Contact Name
Barbara Dietsch
562-985-9488

Contact Email
bdietsc@WestEd.org

Kathy Herre, M.A.
Planned Parenthood of America, Inc.

Just imagine how incredible it would be if teenagers across America not only knew all the facts about sexuality and sexual health, but could find this information any time at a place that was fresh, accessible, engaging, secure, and trustworthy.

On February 22, 1999, Planned Parenthood¨ Federation of America, Inc. (PPFA) launched a dynamic and interactive Web site for teens between the ages of 13-18. The site, teenwire.com, includes the following sections: In Focus, World Views, Taking Action, Hothouse, Ask the Experts, The Warehouse, Clinic Connection, and Yikes, a section for teens who need help dealing with a potential crisis related to sexual health. All information relates to teen sexuality and sexual health including body image and self-esteem, family communication, relationships, decision-making skills, sexually transmitted infections, birth control, and the portrayal of sex in the media.

The Web site will constantly evolve with new articles, polls, and quizzes posted every week. PPFA expects teens to return to the site on a regular basis and to be actively engaged with the site. Adolescent health care professionals can search The Warehouse and download information, articles and quizzes to use in their work with teens.

You might be wondering how many teens have access to on-line services. Well in the Spring of 1998, 83% of teens had used an on-line service from home or school and this was compared to 53% of teens on-line six months earlier and 38% of teens on-line one year earlier (Teen Research Unlimited, Spring 1998). Jupiter Teen Reports projects that 75% of the U.S. teen population will be on-line by the year 2002-that's 25 million teens on-line.

Through teenwire.com, PPFA expects to educate and empower millions of teenagers so that they are able to make responsible choices concerning their own sexual health.