Many teens are nervous about going to the clinic and feel they might be judged for using available reproductive health services. Others just don’t know when or where to go. Typically, teens only go when there is something “wrong,” which only adds to the fear. Community Healthcare Network’s video Clinic Tour provides a virtual tour of a typical sexual health visit to help teens become more comfortable with the idea of accessing services. We hope that teens watch this and see that going to the clinic is a great way to take care of your sexual health before something goes “wrong”!

Are you a teen in New York City? Visit Community Healthcare Network’s Web site to get more info about their clinic services for teens.

—Anthony Murray, 17, Community Healthcare Network, Teens P.A.C.T. Peer Leader

With all the pressures teens feel to fit in, it can be really difficult to know how to respect or set personal boundaries. Community Healthcare Network’s video Respect the Line challenges teens to respect others’ personal boundaries by taking a glimpse into typical situations that may cross personal lines. Respect the Line complements another PSA, Draw the Line, by showing the audience two different perspectives of the same scenes. With this PSA, we’re encouraging young men to think about respecting young women’s boundaries and encouraging young women to assess their boundaries and be respectfully assertive in drawing the line.

Are you a teen in New York City? Visit Community Healthcare Network’s Web site to get more info about their clinic services for teens.

—Anthony Murray, 17, Community Healthcare Network, Teens P.A.C.T. Peer Leader

In California, a service known as the Condom Access Project allows pre-teens and teens between the ages of 12 and 19 to order 10 condoms, lube and health brochures online each month—free of charge. The goal is to encourage safer sex among teens in the state. Out of all age groups in California, teens have the highest rates of infection for both gonorrhea and chlamydia. The Condom Access Project was developed to hopefully bring down the rates of infection.

The project’s goal seems practical. Why shouldn’t teens be able to easily acquire condoms and health information without a potentially awkward encounter with adults at clinics or drug stores? Still, the idea is quite controversial. Adults who oppose the program argue that this service makes it easier for younger teens to have sex without their parents knowing. Also the question of whether or not a couple is ready to have sex comes up: If they aren’t comfortable going out to buy condoms or discussing their decision to become sexually active with a trusted adult are they really ready to start having sex?

—June Rosen, 16, Staff Writer

If you’re a fan of MTV’s 16 and Pregnant, you may recognize Whitney Purvis, who appeared on the show in 2009. Now age 20, she was arrested for shoplifting a pregnancy test, valued at $15.98. This incident is in the news because of Purvis’ previous MTV appearance. We don’t know exactly why Purvis stole the test, but it is definitely concerning for other reasons.

The issue of having birth control covered by health insurance is currently being debated throughout the U.S. And while pregnancy tests are not the same as birth control, women’s reproductive health has been in the spotlight for more than a year now.

The fact is some women simply do not have room in their budgets for birth control, which can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year. Pregnancy tests can often be upwards of twenty dollars. And even though many health centers offer free pregnancy tests, with budget cuts and government funding being pulled, many of these health centers have had to cut hours and services—meaning fewer women and teens can access care. Until birth control and pregnancy tests are available either for a lower price or for free, it is low-income women and teens who will be disproportionately affected.

Many politicians are condemning women instead of helping them. In recent controversies, the desire for more affordable birth control has been met with hateful slurs. Other public figures have clearly implied that any woman who cannot purchase birth control should completely abstain from sex. This judgment, in addition to being incredibly sexist, is entirely unhelpful. Calling women names is bigoted and changes nothing.

Until a change is made to provide all women, as well as teens who may have little income, with affordable options for their reproductive health care, there will continue to be stories of women who could not afford birth control or even a pregnancy test, who feeling they have no other option, end up stealing them from the local Walmart.

—Taylor McCabe, 19, Contributor

Although the music industry is very visually driven, British singer Adele confessed in an interview with Anderson Cooper, “I don’t wanna be some skinny-mini with my tits out. I really don’t wanna do it!” Adele is entirely about the songs she writes and sings and not so much how thin or perfect she looks. She passionately sings from the heart and has a flawless voice that grabs everyone’s attention.

She is a wonderful role model for women of all ages to look up to. She clearly cares about how she looks, but doesn’t let her size dictate her happiness. Adele’s body peace is something many women can applaud and strive for as well. The fact that Adele is her own person and fully comfortable in her own skin, and has gotten so far in the music industry is extremely admirable.

She doesn’t just grace us with her amazing voice, but she also provides us with a positive body-image role model by refusing to conform to society’s standards of beauty in order to be successful. There have been few women like Adele who decided to push society’s standards to the side and create their own sense of identity and beauty. Perhaps we can all take some advice from Adele and not feel the need to look a certain way. We can just look like us.

—Casandra Fetchik, 18, Staff Writer