Grants Given to Teen Pregnancy Programs

Four programs that deal with teen pregnancy were presented with grants by the Ventura County Community Foundation’s Women’s Legacy Fund this week. The recipients are:

* Apollo Continuation High School in Simi Valley, $7,020 for its Minor Parent program, which focuses on providing teen parents child care and support to complete their high school education and/or learn job skills.

* Conejo Free Clinic, $4,640 for its Teens at Risk program, for educational materials on pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, a medical clinic for teens and an awareness program through ads in school newspapers.

* Fillmore Unified School District, $5,550 for its Pregnant and Parenting Teen program, which established the first local teen parent program that includes development of parenting skills, and a classroom and child care facility.

* Tres Condados Girl Scout Council, $6,790 for its Teen Talk program at Blackstock Middle School in Oxnard, for developing a 32-week course to help 12- to 14-year-old girls avoid early sexual involvement and pregnancy.

“The grant topics were determined by founders who identified specific issues they felt should be addressed to assist women and girls in Ventura County,” said Marlene Alexander of the grants committee.

“Their response was to have the awards focus on programs that address teen pregnancy and parenting.”

The Women’s Legacy Fund was founded by women, families and businesses in Ventura County that each gave a minimum of $1,000 to establish it. The grants were presented at a reception at the Civic Arts Plaza in Thousand Oaks, hosted by The Times Ventura County Edition.

The 1998 grants committee will consist of Joan Blacher of Somis, Betsy Bourne of Thousand Oaks, Sally Davis of Ventura, Pam Jolicouer of Thousand Oaks, Irma Lopez of Oxnard, Amy McAvoy of Camarillo, Mary Swink of Simi Valley, Jane Weirick of Ojai and Maio Winkler of Fillmore.

For more information on the Ventura County Community Foundation, which manages a permanent endowment of gifts from county residents that address a broad range of needs, call 988-0196.