By Shannon Holmes
March 31, 2003

Despite recent and encouraging declines in teen pregnancy and birth rates, four out of ten girls become pregnant by age 20. Quite simply, too many teens still think: "It can't happen to me." The National Day helps young people understand that it can happen to them and that they need to make a plan for avoiding too-early pregnancy and parenthood.

The National Day is organized to reach teens directly through an innovative, online quiz. On May 7, 2003 (and for a few weeks thereafter), teens will be encouraged to go online to the National Campaign's website (www.teenpregnancy.org) to take a fun, short, informative, and engaging quiz that asks teens to reflect on the best course of action in a number of tough and realistic sexual situations that include, for example, peer pressure, drinking, and gossip.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is an official National Day Partner.

The National Day reaches teens where they already are — online. Over 73 percent of 12- 17-year-olds use the Internet and surfing the web for health information and interactive games are two of the most popular activities for teens.

The National Day combines the appeal of both activities through an entertaining online challenge. Teens nationwide responded positively to the first National Day quiz, calling it a "cool way to reach teenagers," and saying, "it made me think about what I would do if

I were really in some of the situations described," and "I finally thought for myself without all the pressure from my friends."

More than 75,000 teens participated in the first National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy in 2002 thanks, in large part, to the 80 national organizations that were official National Day partners. Partner organizations promoted the National Day in a variety of ways, including prominent placement of the National Day on their websites, alerting constituents via listservs and newsletters, and developing press releases.

Thousands of teens nationwide are expected to participate in the second annual National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy taking place on May 7, 2003. Sponsored by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy and National Day founding partners Teen People magazine and Teen People online, the National Day is designed to focus the attention of teens — to get them to stop, think, and take action — on the importance of avoiding teen pregnancy and other consequences of sex.

This year more than 135 national organizations have already signed on as official 2003 National Day partners. In addition to The Conference of Mayors, some of the other National Day partners include the National Governors Association, National League of Cities, National Conference of State Legislatures, Procter and Gamble, After School Alliance, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Boys & Girls Club of America, Big Brother Big Sister, Inc., and YMCA of America.

If you plan to promote the National Day in your city on May 7, 2003, please let us know by sending an e-mail to Shannon Holmes at sholmes@usmayors.org with the planned details. We will highlight those cities across the country in the weeks ahead.

For more information about the National Day (available in English and Spanish), visit the extensive National Day section of www.teenpregnancy.org for ideas on how others are recognizing the National Day, answers to frequently asked questions, or to order National Day materials. Information is also available by sending an email to NationalDay@teenpregnancy.org or by calling, 202-478-8500.