Another group of caregivers and youth in Nash and Edgecombe counties began the process of becoming informed about making good choices regarding sexual behavior Saturday at the Edgecombe County Administrative Building.
The Teach One, Reach One (TORO) program began its fourth cycle of six week courses in awareness and prevention on sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, decision making, healthy relationships, good communication skills and other topics.
The TORO curriculum is taught by Lay Health Advisers and the youth and caregivers are split into separate sessions to discuss topics that are parallel. An example is the class Your Body-The Facts on the reproductive systems of males and females for youth and Preparing for the Big Talk on physical and emotional changes during puberty for caregivers.
The groups then come back together for role playing activities to ensure both the youth and caregivers understand the concepts that were discussed.
“We don’t say you should do this or shouldn’t do this, but we want everyone to have the information so everyone can make their own decision,” said Giselle Corbie Smith, director of Program on Health Disparities at UNC-Chapel Hill.
The target age range for the youth group is 10-14 to give them early exposure to intimate relationships.
“Some of you may not be dating yet and we want you to have this information before you have these problems,” Smith said.
“The main goal of the program is to help youth make healthy choices regarding sex and relationships.”
After the participants have graduated from the program, they are responsible for recruiting friends and educating them on the TORO curriculum.
The program is tracking if TORO graduates are more likely to abstain from sexual activity compared to others in the same age group, improvement in communication skills and the information from TORO is being passed along to their peer groups.
“We want to show that it’s going to make a difference and then bring it to as many people as possible,” Smith said.
About 30 youth and their caregivers have already graduated from the program during the first three cycles. Smith said at least one more cycle will be conducted. TORO is seeking 20 youth and 20 caregivers to participate in the next cycle.
TORO was developed based on research that identified health issues relating to sex was a problem in the Twin Counties.
“We were looking at health issues affecting Edgecombe and Nash counties and that’s when we started to focus on HIV. We decided to start young because we saw the rate going up in older teens, so we wanted to start much younger so we could prevent and stop that spread,” Smith said.
Project Grace is the parent organization of TORO. TORO is in collaboration with at least 16 other agencies and organizations in the area.
If you’re interested in participating in the TORO program, call Berlie Peet of the Community Enrichment Organization at 823-1733 or Donald Parker with Project Momentum at 977-0765.
Local News
TORO program goal: Reduce teen health issues
- Local News
-
-
Edgecombe Relay for Life seeking business partners
Fresh from raising $196,312 and ranking No. 4 nationally in per capita fundraising, Relay for Life Edgecombe County is seeking business and corporate sponsors to help in the fight against cancer.
Corporate and business sponsorship packets, which detail the levels and benefits of sponsorship, are ready to be delivered, according to Jane Gurley Harper, corporate sponsor chair. Businesses can also help by forming a team to participate in Relay and raise money in that manner. -
Princeville commissioner, interim town manager involved in physical conflict
PRINCEVILLE — The disconnect of water service at a commissioner's home led to a physical confrontation between the elected official and a town employee Wednesday at the town hall.
According to Commissioner Gwen Knight, interim Town Manager Maggie Boyd gave instructions to a public works employee and a police officer to cut off Knight's water because the account was delinquent in the amount of $662.77.
Knight said she went to the town hall to pay the bill as soon as she was told about her service being cut off. -
Princeville terminates town manager Appoints museum curator to fill same position
PRINCEVILLE — A contract dispute between the Princeville town manager and the town commissioners led to his termination at the close of business Monday.
Victor Marrow was notified by Princevile Attorney Charles Watts that he had been fired.
Marrow's contract expired Feb. 1, but the town extended it six days in hope of his signing a proposed new contract. Marrow was hired in February 2010 on a two-year contract. Nine months later, he resigned, only to rescind his resignation the following morning.
Stipulations of the proposed new contract were untenable to Marrow and included the stipulation that it was to end on June 12, included a $5,000 pay cut, work in excess of 40 hours per week and write at least three grants per month, he said. -
CRIME ROUNDUP
The Tarboro Police Department responded to a call Friday and was told a victim had been stabbed. While conducting an investigation, officers were told by the victim that Perry Lee Bunn, 58, 304 Granville St., had stabbed him several times. The name of the victim was not released by police.
Officers called EMS to respond to the scene to transport the victim to the hospital so he could treated for his injuries. -
Significant deficiencies in county audit
Auditors told Edgecombe County Commissioners on Monday night that they found significant deficiencies while compiling the 2010-2011 annual audit of county finances. Still, the audit received an unqualified opinion.
-
Bryant declines to seek re-election
Teresa DeLoatch Bryant announced she will not seek re-election to the District 2 seat she now holds on the Edgecombe County Public Schools Board. The announcement came 91 days before the May 8 Primary Election and nearly a year after the first-term plus one year board member announced her resignation for personal and career reasons. She later rescinded her decision.
-
W.A. Patillo receives $5,000 poetry grant
W.A. Pattillo School has been awarded $5,000 from the North Carolina Arts Council for Poetry in the Classroom with Mimi Herman.
The funds will be used to provide a week of poetry writing experiences for seven fourth grade classes through the expertise and creativity of Herman. Students will gain self-confidence, and will view themselves as writers rather than merely consumers of literature. They will learn to use language effectively and creatively to communicate thoughts, feeling, and impressions. -
Pizza Bowl
The biggest football game of the year brings the largest sale of the year for two area pizza restaurants.
Tarboro branches of Pizza Inn and Dominos Pizza are gearing up for Super Bowl XLVI Sunday by increasing their regular employee lineup by as many as seven.
Pizza Inn is running a special that they believe will keep them busy throughout the day. Last year they sold over 200 large pizzas on Super Bowl Sunday compared to 50 on an average Sunday. -
Edgecombe unemployment up in December
TARBORO — Unemployment rates increased in 93 of North Carolina’s 100 counties in December. Rates decreased in four counties and remained the same in three.
Edgecombe, which saw a slight improvement in November, fell back to its October 2011 level (15.7%). Of the 100 counties in North Carolina, Edgecombe and Dare are tied at third highest in unemployment. -
Three ECPS campuses ahead of First Lady's nutritional guidelines
When First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced new guidelines for the nutritional overhaul of school meals last week, they could have chosen three of Edgecombe County's public schools as their models.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
