Document Type
Panel Presentation
Start Date
19-4-2018 3:30 PM
End Date
19-4-2018 4:45 PM
Keywords
psychology of women, adolescents, community-based learning
Biography
The students in this group are psychology majors in my CommunityBased Learning, Psychology of Women Capstone Seminar. They would like to present their final project in my course at the COLA Conference.
Major
Psychology
Advisor for this project
Dawn M. Goel
Abstract
Being a teenager can be one of the toughest periods of a person’s life. Often teenagers are searching for themselves while trying to fit in, and these formative years can be filled with many challenges. From 2013-2014 in West Virginia, 9,000 adolescents aged 12-17 reported using illicit drugs within the past month. That same year 30,000 individuals aged 12-20 reported binge alcohol use (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2015). When it comes to sexually transmitted infections (STI), 15-24 year olds are responsible for acquiring half of all new STIs and are at higher risk due to a combination of behavioral, biological, and cultural factors (CDC, 2016). Furthermore, many teenagers are experiencing their first relationships and with that comes a risk of dating violence. Around 7% of women and 4% of men who have experienced some form of dating violence had their first experience when they were under 18 (CDC, 2017). To help local teenagers navigate these years, we will host an event for them to receive free prom attire while attending educational programs to address: drug and alcohol abuse, basic sex education, and dating violence. In addition to the educational program, we will offer the students the opportunity to take home free formal wear items. It is our hope that the students will leave the event feeling confident in themselves and that our efforts will help to prepare them for their special night and their future.
Free Formal For Now Lifestyle Education Forever
Being a teenager can be one of the toughest periods of a person’s life. Often teenagers are searching for themselves while trying to fit in, and these formative years can be filled with many challenges. From 2013-2014 in West Virginia, 9,000 adolescents aged 12-17 reported using illicit drugs within the past month. That same year 30,000 individuals aged 12-20 reported binge alcohol use (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2015). When it comes to sexually transmitted infections (STI), 15-24 year olds are responsible for acquiring half of all new STIs and are at higher risk due to a combination of behavioral, biological, and cultural factors (CDC, 2016). Furthermore, many teenagers are experiencing their first relationships and with that comes a risk of dating violence. Around 7% of women and 4% of men who have experienced some form of dating violence had their first experience when they were under 18 (CDC, 2017). To help local teenagers navigate these years, we will host an event for them to receive free prom attire while attending educational programs to address: drug and alcohol abuse, basic sex education, and dating violence. In addition to the educational program, we will offer the students the opportunity to take home free formal wear items. It is our hope that the students will leave the event feeling confident in themselves and that our efforts will help to prepare them for their special night and their future.
