Volunteer Opportunity, Research Paper Example

Introduction

The development of programs to aid teens in achieving a greater awareness of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is of critical importance within the local community because there is a high rate of infection of Chlaymdia and Gonorrhea in Cook County.  The risk of disease within this population group may be quite high when students are uneducated regarding their own level of risk and how their behaviors might contribute to an even greater level of risk. Teens are particularly vulnerable to STDs and face critical challenges regarding their behaviors that require further consideration and evaluation. Most importantly, teens must be provided with education in order to raise their awareness regarding STD risks and must be able to utilize this knowledge effectively to make positive decisions regarding their behaviors.

Body

Different strategic approaches, such as the “Get yourself tested campaign” represent a means of advancing teens’ understanding of STDs and this relationship to their own behaviors (Friedman et.al, 2014). Furthermore, it is important to identify specific resources whereby teens are able to receive testing  in a point-of-care format to promote prevention and awareness (Reed, Simendinger, Griffeth, Kim, & Huppert, 2010). The issue often affects many teenagers across diverse population groups for a number of reasons, including their exposure to social media that provides information and may bridge some of the gaps in behavior that impact teens in different ways (Jones & Biddlecom, 2011). Furthermore, it is likely that technology will continue to play a role in educating teens regarding responsible behaviors and STD risk (Levine, 2011). In this context, volunteering for an STD awareness program provides a positive means of getting the message across regarding behavioral choices and the need to understand  why many behaviors may endanger one’s health.

Teens represent many different challenges with respect to their behaviors and their ability to exercise responsible behaviors at a vulnerable age. This is a challenging situation because it emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility in order to ensure that behaviors are appropriate in order to prevent STDs. This process, however, impacts all teens differently and must be further examined in regards to specific circumstances. For example, a 16 year-old female may not be willing to engage in responsible behaviors with her boyfriend because she believes that there is sufficient trust within the relationship that these precautions are not required. In this case, the teenager must be provided with an environment in which she will acquire practical education and knowledge in order to ensure that she is caring for herself and her own needs above all else. In another example, a 17-year old male who is popular at school and has several girlfriends has placed himself and his female friends at risk multiple times due to his poor decision-making regarding sexual behaviors. Therefore, he must be educated regarding the unnecessary risks that he is taking with his own body and the females that he is with. Therefore, an educational program may provide this support and encouragement to ensure that teens are able to recognize that safety and protection must be a key priority above all else.

Conclusion

Teens must have access to education and awareness programs that may have a lasting impact on their decision-making behaviors. Their level of knowledge and risk regarding STDs must serve as a viable area of consideration and support the development of new factors that will have a lasting impact on their lives. This process requires community members and volunteers to support programs to educate teens regarding their role in the prevention of STDs and their capacity to make positive decisions in this regard that will have a lasting impact on outcomes and wellbeing for many teens who struggle with these decisions throughout this vulnerable period of the life span.

References

Friedman, A. L., Brookmeyer, K. A., Kachur, R. E., Ford, J., Hogben, M., Habel, M. A., … & McFarlane, M. (2014). An assessment of the GYT: Get yourself tested campaign: An integrated approach to sexually transmitted disease prevention communication. Sexually transmitted diseases, 41(3), 151-157.

Jones, R. K., & Biddlecom, A. E. (2011). Is the internet filling the sexual health information gap for teens? An exploratory study. Journal of health communication, 16(2), 112-123.

Levine, D. (2011). Using technology, new media, and mobile for sexual and reproductive health. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 8(1), 18-26.

Reed, J. L., Simendinger, L., Griffeth, S., Kim, H. G., & Huppert, J. S. (2010). Point-of-care testing for sexually transmitted infections increases awareness and short-term abstinence in adolescent women. Journal of Adolescent Health,46(3), 270-277.