(Published in the Marin Independent Journal, Dec. 12, 1999)

Program Targets Latino Teen Pregnancy

Pilot project ready to begin in Canal Area

by Karen Pierce Gonzalez

Barrio Warriors want to make a difference in the life of young men in the Canal Area of San Rafael. The new three-year pilot youth project aims to reduce the number of unwanted teen pregnancies in the Canal through education and peer counseling of young men. The project is a joint venture of the San Rafael Canal Ministry, the Canal Community Alliance and the Huckleberry Teen Health Program.

"Young men are equal partners in unwanted pregnancies," said the group's coordinator, George Galvis of Huckleberry, a project funded by the California Department of Health's Office of Family Planning.

Unwanted teen pregnancies are proportionately higher in the Canal than any other part of San Rafael, he said. "It's important to get the young men involved in taking responsibility for their behavior," he said.

The group will hold its first public community event tomorrow from 3:30 to 5:30 at San Rafael High School.

The kickoff event includes a blessing by the Aztec Dancers of San Francisco, live music an educational skits.

The Warriors want to advocate for pregnancy prevention strategies and for the development of alternatives, such as jobs and community opportunities. "We want to reach other young men and help them see they can accomplish good things in life," said Barrio Warrior Felix Perez.

The 17-year old Madrone High School student said he has turned his life around and wants to help other youth Latino males do the same. "People saw me as a kid without hope. They thought I couldn't be reached," he said. Today he sees himself as someone who helps others and that will be what takes him places he wants to go in his life.

Perez is one of about 10 young men who serve on the group's Youth Advisory Council. There are also 10 young women on the council who offer feedback and support.

"It was rare to see a guy at the family planning teen clinic. Now they're coming to get tested for HIV and they are taking more responsibility for birth control," said council member Mary Vueno, former Huckleberry Peer health educator.

Marin County Department of health and human services figures reveal that the Canal Area is a designated hot spot with a 45% increase in teen pregnancies over the last seven years.

"The Latino population in the Canal is growing and county data shows that teen-age birth rates among Latino teen-agers is higher than other ethnic groups," said Galvis.

The Warriors undergo rigorous peer-health training based upon the "Hombres Nobles" curriculum, developed by Jerry Tello, founder of the Latino Fatherhood Institute in Southern California. They also learn about youth crime and how to become involved in community issues that concern them.

Through a variety of upcoming activities, including school on-site and community outreach discussion groups, retreats and health education fairs, the Warriors say they are ready to help make a difference. According to Perez, "We can help because we are at the heart of the Canal community."

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