Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Southern Regional Convention

Alpha Phi Alpha and the March of Dimes

Working Together to Make a Difference for Our Babies

Project Alpha March for Babies

"Children's talent to endure stems from their ignorance of alternatives."

Maya Angelou

Southern Region Leadership Team• Bro. Charles Marshall, Southern Region Project

Alpha Chair----------------------------------------------------------------------------------• Alabama Unknown• Florida Bro. Albert Cummings

a_cummings3@yahoo.com• Georgia Bro. Charles F. Marshall

Cmarshall89@hotmail.com

• Mississippi Unknown• North Carolina Bro. Moses Fox

mosesfox3@hotmail.com• South Carolina Bro. Lewis C. Hicks

hickslc@dhec.sc.gov• Tennessee Bro. Raymond Mitchell

raymondmitchell4@yahoo.com

Southern Region Participation in Project Alpha

Disitrict Chapter TypeVolunteer Brothers

Student Participation

Bro:Student Ratio

2010 % Black Total Population

Est. Black Population

Alabama 14Alumni 138 371 1:2.7 26.20% 4,779,736.00 1,252,291

Alabama 17College 148 300 1:2 26.20% 4,779,736.00 1,252,291

Florida 26Alumni 190 902 1:4.7 16.00% 18,801,310.00 3,008,210

Florida 15College 104 682 1:6.6 16.00% 18,801,310.00 3,008,210

Georgia 21Alumni 250 1123 1:4.5 30.50% 9,687,653.00 2,954,734

Georgia 20College 208 1012 1:4.9 30.50% 9,687,653.00 2,954,734

Mississippi 13Alumni 139 1440 1:10.4 37.00% 2,967,297.00 1,097,900

Mississippi 11College 73 205 1:2.8 37.00% 2,967,297.00 1,097,900

North Carolina 20Alumni 192 834 1:4.3 17.90% 9,535,483.00 1,706,851

North Carolina 24College 219 1498 1:6.8 17.90% 9,535,483.00 1,706,851

South Carolina 17Alumni 232 983 1:4.2 -

South Carolina 15College 166 968 1:5.8 -

Tennessee 8Alumni 65 185 1:2.8 16.70% 6,346,105.00 1,059,800

Tennessee 14College 135 411 1:3 16.70% 6,346,105.00 1,059,800

Project Alpha By District

Disitrict ChapterVolunteer Brothers

Student Participation

Est. Black Population

Alabama 31 286 671 1,252,291 Florida 41 294 1584 3,008,210 Georgia 41 354 2135 2,954,734 Mississippi 24 212 1645 1,097,900 North Carolina 44 411 2332 1,706,851 South Carolina 32 451 1951Tennessee 22 231 596 1,059,800

Male Teen Sexual Activity

• In 2007 54.8% of males had sex as a teenager

• 9.7% had sex before the age of 13• 63.5% used a condom• 25.5% reported alcohol or drug use

prior to last sexual encounter• 20.4% had sex with four or more

persons

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2008). Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance?United States, 2007. Surveillance Summaries, June 4, 2008. MMWR; 57(SS-4);Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (2007). Youth Online:Comprehensive Results. Retrieved June 2008 from http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/yrbss/ Atlanta, GA:

Other Factors

• 10.5% of teenage females have been physically assaulted by their boyfriends

• 13.7% of teenage females were forced to have sex without their consent

• In 2008 the number of reported STI’s in males ages 15-19 were 278.30 per 100,000

US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention (NCHSTP), Division of STD/HIV Prevention, Sexually Transmitted Disease Morbidity for selected STDs by age, race/ethnicity and gender 1996-2008, CDC WONDER On-line Database, November 2009. Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/std-std-v2008-race-age.html on Feb 25, 2010 10:40:55 PM

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2008). Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance?United States, 2007. Surveillance Summaries, June 4, 2008. MMWR; 57(SS-4);Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (2007). Youth Online:Comprehensive Results. Retrieved June 2008 from http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/yrbss/ Atlanta, GA:

Teen Pregnancy

Fathers by Age at the Birth of Their First Child

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Younger than 20 20 - 29 years old 30 and over

Source: National Survey of Family Growth, 2002

Prematurity and Birth Defects

• The average rate of pre-term births in women under 20 was 14.9% (all women 13.7%)

• Very pre-term births (less than 32 weeks completed gestation) was 2.6% (all women 2.1%)

• Infant mortality (death within first year) was at a rate of 8.2 per 1,000 live births (all women 6.5)

• 7.5% of live births occurred with late or no prenatal care (all women 4.7%)

National Center for Health Statistics / www.marchofdimes.com/peristats 2004-2006 Average

Teen Dad’s Babies at Risk

• Compared to babies of fathers age 20-29, those with teenaged dads were 15% more likely to be born prematurely and 13% more likely to have a low birth weight

• Babies with teen fathers had a 22% higher risk to die in the first four weeks after birth

• 41% increased risk to die in the period from four weeks to one year

• 13% higher risk of a low Apgar score assessing physical condition after delivery

Shi Wu Wen, Ottawa Health Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Human Reproduction, 2008

Social Factors• Low income

• Poor education

• Late or no prenatal care

• Domestic violence, smoking, substance abuse

Attack Teen Pregnancy Above the Belt• Attack lack of self respect/respect

for others

• Attack hopelessness

• Attack family/community environment

• Attack self doubt

Focus• Positive behaviors

• Finishing school and being a provider

• Dare to dream

• Living a life that does not include child

Impacting Behavior• Preemptive programs

• Provide a safe environment

• Longitudinal in nature

• Relate to them on their terms

Impacting Behavior• Make if fun and interactive

• Provide insight on teen pregnancy

• Legal ramifications and parental rights

• Create mentoring opportunities/life skills

Above the Belt Approach• Sharing Knowledge – combating

ignorance and fear with factual information.

• Changing Attitudes – providing motivation toward positive changes in sexual behavior.

• Providing Skills – creating a sense of empowerment and self esteem.

Above the Belt Approach• Choices

• Decisions

• Consequences

• Responsibility

Project Alpha• Responsibility, Respect and the Role

of Males in Relationships

• Adolescent Pregnancy and Fatherhood

• Protecting Yourself and Your Partner

• Sexually Transmitted Infections

• Intimate Violence in Relationships

Keys to success

• Stable• Nurturing• Supportive• Listen• Encourage

• Knowledgeable

• Honest• Sharing• Sincere

Implementing Project Alpha• Project Alpha Week - 2nd Week of

November• Do your homework as it relates to

issues facing youths in your community.• Make the commitment.• Develop partnerships.• Facilitators vs. Speakers.• Publicize your program.• Implement Program.• Evaluate success.• File your report!!!

Implementing Project Alpha• Maximize your relationship with

your March of Dimes partner.

• Develop a grant writing team.

• Develop a public relations committee.

• Serve on your local MOD Board.

"If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them."

Isaac Asimov