October is Let's Talk Month

Can We Talk? This October Richland County Family Planning sponsors ‘Let’s Talk Month’ to encourage Parent/Child communication about sexual health and other topics that are important to both groups.

Parents are the first and most important educators in their children’s lives. However, not all parents are comfortable with or have the resources to discuss difficult topics with their children. Often, parents want to talk to their son or daughter about different issues, but are afraid that they will not have the right answers and do not know where to get them.

‘Let’s Talk Month’ is a national public education campaign celebrated every year in October, coordinated by Advocates for Youth, to help parents and their children navigate a path to a healthy life where young people can make healthy and responsible decisions. ‘Let’s Talk Month’ equips parents with facts, advice and tips so parents can take advantage of the teachable moments that occur every day. Watching a TV show, the birth of a child, or a song with suggestive sexual lyrics are all moments parents and their children can use to discuss sexuality, dating violence, and sexting. These can also be opportunities to reinforce the family’s values or religious beliefs.

To celebrate ‘Let’s Talk Month’, Richland County Family Planning is again organizing a pumpkin decorating contest for the month of October. Pumpkins can be decorated to address any topic that is important---but often avoided---such as texting and driving, dating violence, drug and alcohol use, as well as sexuality to name a few.

Any group or individual wanting to participate can take a decorated pumpkin to the Richland County Health Department during the month of October and complete a registration form. Prizes for most creative, most impactful message, and people’s choice will be awarded on Monday, October 30 @ 10am. For more information, contact Lesley Thiessen at 406-433-2207 at the Richland County Health Department.