From staff reports

CHAPEL HILL -- A program that helps teen parents as young as 13 to continue with their education and learn parenting skills won a top prize for The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

The chapter received first-place recognition in the Distinguished Program Awards at the recent 24th South Atlantic Regional Conference in Hampton, Va. The South Atlantic Region encompasses North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Bermuda.

"Pregnancy, Parenting, and Positivity: An Educational Program for Parenting Teens" garnered the top prize under the category of educational development. The program is a full-day seminar that occurs annually at a venue central to Orange, Chatham and Durham counties targeting teen parents (13-19) and their social support systems. It consists of essential parenting topics with a special focus on the documented challenges facing adolescent parents.

The program goals are to instill the need to continue the pursuit of dreams and education while being responsible and productive members of society; to enhance parenting skills through education and social learning; and to strengthen community and family support.

The chapter collaborates with a diverse network of community partners including local high schools, community health centers, county social service agencies and neighborhood community centers to recruit teens. As an outgrowth of the program since 2004, the chapter now sponsors two to four annual peer group meetings hosted by the Orange County Adolescent Parenting Program. As a community partner, the chapter is responsible for providing session presenters, meeting volunteers and food delivery.

The sixth annual program is scheduled for March 27, 2010, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Extraordinary Ventures in Chapel Hill. For more information, contact Letanya Love at (919) 622-0047.

The Distinguished Program Awards recognize innovative programmatic execution related to the sorority's five-point mission of economic development, educational development, international awareness and involvement, physical and mental health and political awareness and involvement. Exemplary social action and arts and letters programming are also considered.