TISH: Sexual Health Information for Jefferson County via Text

TISH, Text Information Sexual Health, is a service for youth and young adults to receive answers about their sexual health through text. Jefferson County Public Health nurses receive and answer texts about sex, pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), testing and all other topics regarding sexual health.

The text line is confidential and trustworthy, providing reliable information on sensitive topics that teens and young adults may otherwise be uncomfortable inquiring about. 

Here’s how it works: First, text the word “question” to (720) 446-TISH (8474) anytime. Once you receive a response, text your question and a Public Health Nurse will respond between the hours of 9am-5pm Monday through Friday. That’s it!

For more information on TISH, visit our Go Ask TISH website.

An online tutorial on TISH and how to use it is available in our Go Ask TISH Video.

May is National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month

Nearly half of all pregnancies in Colorado are unintended, meaning they occur sooner than desired or occur when no pregnancy is desired at any time. For teens the percentage is even higher, with the vast majority being unintended. Research shows that science-based, comprehensive sexuality education, contraceptive access and youth development programs can help young people make choices that can protect them from unintended pregnancy. Jefferson County Public Health’s Family Planning Program offers reproductive health services including birth control at its new Lakewood location at 645 Parfet Street. Please call 303-232-6301 to make an appointment. Walk-in hours are also available. Services are provided on a sliding fee scale. No one is denied services due to the inability to pay. Youth and young adults in Jefferson County can also use Go Ask TISH to get answers about their sexual health. It's confidential, just text your questions to 720-446-TISH (8474) and get answers from a public health nurse. We also have created videos to help educate teens and young adults on reproductive health, watch the JCPH “Sex Ed with Mel” video series.

Consequences of Unintended Pregnancy:

• birth defects
• low birth weight
• elective abortion
• maternal depression
• increased risk of child abuse
• lower educational attainment
• delayed entry into prenatal care
• high risk of physical violence during pregnancy
• reduced rates of breastfeeding

Additionally, teen mothers are less likely than their peers to earn a high school diploma or GED.

We all have a role in helping our youth become successful adults. Parents, teachers, friends, employers and others are invited to take time this May to help prevent teen pregnancy. Engage the youth in your life in conversation, get teens thinking about how a pregnancy might affect their life and help them come up with a plan for avoiding pregnancy.

For more information on Teen Pregnancy:

• JCPH Family Planning (reproductive health and birth control) services.
• Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s web page on Breaking the Cycle of Teen Pregnancy.
• Download the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Action Guide to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.
• Visit Stay Teen, Stay Informed website.

Need answers to your questions about sexual health? We are here for you.

Jefferson County Public Health’s Family Planning program reminds adults and youth that preventing unplanned pregnancies is one of the most important things you can do for your reproductive health. In addition, February happens to be National Condom Month and a perfect time to remind everyone that safe sex means more than using birth control, it also means using a condom. 

While various forms of birth control may prevent pregnancies, they do not prevent the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). If you are sexually active and have not been using a condom, you are at risk. Get tested at one of our clinic locations in Lakewood or Arvada. Call 303-232-6301 for an appointment. If you have any questions and need answers, text 720 446-TISH (8474), the Teen Information Sexual Health line is confidential and answered regularly by one of our public health nurses.

National Home Safety Month

Every year, the National Safety Council pegs June as National Home Safety Month. This year’s theme, “Safety Starts with Me,” is a reminder to educate yourself and your family about preventable injuries around your home. Jefferson County Public Health’s Injury Prevention program has information on safe sleep and car seats for your child, preventing elderly falls, and teen driving.

For more information about preventing injuries in your home and community, please contact Myria Normann at 303-239-7067.

Preventing Teen Pregnancy

We can all celebrate recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showing that teen birth rates in the U.S. are down and have been declining for the past 20 years. Good news indeed, but hold the applause, the CDC also points out that the teen birth rate in the U.S. remains nine times higher than in other developed countries. Furthermore, while the number of pregnancies may have declined, the number of teens who are having a second child, or third, before they are 20-years-old is on the rise. This is called a repeat birth. The data show that one out of five teen moms have repeat births. According to the CDC, every day in the U.S., 183 "repeat" teen births occur with the majority of these (86 percent) being second births and 13 percent being a third child. Teen pregnancy and repeat births among adolescents are an important public health issue because they are closely linked to a number of negative social and health outcomes including, poverty and income, child well-being, responsible parenthood, health issues, education, child welfare, and others. Preventing unplanned pregnancies is considered a Colorado and Jefferson County winnable battle. 

Jefferson County Public Health’s Family Planning Program has been reaching out to teens and their parents with reproductive health education and services since the 1970’s. Different birth control methods, the importance of spacing pregnancies, how to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and abstinence education are all topics that one of the JCPH family planning nurses can help with. Parents and teens are encouraged to call our clinic at 303-232-6301 with any questions about our family planning services or to make an appointment. As the month of May is Teen Pregnancy Awareness Month, JCPH would like to remind all of its residents that the best way to prevent teen pregnancy is through education. For more information, please visit our website or call 303-232-6301. Also, check out our “Teen Health Matters” educational display in several county libraries and the Courts and Administration Building.

Need Birth Control or Other Reproductive Health & Family Planning Service

Did you know that Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) offers confidential family planning and reproductive health services with little wait time at two convenient locations?

 

§  Lakewood Clinic, 260 South Kipling Street - 303-239-7078

§  Arvada Clinic, 6303 Wadsworth Bypass - 303-275-7500

In the United States, almost half of all pregnancies are unintended.  Yet, many safe and highly effective methods of birth control are available to prevent unintended pregnancy.  Women with unintended pregnancies are less likely to obtain early prenatal care and their babies are at increased risks of both low birth weight and preterm birth, which can cause health and development issues all through their lives. An unintended pregnancy can also limit the education and employment opportunities of both parents often leading to significant financial challenges. 

That is why JCPH is dedicated to offering the following services:

• Pregnancy testing and all options counseling
• Treatment of minor gynecological problems
• Abstinence counseling
• Emergency Contraceptive Pill
• STD Clinic                            
• HIV Confidential Counseling & Testing 
• Teen Health Program

All services are confidential and parental consent is not necessary for minors.   In most cases, a birth control method can be started on your first appointment.  More information can be found at www.jeffco.us/health

Injury Facts Hurt . . . Colorado had the 17th Highest Rate of Injury Deaths in U.S.

“The Facts Hurt: A State-by-State Injury Prevention Policy Report” recently released by the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), highlights injuries as a major public health problem in the United States and concludes that millions of injuries could be prevented each year if more states adopted additional research-based injury prevention policies, and if programs were fully implemented and enforced. According to the report, injuries – including those caused by accidents and violence -- are the third-leading cause of death nationally – and they are the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 1 and 44. One person dies from an injury every three minutes. Every year, injuries lead to $406 billion in lifetime costs for medical care and lost productivity.

Injury Prevention is a Colorado Winnable Battle. JCPH’s Injury Prevention Program works with partners at the state and local levels on a variety of injury prevention initiatives, including safe driving, safe sleep and fall prevention. Read Report  >>  view web site  >>  view Colorado page

Handouts to use:   Fall Prevention     >>   Safe Sleep    >>    Teen Driving     >>   JCPH Student PSA video