Teen Pregnancy Prevention Fund Awards $1,800 to Two Non-profit Organizations

 (Photo: L to R    Mercede Robinson, LCSW-C Treatment Foster Care Director for San Mar Family and Community Services, Inc., Fund Founder Carrol Lourie, E.J. Fuller, Development Director for Boys & Girls Club of Washington County, Kathleen Prest, MSW Licensing and Recruitment Coordinator)The Teen Pregnancy Prevention Fund, a component fund of the Community Foundation of Washington County MD, presented its sixth annual grant to two local nonprofits the Boys and Girls Club of Washington County, and San Mar Family and Community Services, Inc. alongside fund founder Carrol Lourie. Each grant will support educational programming that addresses teen pregnancy and unsafe sex practices amongst teens.Boys and Girls Club of Washington County received their grant to support SMART Girls, a health, fitness, prevention/education and self-esteem enhancement program for girls ages 8-18 that encourages healthy attitudes and lifestyles. Activities include field trips, workshops, speakers, and other events.“We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without the support of the community,” said Boys & Girls Club of Washington County Development Director E.J. Fuller. “I can not remember or think of one girl getting pregnant during my seven years with the organization, so there’s something that we’re doing right, and the [SMART Girls] program helps,” he continued.San Mar Family and Community Services, Inc. will use their grant for their evidence-based San Mar Treatment Foster Care Parenting Prevention program. This program hopes to continue developing a mother and baby program in which youth in foster care learn and develop the necessary skills to effectively parent their children while receiving education on future pregnancy prevention, healthy relationships, safe sex practices, financial literacy, vocational and career goals, self-esteem, and character development.“We are anticipating babies in our [foster care] program within the next six months, and so it was really important for us that we establish a curriculum to support them and we hope for that prevention afterwards, so that… the goal is that this doesn’t reoccur. They’ll get the support they need to make good choices, be education-focused and prevent future pregnancies,” said Mercede Robinson, LCSW-C, San Mar’s Director Treatment Foster Care.