Teen Programs

Teen Talk

Teen Talk is a weekly 'birth control' counseling class that uses motivational interviewing techniques to provide comprehensive contraception and disease prevention education for adolescent patients between the ages of 13 and 21.

Class topics include a range of contraception issues such as the process of pregnancy, male and female anatomy, barrier methods (male and female condom), hormonal methods (pill, patch, ring, and shot), dental dams, spermicide and lubrication.

The classes take place every Thursday from 1 pm - 2 pm in Children's Adolescent Health Clinic, 111 Michigan Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20010.

Teen Life Clubs (TLC)

The Teen Life Clubs (TLC) is a youth development program that improves decision making skills and ultimately reduces sexual risks. Our curriculum helps teens develop the life skills they need to make safe, responsible choices about goal setting, sexual activity, responding to violence, maintaining healthy relationships, making money and securing jobs/careers. The TLCs include weekly club meetings, monthly enrichment activities and group mentors. Each TLC member can earn a stipend/gift card for being in the Club, based on attendance, punctuality, and positive participation.

The comprehensive TLC youth development program includes:

• Weekly health education sessions on personal identity, healthy bodies, violence prevention, world of work/ financial literacy
• Weekly homework assistance
• Gender-specific, monthly enrichment activities held on one Saturday per month
• Ongoing group mentoring relationships with trusted, trained adults who serve as positive role models
• Program referrals to other after-school programs for adolescents who graduate from Teen Life Clubs
• Exciting leadership opportunities such as the youth advisory council and summer internship
• Program incentives such as a weekly stipend, free snacks, prizes, and gift cards

We also accept pre-teens who are not Children's patients and/or do not reside in Washington, DC. Please note: each Teen Life Club is limited to the first 15 teens who sign up.

• Parent Consent Form
• Download TLC Overview Packet

Children’s National encourages all parents and guardians of teens in the Teen Life Clubs program to join the Family Circle.This is a group of supportive family members that includes workshops and additional resources.

Teens Against the Spread of AIDS (TASA)

Teens against the Spread of AIDS (TASA) is a program for high school students ages 16 - 18 from the Washington, DC area. Using theater, poetry, and hip hop, TASA members educate their peers, parents, and health professionals about important teen health concerns, including HIV, sexuality, and violence.

How the Program Works

TASA participants create interactive workshops and performances to teach other teens and the community about HIV and health concerns that teens have to deal with on a daily basis. TASA members commit to the program for one to two years. Members participate in training on health education and twice a month performance workshops.

Unlike theater where actors read from a script, TASA members perform scenarios that ask the audience to help decide, shape, question, and examine issues. The workshops often focus on how to handle situations that put youth at risk, and provide facts about teen health issues. After each performance, TASA members provide information about health services for teens at Children's National Health System, including HIV testing.

Come out, meet new friends while learning how to educate your peers, earn community service credit, and develop leadership skills.

Online Services

Teen pregnancy web sites for teens and their families include:

• Power to Decide: The Campaign to Prevent Unplanned Pregnancy
• 10 Tips for Avoiding Teen Pregnancy
• Resources on Topics Pertaining to Reproductive Health
• The Power to Decide - Why it Matters
• When Your Teen is Having a Baby

Learn more about adolescent health services provided by other organizations on our Family Circle page.