DENTON=20
(UNT), Texas � Dr. Scott Smith=92s Social =
Work Practice II=20
class at the University of North Texas is getting real =
world=20
experience by planning several fundraisers for =
Alley=92s House, a=20
nonprofit organization based in Dallas that works with =
teenage=20
mothers.
The class,=20
an upper-level undergraduate course in the Department =
of=20
Social Work, Rehabilitation and Addiction Studies, =
also is=20
offering psychological and educational courses for the =
organization=92s clients, volunteering at the =
headquarters and=20
advocating for more comprehensive sex education in=20
Texas.
=93It is the=20
mission of the Practice III class to identify an =
organization=20
within our community that serves those less fortunate =
than us=20
and who could utilize the help of our class,� =
said=20
John-Michael Krakoski, a senior social work major and=20
president of the class. =93I think our class was =
enthusiastic to work with Alley=92s House www.alleyshouse.org=20
because many of us have =
either=20
personally experienced or seen someone close to us =
struggle=20
with the issue of teen pregnancy.�
Several=20
Denton businesses are working with the class to =
organize times=20
when part of their earnings will be donated to =
Alley=92s=20
House.
The=20
Applebee=92s at 707 South Interstate 35E will donate a =
percentage=20
of its proceeds earned between 11 a.m. and closing on =
April 14=20
(Tuesday). Bowling at University Lanes, located =
at 1212=20
E. University Drive, also will help the effort by =
donating a=20
portion of its proceeds earned between 3 and 5 p.m. on =
April=20
19 (Sunday).
A 5K run=20
also is being planned. The run will be held at =
North=20
Lakes Park in Denton on May 30 (Saturday). For =
more=20
information or to register for the run contact =
Krakoski at=20
hubs.krakoski@gmail.com. =
In=20
addition to raising funds, the students also will =
travel to=20
Austin on April 27 (Monday) to lobby for two bills =
related to=20
sex education in Texas public schools. The =
bills, SB 515=20
and HB 741, both pertain to amending Section 28.004 of =
the=20
Education Code to allow Texas schools to teach sex =
education=20
in a more comprehensive manner, which would include =
discussion=20
of contraceptive methods and sexual transmitted=20
diseases.
Krakoski=20
says that teen pregnancy is an obvious problem that =
must be=20
dealt with in a timely and efficient manner. =
Daniel=20
Alpiger, a senior social work major and class vice =
president,=20
agrees that the statistics show that changes are=20
needed.
![](3D"http://www.ntxe-news.com/artman/uploads/1aaaaaawomanpregnancytest.=) =
|
=93Texas has the=20
third highest rate of teen births and the highest rate =
of=20
repeat births among 15-19 year olds in the United =
States,�=20
said Alpiger. =93In an ideal world, our young =
women and men=20
would understand why Texas believes abstinence only is =
the=20
most appropriate sex education, but this is not an =
ideal world=20
and our teenagers and young adults need to have the=20
information that is necessary for them to protect =
themselves=20
from sexually transmitted infections, as well as =
unplanned=20
pregnancies.�
For more=20
information on this project contact Deborah Cardosa, a =
senior=20
social work student, at dac0154@unt.edu or=20
817-454-8108.
© Copyright 2002-2006 by =
North Texas=20
e-News, llc
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