If you live in select counties in California and are between the ages of 12 and 19, you now qualify for a free package of 10 condoms, lubricant and educational materials every month from teensource.org.
The package is shipped out in a discreet, yellow envelope, and teens are sent several updates so they can keep track of when the package will arrive. Should it get into someone else’s hands, there’s a slip inside detailing who to contact along with a link to a website helping parents talk about sex with their kids.
The new mail-order condom program targets certain counties in California – Kern, Alameda, Sacramento, San Joaquin and parts of San Francisco counties – because of the high rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea among teenagers, according to the Bakersfield Californian.
"We can't keep our heads in the sand and pretend there isn't a problem..." Amy Moy told the Bakersfield Californian. She’s Vice President of Public Affairs for the Family Health Council, which is the non-profit running teensource.org. "We know teens are engaging and we want to make sure they're as safe as possible."
Critics aren’t too keen on the idea of teens being able to get protection without their parents’ knowledge.
"I would think the overwhelming majority of parents in Kern County wouldn't think this is a good idea," said Linda Davis, executive director of the Bakersfield Pregnancy Center. "And I don't think their kids would have the nerve to request them."
What do you guys think: Is this the kind of program you would support coming to your town? Or do you think it sends the wrong message to teens about having sex?
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