Mississippi § 41-79-53 - Programs to provide education, counseling, support and training to prevent unintended teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections; implementation by school nurses.

§ 41-79-53. Programs to provide education, counseling, support and training to prevent unintended teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections; implementation by school nurses.

The Mississippi Department of Human Services shall develop programs to accomplish the purpose of one or more of the following strategies: Promoting effective communication among families about preventing teen pregnancy, particularly communication among parents or guardians and their children; Educating community members about the consequences of unprotected, uninformed and underage sexual activity and teen pregnancy; Encouraging young people to postpone sexual activity and prepare for a healthy, successful adulthood, including teaching them skills to avoid making or receiving unwanted verbal, physical, and sexual advances; Providing medically accurate information about the health benefits and side effects of all contraceptives and barrier methods as a means to prevent pregnancy and reduce the risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS; or Providing educational information, including medically accurate information about the health benefits and side effects of all contraceptives and barrier methods, for young people in those communities who are already sexually active or are at risk of becoming sexually active and inform young people in those communities about the responsibilities and consequences of being a parent, and how early pregnancy and parenthood can interfere with educational and other goals. The State Department of Health shall develop programs with the following strategies: To carry out activities, including counseling, to prevent unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, among teens; To provide necessary social and cultural support services regarding teen pregnancy; To provide health and educational services related to the prevention of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, among teens; To promote better health and educational outcomes among pregnant teens; and To provide training for individuals who plan to work in school-based support programs regarding the prevention of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, among teens. It shall be the responsibility of school nurses employed by local school districts implementing the program developed by the State Department of Health under subsection (2) of this section to carry out the functions of those strategies to promote consistency in the administration of the program.