Baby? Think It Over!!!

A teen-pregnancy prevention program in partnership with the Clark County and Washoe County School Districts, high schools and middle schools. This project gives teenagers the opportunity to experience the 24-hour needs of real babies. The "temporary" Moms or Dads carry their electronic baby with them during their day-to-day activities. Teenagers discover not only the amount of time a baby requires, but also the financial requirements of having children.

 

How the Program Works.

The Baby? Think It Over!!! Program uses a prevention curriculum along with infant simulators to educate students about the unhealthy effects of teen pregnancy, early parenthood and FAS.

 

The student’s infant simulator experience involves attending to the “baby” overnight or over a weekend. When the simulator cries, the teen must insert a care key that has been attached to their wrist with a tamperproof band. The key must remain in place until the crying stops. Each care session lasts between five and twenty minutes and occurs every two to three hours. The random cries of the simulator could wake them up at night, take them away from sports activities, or interrupt a shower or other personal activities.

 

From the curriculum provided, teachers can use pre/post knowledge and attitude surveys, simulator logs to record a student’s experience and worksheets on the cost of raising a child. Teens usually approach this activity thinking the experience will be fun--no big deal. Interestingly enough, they are never late to return their simulators.

 

Facts on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

A baby can only be born with FAS if its mother drinks alcohol while she is pregnant. Babies exposed to alcohol before birth may exhibit low birth weight, growth retardation, central nervous system disorders and other facial and physical problems

 

. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is the #1 birth defect in Clark County affecting as many as 1 in every 200 births. (As per Colleen Morris, M.D.) FAS is a disease you grow into--not out of. The Surgeon General has said: “There is no safe level of alcohol for an unborn baby.”

 

Sometime after a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, the fetus will have a higher blood alcohol content than its mother. An unborn baby is NOT protected from prescription drugs, alcohol or tobacco by the placenta.

 

What we are doing to prevent Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

Supplying the drug-alcohol affected simulator to health and home and career science classes accompanied by supportive curriculum. Providing workshops and newsletters for teachers and competent guest presenters for classrooms. Supporting teacher involvement through on site visits, simulator maintenance and con- tinual upgrades as our funding allows. Sending a concise and duplicate message of the Surgeon General’s warning.