On an average there are over 500,000 children in the foster care system. The typical youth spends 6 years in the foster
care system before being adopted or aging out. Some youths have been in as many as 30 placements during their time in
the child welfare system. With this many placements and changes in their young lives, many of these youths do not become
educated in the area of their own self care. This concern includes smoking, alcohol, drug awareness, sex education,
stress management and overall medical consciousness.
Nicotine is considered the number one entrance drug into other substance abuse problems. Research shows that teens between
13 and 17 years of age who smoke daily are more likely to use other drug substances. The use of other drugs is part of the
peer pressure that our children have to face. The earlier that our youth begin using tobacco, the more likely they will
continue using into adulthood.
The numbers show that when young people and alcohol mix, there are deadly consequences. Many teenagers' deaths are
associated with alcohol. Partnership for a Drug-Free America have found that about 5,000 young people under the age
of 21 die as a result of underage drinking, many in traffic accidents.
A critical area that youth feel they are invincible is sexual activity. Exposure to multiple sex partners brings
serious consequences which not only results in early parenthood, but sexual transmitted diseases and other terminal
life long results such as HIV/AIDS. Sexual transmitted diseases (also known as STD’s and once called venereal disease or VD)
are infectious diseases that spread from person to person through intimate contact. STD’s can affect guys and girls of all
ages and from all backgrounds that are having sex – it does not matter if they are rich or poor. Unfortunately, STD’s
have become very common among teens. Because teens are at a higher risk of being exposed to STD’s, it is important that
they learn what they can do to protect themselves. They are a serious health problem and if untreated, some STD’s can
cause permanent damage, such as infertility and even death.
As a result of a foster youth’s background, severe depression and emotional imbalance is found more often than not in
their lives. These youth do not know how to reach out and recognize the issue at hand and must be directed to
professional counseling and to know how to ask for help.
How ASCC Makes a Difference
ASCC has a broad outline in this program. We recognize how critical it is to correct the possible self-destructive
paths in which these young lives may be heading. Educating our youth about methods of birth control, STD protection
and the pressures of having sex will mean the difference in their lives of not experiencing early parenthood,
permanent harm and lowering the number of children who cycle through the child welfare system.
We cover strategies of responsible drinking and the permanent results of being reckless. Our program will show
youth how to reach out to community resources that will help them with areas of depression, suicidal thoughts,
becoming drug free, quit smoking and any area of self care.
This module will have the youth understand how to recognize an emergency, what to do if a fever doesn’t improve,
how to treat minor bites, cuts, splinters and stings. Our youth will understand how to set up a doctor or dentist
appointment, how to find the right medical provider for their needs and what to expect if they would ever need to
use the ER at a hospital.
Teaching our youth stress management and how important a balanced life can dictate their overall well-being will
be a challenge that our organization will work hand in hand with each teen to overcome.
For more information on the Self Care Program or any other ASCC Program, please contact us at 615-283-3013
or email us at
info@ashleyschildren.org
ASCC has a broad outline in this program. We recognize how critical it is to correct the possible self-destructive
paths in which these young lives may be heading. Educating our youth about methods of birth control, STD protection
and the pressures of having sex will mean the difference in their lives of not experiencing early parenthood,
permanent harm and lowering the number of children who cycle through the child welfare system.
