a dozen Bible studies, and suggested activities and ideas on how faith leaders can openly discuss topics such as sex, dating, and relationships with teens and parents.

"As the leaders and shepherds of the Church, we are in a powerful position to intervene in the lives of young people and change the course of their paths," affirms Rev. Luis Cortes founder and president of Esperanza.  

"The National Campaign has long sought to catalyze a national discussion on the role of personal responsibility in reducing teen and unplanned pregnancy and to reach out to faith communities as partners in this work," said Sarah Brown, CEO of The National Campaign.  "The National Campaign recognizes the key role that faith and values play in teens' and young adults' decisions about sex, love, and relationships."

The new survey was commissioned and released by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy; learn more here: http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/resources/surveysays/June2013/June.pdf.  Funding for Countering the Silence was provided by The National Campaign.

About Esperanza:  Esperanza is a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation dedicated to the establishment of Hispanic owned and operated institutions that lead to the familial, economic, and spiritual development of our communities. Visit www.esperanza.us for more information. To learn more about the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference, visit: esperanzanhpb.com. Media must register in advance by Monday, June 17, 2013 at [email protected].

About The National Campaign:  The mission of The National Campaign is to improve the lives and future prospects of children and families.  Our specific strategy is to prevent teen and unplanned pregnancy among single, young adults.  We support a combination of responsible values and behavior by both men and women and responsible policies in both the public and private sectors. Visit www.TheNationalCampaign.org for more information.

SOURCE Esperanza