The Adolescent Pregnancy Coalition of North Carolina reports that the number of pregnant teens in North Carolina has increased slightly in the past year. In 2004, 18,615 North Carolina teens between the ages of 10 and 19 were pregnant. In Johnston County, 276 teens between the ages of 10 and 19 were pregnant. In an effort to promote the state's Abstinence Until Marriage Curriculum, Ann Arant, Nathalia Faber, and Wendy Massengill, of the Adolescent Parenting Program at the Johnston County Department of Social Services, have organized panels of teens who will be talking to 7th grade students. During the presentations, teens will share their concerns, challenges, and problems in dealing with pregnancy as teenagers. These brave teens speak from the heart and send a powerful abstinence message. The presentations are scheduled as follows: * Monday, February 6 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. McGee's Middle 1:10 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. Cleveland Middle * Tuesday, February 7 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Smithfield Middle 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Four Oaks Middle * Wednesday, February 8 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. North Johnston Middle 1:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Princeton * Thursday, February 9 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Riverwood Middle * Friday, February 10 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Meadow 1:15 p.m. - 2:45 Benson Middle * Monday, February 13 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Corinth Holders 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Selma Middle * Tuesday, February 14 8:45 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. South Campus Middle 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. Clayton Middle In May 1997, the Johnston County Teen Panels won the Youth Achievement Award presented by the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Coalition of North Carolina. The award was given to recognize the panel's success in reaching their peers with a reality-based abstinence until marriage message. The public is invited to attend any of the presentations, and parents are especially encouraged to attend with their children.
