SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 3 /PRNewswire/ - California's teen pregnancy rates have dropped 40 percent over the last 10 years. How did the state achieve this success? Through the teaching of comprehensive sex education including abstinence in our schools, instituting teen pregnancy prevention programs, ensuring access to contraception and by promoting the value of open and honest parent/teen communication.

Studies show that parents are the most influential factor in a teen's life regarding responsible sexual behavior. According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 87 percent of teens say that it would be easier for them to postpone sex and avoid pregnancy if they had open, honest conversations with their parents.

"Talking to your teens about sex isn't always easy, but it's necessary," said Kathy Kneer, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. "Planned Parenthood is proud to be part of the solution to reducing teen pregnancy rates in California. Our health centers offer teens and their parents medically accurate information and our educators are trained to help parents engage in open, honest communications with their kids about sex."

This year Assemblymember Dave Jones (D-Sacramento) introduced AB 2141, a bill sponsored by Planned Parenthood that would create the Parent-Child Communication Assistance Program. The goal of this legislation is to decrease teenage pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and sexual assault by providing funding for community based programs that equip parenting adults with the knowledge, understanding, and communication skills necessary to talk with their children regarding responsible behavior and their sexual health, including the prevention of unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

"The teenage pregnancy rate in California has significantly decreased over the last decade, but is still unacceptably high. Parents are the most influential people in their children's lives and this bill will help to equip them to speak with their teenagers about delaying sex," explained Assemblymember Dave Jones (D- Sacramento).

Today, May 3, is National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Day. Assemblymember Jones and Kneer marked the day with a Capitol press conference to call attention to programs that help reduce teen pregnancy. Also speaking were bill co-sponsors Patty Berg (D-Eureka) and Carol Liu (D-La Canada Flintridge) as well as by Marybeth and Diana Bizjak, a mother and daughter from Sacramento who talked about the importance of establishing open lines of communication within the family. Diana is a teen peer counselor for Planned Parenthood.

"I am proud to be a co-author of this bill," said Berg, who is a longtime supporter of comprehensive sex education. "I know firsthand how valuable education is and how the discussion of sexuality is important to a person's whole being."

"If we are going to reduce teen pregnancies, the spread of STDs and the incidence of teen sexual assault, it is imperative that our children understand the myths and realities of sex and sexuality," Liu said. "Far too many young people learn about sex from their friends or the media instead of from their parents."

AB 2141 is co-sponsored by the National Center for Youth Law and California Latinas for Reproductive Justice.

"We have seen enthusiastic support for targeted, culturally-based family communication programs that are geared to reach our communities," said Rocio Cordoba, executive director of California Latinas for Reproductive Justice. "In a series of trainings conducted with Promotoras and community health workers last fall, all participants indicated the need for providing Latino parents with tools for speaking with their children openly and honestly about sexuality, among other issues that are important to teens' lives."

"Assisting parents in talking with their children about sexual decisions helps youth become self-sufficient adults," said Curt Child, senior attorney for the National Center for Youth Law. "Reducing teen pregnancy is an important poverty reduction strategy since many teen parents end up single and poor."

Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (PPAC) is the state public policy office representing California's nine separately incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates. Through advocacy and electoral action, PPAC promotes sound public policy in areas of reproductive health care, family planning and comprehensive sex education.