Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Health Educator Receives Highly Competitive National Scholarship
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 2, 2007
Contact
Nikki Hillier, Program Coordinator
(217) 531-2916
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Health Educator Receives Highly Competitive National Scholarship
CUPHD Health Educator will Attend National Conference on Sexual Health Education in Baltimore, Maryland in Mid-November
Champaign, IL – Kari Schweighart, Health Educator for the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) will be attending the National Sexual Health Education Conference titled “On Their Turf: Creative Approaches to Supporting Teens and Young Families” November 14-17, 2007. Schweighart is one of only 5 professionals selected nation-wide to receive the highly competitive scholarship for the all-expense paid trip to the conference being held in Baltimore, Maryland.
“On Their Turf” will offer current relevant information pertaining to research, programs, and media strategies proven to positively engage teens and young families. Through a series of workshops, Schweighart will gain the additional necessary skills to provide support, education and resources that are more laser-focused on the complex nature of the modern youth culture.
“This scholarship provides an exciting opportunity not only for me individually, but also for the communities served by CUPHD”, said Kari Schweighart. “The information I learn from participating in this National Conference will give me the additional necessary skills to expand CUPHD youth outreach programs. It will also give me the personal satisfaction of knowing that I will be able to reach some of the target audiences that proved challenging in the past, and that is what it is all about…helping people”. “NACCHO only funded five people for this conference”, said Nikki Hillier, Program Coordinator at CUPHD. “I am so pleased that Kari was one of those selected nationally to go. Kari is the perfect candidate as her passion truly lies with providing comprehensive sex education in schools and local communities. This opportunity will serve to enhance her abilities to work with our partners and clients.”
CUPHD currently partners with local community agencies, including Planned Parenthood, to provide outreach programs on sexual health issues for young people and young parents. CUPHD and partners daily participate in outreach workshops aimed at providing today’s youth with current and comprehensive sexual education. In a frank and honest way, the partners address concerns, questions and the potential consequences of sexual activity in youth. Over the past year, this partnership has worked with hundreds of area youth and is currently crusading for a required standard of sexual education in our community.
For more information on this or any of the many other CUPHD programs, please call 217-352-7961 or visit our website at www.c-uphd.org.
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