Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1996. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PR Newswire, 810 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019 - Monday, 25 November 1996 - 8:03 A.M.
The Fernwood Project is a national demonstration project of Redefining Actions and Decisions (R.A.D.). Unique among educational initiatives, the project enhances existing classroom curricula by training teachers of middle school students in Fernwood's highly experiential, interactive methods which explore how, when and where HIV transmission is likely to occur, and prepares young people to respond consciously and responsibly in these situations. Fernwood's content may be easily adapted to the age of the participating students, as well as accepted community norms, and includes parental involvement and support.
Deborah Schoeberlein, founder of R.A.D. and project director for The Fernwood Project, comments, "The Fernwood Project teaches about respect for oneself as well as for others and each person's right to make healthy decisions about his or her body. Students learn that HIV prevention is both an individual concern, and a community endeavor."
According to The Alan Guttmacher Institute in New York, America's rate of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are among the highest in the developed world, and roughly 25 percent of sexually active adolescents become infected with an STD every year. Internalizing attitudes which give high priority to HIV prevention, through practicing negotiation and refusal skills, is the core of The Fernwood Project's response to the pressure to engage in sexual activity experienced by many pre-teens and teens.
"We're announcing these sites on World AIDS Day," explained Susan DeLaurentis, co-founder of the Pediatric AIDS Foundation, "because we want to draw attention to the fact that now HIV is spreading most rapidly among youth -- teens and preteens -- primarily through heterosexual transmission. We're hoping that the four cities currently participating in this first part of The Fernwood Project will be the basis for taking this project nationwide."
The Pediatric AIDS Foundation was co-founded in 1988 by Elizabeth Glaser, Susan DeLaurentis and Susie Zeegen. It is the only national foundation which identifies, funds and conducts basic pediatric AIDS research. World AIDS Day, 1996 also marks the announcement of five Elizabeth Glaser Scientist Awards, the first named award developed specifically and exclusively for AIDS research. Each recipient of the award will receive up to $650,000 for five years of pediatric AIDS research. SOURCE Pediatric AIDS Foundation
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