LA Best Babies Network Hosts Teen Pregnancy Prevention Artwork Contest

Last May, this HBLC announced an art contest for teens to share ideas on how to prevent teen pregnancy. Although sponsored by the Metro area HBLC, the contest was open to all L.A. County high school students with more than 40 teens submitting artwork.

"Our intention was prevention," said Mollie R. Miodovski, health education coordinator at Project NATEEN/Children's Hospital Los Angeles and co-chair of the L.A. Metro HBLC. "We have a high rate of teen pregnancy here in the L.A. Metro area, so we wanted to find a way to encourage our teens to learn how to take responsibility for their own health and not get pregnant. And what better way to reach them than through their own peer group?"

In fact the L.A. Metro area has the fourth highest teen pregnancy rate in the county. In 2005, there were 41 babies born to mothers younger than 15 years old; 601 babies with mothers between the ages of 15 and 17; and 1,010 babies whose mothers were 18 and 19 years old. And teen pregnancy rates, according to a recent Child Trends study, are increasing.

The winning teens and their families were honored during a special reception at La Mano Press Art Gallery, a private gallery in downtown L.A. Attending were representatives from the LABBN, including Director of Programs Janice French and and Community Outreach Specialist Irma Radillo. Representatives from the 15 organizations involved in the Metro area HBLC Collaborative, including Maternal and Child Health Access, Project NATEEN and March of Dimes, were also present.

First 5 LA attended the event and photographed several of the posters and four of the artists. Click here to see the submissions and photos of the celebratory event.

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