HIV/Drug Abuse Awareness/Teen Pregnancy Prevention

The project design incorporates a model of using youth leadership to establish a peer-based program of personal responsibility leading to positive outcomes with respect to Adolescent Health, HIV/Aids, and Drug Awareness. This project will impact 12 teens who will serve on the Youth Leadership Council as planners and conveners of the Summit. Another 175-200 teens will be impacted through educational and informative sessions.

We anticipate further benefit/impact as a result of teen participation in the Summit.

• Increase youth knowledge of sexual health, healthy relationships, HIV, sexually transmitted infections, and resources available in the community
• Abstinence education
• Increase Youth Leadership participation in local civic and community activities
• Connecting youth at risk for HIV to improving adolescent health, and access to medical or social services
• Incorporating and distributing already developed, evaluated, and packaged public health materials
• Supporting healthy youth development

The Rotary Club of Thomasville continued to have a powerful impact in our community. Local sororities and grassroots organizations continued involvement. We've increased parental involvement and other civic, social, and religious organizations' involvement in the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative. Abstinence & HIV sessions Continue. The Youth Council presented (2020) at the office of Population National Conference with more than 100 attending their breakout session.

update: Marguerite Neel Williams Boys and Girl Club 15th Annual Teen Conference was held Saturday, November 12, 2022. The conference is held annual and is funded partially by the Rotary Club of Thomasville. The conference continued to be planned and led by the BGC Youth leadership Council/Keystone Club. This year’s Summit focused on Choices and Consequences mad by Adolescents. This theme is a continuation of the learning and discussions of making wise life choices. It was a major success.

Over One Hundred-Thirty-eight youth and adults were in attendance from Thomas, Grady, Dougherty, Colquitt, Counties, and Gadsden County, Florida. Three Rotarian attended the day of the summit, and a parental session was held also.