Thank you for your coverage of the Healthy Youth Act.

I work in Spanish bilingual education with adults. Many of the families I work with who have school-aged children are not providing information at home about healthy sexuality. That's because their parents never talked to them about these issues, and they don't know how to even begin a conversation with their kids.

The parents I work with want to have informed dialogues with their children. They want to meet their kids where they are at. They want the opportunity to talk about their own religious and family values and sexuality. They want to work in tandem with schools.

They also want their children to graduate from high school and be successful, and to receive all the tools they need to navigate in this country with all of its wonderful opportunities.

The Wisconsin Minority Health Report published in 2008 reveals disturbing statistics about disparities in teen birth rates - the numbers of births per 1,000 young women aged 15 to 19. The rate for Latinas was 89.8 teen births, while the overall total population numbered 30.5.

Making sure the facts are relayed in school is the least we can do to demonstrate that we value the potential in all Wisconsin youth.

- Rhea Vedro, Madison

Login to post your comment. If you don't have an account, you may register for one.