It’s February!

With Valentine’s Day in this middle month, February is often called the month of love!

It’s a time to celebrate our appreciation for the loved ones in our life. Did you know February is also Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month? Teen dating violence is more common than one may think. In 2016, 17% of Minnesota 11th graders reported experiencing some form of intimate partner violence, including physical, sexual and verbal (2018 Minnesota Adolescent Sexual Health Report). People ages 16 to 24 experience the highest rate of intimate partner violence, especially women identified folks. These stats are one of the reasons myHealth believes it is so important to talk to young people about healthy relationships.

A question we get a lot at myHealth is “How do I know if my relationship is healthy?” That is a difficult question and there is not always a straight forward answer. Our Youth Advisory Board (YAB) created this Healthy Relationship poster for Valentine’s Day/Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month to help answer this question. The poster highlights some common healthy and unhealthy behaviors. YAB members will be posting this in their schools for young people to see!

For more information, check out myHealth’s tab on Healthy Relationship or visit LoveIsRespect.org.

A lot of the young people we work with struggle with body image. Body image is how we view and think about our body. Positive body image occurs when a person is able to accept, appreciate and respect their body. The holiday season can be especially tough for folks who are struggling with body image. Jokes about elastic-waist pants at holiday dinners, favorite holiday foods that only come around once a year, and the overwhelming amount of New Year’s diet and fitness marketing can make this time of the year tough. 

According to Melrose Center, over 50% of Americans are unhappy with their body’s appearance. This is especially true in our young people. 53% of 13 year-old American girls are unhappy with their bodies. This number grows to 78% by the time girls reach 17. However this doesn’t just effect women-identified folks, 30% of teen boys use unhealthy weight control behaviors. Another study found that transgender college students had over four times greater risk of being diagnosed with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, and two times greater risk of eating disorder symptoms such as purging compared to their cisgender female peers. Studies have found that young people who have negative body image are more likely to have lower self-esteem, be depressed, anxious, and at higher risk for eating disorders.

Learning to love our bodies is a journey and it’s not always easy. Be gentle with yourselves and your young person. Our society pressures us to always seek something “better” for our body, but give yourself permission to love your body, just the way it is! 

There are many ways we can help our young people (and ourselves) love our bodies and enjoy holiday celebrations!

1. Value your body for what it can do rather than what it looks like. Remember, there is no wrong way to have a body!
2. Be a body positive role model. Our young people take note of how we talk about ourselves. Even subtle comments and messages we may not be aware of can impact our young people. Instead of making a comment about needing larger pants for all the dinner you are about to eat, thank whoever provided all the delicious food.
3. Watch how we talk with others. During the holidays we may be seeing family and friends we haven’t seen in a while. Instead of commenting on their appearance “you look great – you’ve lost so much weight” or “wow you have really grown a lot” ask them how they are doing or what they have accomplished this year. Focus on the person as a whole, not just their body.
4. It is okay to indulge! Many holidays are celebrated with special foods. Have you been looking forward to grandma’s signature mashed potatoes? Then eat them!
5. Don’t judge what others are eating! Resist the urge to say, “Are you really going to eat that second slice?” It may be said with good intentions, but its impact can be hurtful.
6. Find a fun way to get moving! Moving our bodies reduces stress, and gives us energy; two things we need during the holidays! It can be hard to find ways to be active during a Minnesota winter. Plan family activities that are fun and get the body moving like dressing warm and finding a sledding hill, or heading to a local community center.

BODY IMAGE TIPS FOR EVERYDAY OF THE YEAR

Celebrate and love what your body can do for you.

Have a list of things you like about yourself. Read it regularly.

Think of yourself in entirety and as a whole person, not just a body.

Be mindful of who you surround yourself with. Positivity is contagious!

Follow a variety of profiles on social media that show different bodies.

Cancel the thoughts in your head that don’t add value.

Work with your body, not against it. Wear comfortable clothes that make you feel confident.

Take note of the advertisements and media messages that promote negative self-talk.

Do something nice for yourself.

Take the time you normally worry about food, calories, or your weight and help someone else.

Art credit: Maxine Sarah Art and Unknown

Happy #NationalAdoptionMonth!

The History of November being #NationalAdoptionMonth began in 1976 in Massachusetts when Governor Michael Dukakis announced an Adoption Week. This was then proclaimed as National Adoption Week by President Reagan in 1984. It was in 1995 that National Adoption Week’s awareness and time span was expanded to an entire month by President Clinton. So, why spread awareness of and celebrate adoption?

