Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention

Family Service Center's You First Program is designed to address the issue of high teen pregnancy rates in South Carolina.

There are five county-based programs that have their own local advisory committees and are located in Fairfield, Lexington, Newberry, Richland and Saluda Counties.

The You First Mission

The goal of our program is to promote adolescent health and reduce adolescent pregnancy in Richland, Lexington and Newberry counties. We collaborate with many community partners to develop programs and services to educate and involve community teens and adults towards empowering and protecting their youth.

Through a variety of effective, multifaceted school and community-based initiatives that are abstinence-based, we promote awareness, facilitate collaborative activities, encourage community involvement and develop positive youth development and reduce risk-taking behaviors.

How Do We Accomplish Our Mission?

Assisting other agencies, churches and community-based organizations to design and implement prevention programs that are significant to their values.

  • Conduct short-term presentations, workshops and ongoing programs that target both youth and adults. 
  • Provide information and resource materials for adolescents and parents on a variety of topics.
  • Develop a media and public awareness campaigns focused on the consequences associated with teen pregnancy.
  • Encourage and foster Advisory Council participation and Youth leadership teams.
  • Host annual event to promote teen pregnancy prevention and awareness collaborating with Palmetto Health, youth organizations, media, and other community and faith-based organizations.
  • Provide parent training and/or workshops
  • Collaborate with other agencies that focus on developing healthy youth life-styles.
  • Provide information, resources, and technical assistance to community on positive youth development, abstinence-based information, and decision-making and healthy relationships.

For or more information, please call one of the County Programs below:
Fairfield: 803-635-3854
Lexington/Saluda: 803-358-9076
Newberry: 803-405-1444
Richland: 803-733-5450

Frequently Asked Questions About the Program

1. How does the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention program work with a community?
First, our staff conducts a town meeting with community members. The goal of the meeting is to pinpoint:

  • Strengths of the community (any programs, resources or organizations that will benefit youth, such as mentoring, a Boys and Girls program, etc.);
  • Needs of the community (the things that may be lacking in regards to meeting the needs of the young people, such as no transportation, no after school enrichment programs, etc.);
  • Beginning strategies for addressing adolescent pregnancy in their specific neighborhood.
    After the initial meeting, one of our staff facilitators continues to work with the committee to enlarge and implement strategies by establishing a community group.

2. How does the community group work?
One of our staff facilitators meets with the community group monthly. They work towards:

  • Designing programs that can educate and increase public awareness of adolescent pregnancy;
  • Developing and providing written materials for adolescents and parents on a variety of topics including abstinence, communication and handling pressure to have sex;
  • Teaching strategies for better communication between parents and teens;
  • Training speakers.

3. Who can be in the community group?
Anyone is welcome. Teachers, ministers, teenagers, parents and business leaders have all been asked to participate.
 
4. What are some existing community groups?
Eau Claire Community Committee, Spring Valley Community Committee, Lower Richland Community Committee, Youth Committee.

Contact us for more information about specific groups at 803-733-5450

2712 Middleburg Drive | Suite 207-A | Columbia, SC 29204 | 1-800-922-5651 | 803-733-5450

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