Young Latinos face barriers to prevention services that put them at far greater risk than many other young people in North Carolina. As a result, they have a higher teen pregnancy rate.

Navigating the barriers Latino young people face – whether they relate to culture, language, or access – is an important step for communities to take when they address adolescent health. We can help.

Exploring Solutions with the Hispanic Symposium

Each year, we host an annual Hispanic Symposium to help professionals address the most pressing current issues facing Latino young people. Past sessions and activities have addressed college access, outreach strategies, and community action planning.

Learn more about this year’s Hispanic Symposium. 

Individualized Technical Assistance and Services

Our Hispanic Outreach Coordinator often works with local organizations to help them improve their services for Latino young people. Past services include:

• Spanish-language workshops to help parents learn to communicate with their children about sexual health
• Mediation between parents and their pregnant or parenting teens
• Basic reproductive health classes for Spanish-speaking youth
• Contracting with school systems to conduct Spanish-language parent nights
• Working with program providers to ensure programs and outreach are culturally competent

Coming Soon: BrdsNBz en Espanol – A Direct Line to Parents and Teens

In Summer of 2012, we will launch a Spanish-language edition of our award-winning BrdsNBz Text Message Warm Line. The service allows Spanish-speaking young people ages 13-19 text a sexual health question, and receive a free, confidential answer within 24 hours. For now, young people can text their questions in English or Spanish to the original BrdsNBz line.

We will also launch North Carolina’s first-ever parent text line. We recognize that parents often need support in raising healthy children – and that dealing with sexual health topics can be awkward for any parent. We also recognize that North Carolina’s Latino parents face additional barriers in connecting their children with programs, health services, and accurate sexual health information. The new parent text line will support parents as they strive to help their children understand sex, relationships, and health.

Have more questions about our Hispanic Outreach services? Contact Hispanic Outreach Coordinator Olivia Carless.