Adoption is an important, beautiful, and viable option that many people in the U.S. choose as a way to start or expand their family(s). #NationalAdoptionMonth is a month that people use to celebrate and reflect on how their lives have been impacted by adoption. It also provides a platform for spreading awareness of adoption-related news and issues. With so many children in foster care and without families both in the U.S. and abroad, it is vital that people are aware of the need to adopt and that they know the appropriate information on how to become foster parents or how to adopt those children in need.

Statistics (Adoption Network)

• 428,000 children are in foster care in the U.S.
• 135,000 children are adopted in the U.S. each year
• More than 60% of children in foster care spend 2-5 years in the system before getting adopted; many never get adopted
• Nearly 100 million Americans have adoption in their immediate family
• 6 in 10 Americans have had personal experience with adoption
• Around 7 million Americans are adopted
• 37% of adopted children are non-Hispanic white compared to 73% of adoptive parents that are non-Hispanic white → This means a large amount of children of color are adopted by white parents → these are known as transracial adoptions
• The number of international adoptions has been on the decline as many countries become more restrictive with adoption
• Today, almost 60%-70% of domestic adoptions are open adoptions

There are many different ways to celebrate #NationalAdoptionMonth. For those families and people who have chosen to adopt or who have been adopted, here are some ways to celebrate this month:

• Tell the story of your adoption or your child’s adoption to your family and friends or to your child.
• Be aware of and plan a special event or celebration for the anniversary of your adoption. Many people refer to this anniversary as their “Forever Family Day”.
• Look into, share, and reflect on your or your adopted child’s heritage.
• Read a book or watch a movie that tells a positive adoption story or experience.
• Write a thank you letter to the people who make adoption possible, like a social worker, an attorney, a judge, a foster care family, etc. This could be specific to those people who helped you, or to people who make adoption possible in general.
• Spread awareness of your own unique adoption story on social media.
• Connect with other families of adoption.

Not affected directly by adoption? There are still ways to celebrate and spread awareness!

• Donate time and/or money to local organizations that support adoption.
• Join local adoption-related events that encourage community participation.
• Educate yourself and/or others about adoption and consider becoming a foster parent.
• Read a book or watch a movie that tells a positive adoption story or experience.
• Reach out to people in your life that have been affected by adoption to learn from their experiences and to affirm them.

One of the most important things to remember about adoption is that no two stories are alike. Each adoption story is unique and experiences its own triumphs and hardships. Some parents may struggle to adopt because of relational, emotional, legal, or financial challenges. Other parents may have the resources and privileges available for a more smooth experience. One thing is certain; both the adoptive parent(s) and the adoptee will likely deal with tough emotions and questions when the adoption takes place and throughout their lives. That is perfectly normal and there are endless amounts of families that can attest to differing adoption stories. Although adoption can prove to be challenging, it is still a great and selfless option!

Resources

The Becoming Program: This is a service of myHealth for pregnant and parenting teens. This program provides education, resources, and advocacy for any pregnant or parenting young person in need. As part of this program, nurses and caseworkers will work with the young person to give them the necessary care and information they need to empower them to make the best decision(s) for themselves and their baby. If a young person is unsure of what they want to do or would like to set up an adoption plan, the Becoming Program can help with that as well. The goal of this program is to give a young person the tools and skills to be healthy during and after a pregnancy and while parenting, if that is what they choose to do. To find out more about this service check us out online at: https://myhealthmn.wpenginepowered.com/becoming-program/  

For Parents Seeking to Adopt (MN):

• https://www.nacac.org/
• https://www.myadoptionadvisor.com/
• http://evolveservices.org/
• https://chlss.org/adoption/
• https://www.hennepin.us/residents/human-services/foster-care-adoption

For Adoptive Parents to Read to Their Adopted Child:

• Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born – A little girl asks her parents to retell the story of her adoption and the night she was born.

• The Mulberry Bird: An Adoption Story – A Mother Bird is unable to care for her baby, so she creates an adoption plan to provide him with the future she wants him to have.

• A Mama for Owen – When Owen the baby hippo’s mama is lost in a tragic tsunami, he becomes best friends with Mzee the tortoise, who becomes his new “mama.” A new family begins after a painful loss.

• Elliot – A young rabbit in the foster care system goes through difficult and complex emotions, even though he knows his foster families love him very much. A social worker comes to help Elliot understand that he’ll never be able to go back to his old home and helps his adoptive parents to understand what Elliot has been through.

