Tin can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

My name is Marlen Ramirez. I live in between two Texas edge cities; Eagle Pass and Del Rio.I take been working with teens since 2012. In 2016, nether a teen pregnancy prevention grant, I launched a program for the urban center of Eagle Pass for teen pregnancy prevention classes. Through this role, I trained other Customs Wellness Workers and developed a plan to help accost teen pregnancy.

With the assist of customs volunteers from Eagle Laissez passer, Texas, Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas and my family nosotros started a student parent conference calledSave the Teens which basically discusses taboo topics that come up around teen pregnancy such every bit mental health topics, post-secondary education, and abusive relationships. We accept been hosting the event for five years now. Information technology has definitely had a positive affect on our community. In 2018, I was given an award from the Texas Campaign thatrecognizes infrequent individuals who have fabricated remarkable contributions to the field of teen pregnancy prevention in Texas through service, leadership, advocacy, or research.

Currently I provide services to the community of Del Rio, as a customs health educator for Val Verde Regional Medical Center. My role is to work with the schoolhouse district and customs organizations and help raise awareness on health issues by providing educational resource. I too am co-president for the Del Rio – Cuidad Acuna Trinational Health Council. Working with communities forth the edge has been a claiming, 1 of the most common challenges is getting permission from parents and school districts to talk about reproduction wellness. We faced a lot of barriers, but throughout the years we were able to raise awareness on teen taboo subjects and decrease the rates of teen pregnancy in our community.

In order to continue to make an impact on the importance of health educational activity, I was recently appointed to serve on the Texas Department of State Wellness Services (DSHS) Promotor(a) or Community Health Worker Training and Certification Advisory Committee for the side by side three years.

What is your experience with teen pregnancy?

I became a teen parent during my senior yr of high schoolhouse. I had twins. I was not expected to terminate high school, or go to college, merely I managed to stay on task and graduate.Instead of preparing to go to college, I was preparing to be a parent to not only one, but two babies. I had my twins at 27 weeks. They were taken to San Antonio immediately due to medical needs. At that betoken my life completely inverse! During their stay at the hospital, I lived in a Ronald McDonald House in San Antonio for a few months after giving birth. Today, my husband (Ricardo) and I are the proud parents of 5 children, our twins (Jesus and Yanitza) are currently sophomores in high school, and our other children are in 8th form (Samara), fifth grade (Yaretzi), and 3rd grade (Luis).

My family has been with me through my professional and educational journeys. After finishing high school and giving birth, I enrolled in my local junior higher and graduated with an Associate'southward Caste.While studying for my Associate's Degree, and working for the junior college I idea virtually pursuing a career in the medical field, and obtained my license as a CNA. While working as a CNA I realized that my heart was actually in education, I decided to enroll in college once again and get my Bachelor's Degree in Social Sciences. I am currently working towards my Master's Caste! I tin honestly say that my teen pregnancy had a significant impact on my life, but I tin also say that it has been a blessing in my life as well. In that location is a lot of stigma around teen parents and young professionals who are parents, but I am proof that existence a young parent does not mean that you are incapable of following your dreams!

What would you lot want to tell your younger cocky?

I would have told my younger self that it is okay to ask well-nigh nascence control.If I could get back to the moment that I institute out I was going to exist a mom, I would tell myself that things will be hard, only you can all the same practice the things yous planned for yourself before becoming meaning. I would tell myself not to exist so hard on myself and savour the petty things. I would remind myself that getting significant at a young age doesn't mean that you aren't going to graduate high schoolhouse or finish college or get a master'due south caste. I would tell myself that no affair what people remember you are more than capable of accomplishing your goals and dreams.

What could take been offered to y'all as a teen to make you feel more supported in making decisions about sex and relationships?

The central is always education and being able to start a conversation.I wish my schoolhouse and my community had teen programs bachelor to provide data on risky behaviors and more resource centers to keep teens busy.

Every bit a teen parent, I wish at that place would accept been a back up group for teen parents. While in school, it was believed that a teen pregnancy would ruin your life. It doesn't. Information technologydoesbring many challenges, but when you work hard and gear up your goals yous are able to achieve anything y'all put your eye to in your life.

A baby is a blessing, sometimes it can come at a fourth dimension when you lot aren't set, but that doesn't mean information technology is whatsoever less of a approval. It doesn't mean your plans and dreams are gone. It means you will have to work harder to get there. This is how we need to recall nearly teen pregnancy when information technology happens. We demand to provide support and resources to young parents to help them continue to follow their dreams and besides become good parents. For teens who are not parents, we demand to exist able to have conversations almost pregnancy prevention. That means educational activity comprehensive sex instruction.

Contact Marlen at marlen.ramirez@vvrmc.org if you lot are a young parent who needs to talk to someone who has been in your shoes before or if you work with an arrangement that would similar to develop a teen plan