Report: Standardize sex ed for teens

New York State should mandate standardized sex education for teens in public schools, according to recommendations in a new report from the Suffolk Task Force on Teen Pregnancy.

The report, to be released today, also called for:

Creation of a training program for county workers and agencies that deal with young people so the workers can address teens' sex health issues.

Training of adult Latinas as peer educators to help encourage a dialogue between adults and teens about sexuality and reproductive health.

"The recommendations are education, education and education, as well as access to information," said Legis. Vivian Vilora Fisher (D-Setauket), a task force member.

The report by the task force, created by the Suffolk County Legislature in 2009, was commissioned after a surge of teen pregnancies in several Suffolk communities. It comes after the 13-member commission held public hearings in Riverhead, Brentwood and Shirley.

The study found that 18 communities have teen pregnancy rates above Suffolk's average of 36.7 per 1,000 females from ages 15 to 19 for 2006 to 2008. The highest rates were found in Brentwood, where 95.5 teen girls per 1,000 became pregnant, and Wyandanch, with 91.6 teen girls per 1,000.