For Adoptees:

• Adoptees On – A podcast where adoptees discuss their real life experiences with adoption; giving listeners a deeper understanding of adoption.
• The Rambler – A podcast where the host, Mike McDonald, holds candid interviews with adoptees from all around the world.
• I Am Adopted – A blog in which the author shares her take on dealing with trauma adoptees face during and after adoption.
• No Apologies For Being Me – A blog that is a resource for anyone coming to terms with their own adoption.
• The Adoptee Survival Guide: Adoptees Share Their Wisdom and Tools – 30 adoptees share their voices and experiences to this book to provide support for other adoptees.
• The Primal Wound: Understanding the Adopted Child – This book has been referred to as the “bible” for adoptees as it discusses the lifelong effects of adoption.
• http://adopteereading.com/
  • This website is full of books by and recommended by adoptees for other people affected by adoption

These are just a few of the awesome resources that exist! Anyone seeking resources or advice about adoption should check out the resources provided as well as seek out resources specific to their experience and needs.

Make sure those vaccine records are up to date!

 Did you know, shots aren’t just for kids! Teens need to get their shots, too.

 We all need shots (vaccines) to help protect us from serious diseases. This protection is called immunization. To help keep our community safe, myHealth For Teens & Young Adults is proudly participating in National Immunization Awareness Month.

Not only newborns and infants, but also your preteens and teens will need immunizations from time to time to protect your friends and family. In general, there are four vaccines suggested for teens to help save them from serious illnesses. One of them is the most popular flu vaccine, which should be administered every year. The other vaccines that are recommended for teens during their eleventh or twelfth year include:

• Meningococcal conjugate vaccine to protect against meningitis and bloodstream infections (septicemia).
• HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccine to protect against cancers caused by HPV.
• Tdap vaccine to protect against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough (pertussis).

As most preteens get their shots before school starts, it could be difficult to get an appointment to meet your child’s doctor. Therefore, plan it well before and get an appointment at the earliest to avoid missing the shots. Always be sure to check with your doctor in order to make sure that your preteen is current with the vaccines. Remember, they may have to catch up with vaccines that they have missed while they were young.

Schedule your appointment today at myHealth to make sure your vaccines are up to date!

WALK IN STI TESTING!

(At the clinic we use the term STI- Sexually Transmitted Infections. STI’s and STD’s are the same thing but it’s how you look at them. If someone gets an infection they go to the doctor to get treatment! We try to break down the stigma so young people seek treatment not hide in the shadows)

Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD’s) are one of those topics that people typically avoid talking about, but it’s one that needs more attention, especially with the current rise of STD’s both in the state of Minnesota and nationally. The most recent CDC STD report showed a significant increase in STD’s.

• Chlamydia up 2.8%
• Gonorrhea up 5.1%
• Syphilis up 15.1% 

The CDC estimates that nearly 20 million new   STD ‘s occur every year in the US , half among young people aged 15-24.   https://www.cdc.gov/std/   Each of these infections is a potential threat to an individual’s immediate and long term health and wellbeing.  STD’s can lead to severe reproductive health complications, such as infertility (for both men and women) and ectopic pregnancy. This means STD’s could prevent you from having/ making a baby in the future.

When it comes to STD’s, ignorance is not bliss: what you don’t know can definitely hurt you in the long run. You can’t just assume your partner is free of STD’s- you need to ask them if they have been tested. Most people that have an STD don’t have any symptoms, so they don’t know that they have an infection. To help reduce the chances of getting an STD you have a several options:

• Abstain from sex-  Everyone always reserves the right to choose not to have sex whether it’s because they’re not ready, they want themselves and their partner to get tested, they want to wait until their in a better mood or until they finish high school or college etc. Abstinence is not just waiting to have sex until marriage which is the definition we hear a lot. Its waiting to have sex until it’s the right decision for you and the right decision for your partner and for a time when you can make that decision together without pressure, without fear, without guilt, without obligation.

• Use a barrier method each and every time-  If you do have sex (whether it’s vaginal, oral or anal sex), always use a barrier method (male condom, female condom, or dental dam). This will help prevent sharing of bodily fluids which is one way that STI’s spread. If you or your partner are on a form birth control.. that’s amazing but birth control only protects against pregnancy they don’t protect against STI’s

• Limit the number of partners you have – The more partners you have the more chances you potentially have to get an STI.. you can keep safe by knowing your partners status each and every time and it doesn’t hurt to know how many partners they have had in the past. It helps you make the decision that is right for you

• Know your status!  Get tested before each new sexual partner and have your partner get tested too!

• Chat with our Nurses!  If you ever have any other questions about what you or your and your partner can be doing to keep safe you can always stop into our clinic and chat with our staff. The can answer any questions you may have about STI’s and how to be safe!

We want you to be safe, to take care of your body and to be responsible so come on in for a walk in appointment and get tested! While you’re here at the clinic stock up on some condoms or other barrier methods (THEY’RE FREE)