The Miami Herald, Inc.; Thursday, April 3, 1997
Iris Guzman; Herald Writer
TEXT: Teens with questions can now turn to other teens for answers -- thanks to the Health Crisis Network's new teen hotline.
Starting this week, teenagers can call peer counselors four days a week at 751-9167. Forty high school students, ages 14 to 19, answer questions on AIDS/HIV protection and testing, drug use, pregnancy, sex and sexually transmitted diseases.
"We thought teenagers would more freely ask questions of other teens," said Amber Graham, Health Crisis Network's teen hotline Program Coordinator. "They can empathize with the callers because they are in the same situation."
Counselors went through 12 weeks of peer education training, followed by 17 hours of hotline training, including role playing.
"It was a lot of work but it has been worth it," said Loreto Poblete, 16, a junior at Miami Beach High. "I love being able to help people."
Health Crisis Network already has a full-functioning hotline for adults. But network officials felt that was not enough.
"There are several hotlines in Miami but none of them are manned by adolescents, which makes a big difference," said Graham.
The counselors are all members of the Parent-Teen AIDS Prevention Project, part of the Health Crisis Network's educational services department.
The program sends the teen counselors into high schools to host workshops and seminars, mostly dealing with AIDS prevention and awareness.
"Through P-TAPP, I became interested in the idea of teens teaching teens," said Israel Julien, 16, a sophomore at Miami Beach High.
Counselors come from schools across Dade, including Edison, Hialeah, Miami Beach, North Miami Beach High and North Miami high schools, along with Turner Technical School.
The teens don't pretend to be young Dr. Ruths. They do not dish out any advice; strictly factual information and referrals. And all conversations are confidential.
Although 40 counselors are trained to work the phone bank, eight started the service Wednesday. Eventually, the 40 will rotate the phone chores. Counselors can choose to get paid for their work or get credit for community service hours.
"With the hotline we can reach more teens," said Israel. "Some people would not dare step foot in an AIDS presentation, but might call us up."
HELP FOR TEENS
The Health Crisis Network Teen Hotline is now up and running. Teens with questions or problems can call 751-9167 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.
CAPTION: photo: Israel Julien and Loreto Poblete and Nieves J. Brantley and Giovannie Clark and Edia Pierre and Valerie Schoenholtz answer teens' questions at the Health Crisis Network (a)
C.W. GRIFFIN / Herald Staff HOTLINE HELP: Israel Julien, Loreto Poblete, Nieves J. Brantley, Giovannie Clark, Edia Pierre and Valerie Schoenholtz, from left, answer teens' questions at the Health Crisis Network.
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