What is the Child Watch Visitation Program?

adolescent pregnancy winter 1992-1993ChildWatch Newsletterisitation Challenges Community Leadershis has been an educational and inspirational experience._- "Thesitation far exceeded my expectations.· "'To meet such declicatec:l andvolved people (working on behalfofchildren and youthl made melize how much workis being donein this community.·lese are a rew of the comments made by religious leaders whorticipatec:l in the Leadership Visitation: Focus an Youth, held inuth Central Los Angeles in October.e half-day program, part ofa national effort designed by theildnm's Defense Fund, was convened at the Watts Health Foundan.Religious leaders visitec:l Jordan High School's School Based ainicd Child Care Program and "Sweet" Alice Harris' Parents ofWatts.I'Ough a series of briefings, site visits, and conversations with teens,e program provided up-to-date information on teen pregnancy andenting. with particular attention to the role of poverty and thetreme pressures of life in our cities.the conclusion of the Visitation, CongresswomanMaxine Waters,verend George Regas and Reverend Joe Hardwick challenged theigious leaders to becomea national moral witness for our youthandfind specific ways to become part of the solution.e Leadership Visitation project acts to dispel the myth that -nothingrks· by visiting programs that are workingand explores specificys in which religious leaders and their congregations and organizanscan make a difference in the lives ofour youth.PCW, as a partner in the Joint Venture with P1anned Parenthood Losngeles. is implementing the Leadership Visitation Project in Losngeles County. The Project identifiesand trains a broad range ofaders (such as media, corporate leaders, clergy, foundation directors,mmunity organizers) through briefings by policy and program:perts and carefully planned visits to service sites. Participants then,velop specific actions and agendas.Additional Visitations for religious leadm, newly electedofficials and corporate leaders are scheduled for the s~ring.The Visitation Project will conduct a minimum of 24 Sitevisits with at least 20 participants each, in the next threeyears.The project's goals are to personalize the reality of teenpregnancy and parenting, to create a sense of ~eneya~utreducing the rate of teen pregnancy and allevia~gn~tiveoutcomes of too early parenting, to develop an tnf1~entialrore of citizens committed to promoting cost effectiveprograms, and to establish regional networks ofleaders,providers and policy makers throughout the county,For additional information or to participate in the project,call Dr. Sherry May (310) 395-0098.National Sponsors of Visitation ProjectAmeric:aJl Association of Retired Persons, Association of JuniorLeagues International, Jack and Jill of America, Kiwanis Intema- .tional National Council of C\urchesChild &: Family lustice WorkingGrou~, National Council of La Raza, National Council ofNegroWomenLoal Sponsors of Visitation ProjectBig Sisters of Los Angeles, Center for Population Options, ~drenNow, Children's Hospital L.A. - Division of Adolescent Mecliane,Comision Femenil Mexicana National, Crittenton Center for YoungWomen and Infants, Delta SiglM Theta, El Nido Services, GirlsIncorporated, Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, JuniorLeague of Los Angeles, Kiwanis Oub of Boyle Heights, Mayor'sOffice of Youth Development, National Council of Negro Women,The Summit Foundation, YWCA 01 Greater Los Angeles•Alice Harris greets Lesuiership VisiUtion p4rticip4nts lit Parmts of