Guilford Coalition on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (GCAPP) is a local, countywide membership organization that focuses on the issues of adolescent pregnancy, pregnancy prevention and adolescent parenting. Members include educators, healthcare providers, human service providers, faith based organization representatives, program administrators, policy-makers, parents and adolescents from the community.

Mission & Vision | History
Board of Directors | Values

Leadership & Board of Directors

Linda DeShazo, Executive Director of GCAPP

Connie Brown, Board Chair
Quality Assurance Specialist, The Guilford Center
Sue Bean, Board Treasurer, CPA
Mary Connor Hill, Board Secretary
Health Educator, Planned Parenthood

Values

We Believe:

• Parents are the primary sexuality educators of their children.
• Schools, religious institutions and youth serving organizations play an important role in complimenting and supporting parents as they teach their children about sexuality.
• It is important to provide adolescents with information essential to the prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) acknowledging abstinence from sexual activity as the only 100% effective method.
• Adolescent pregnancy and parenting pose long-term challenges for adolescents, their children, families and communities.
• Youth can make responsible decisions about sexuality, pregnancy and parenting when they have complete, accurate, culturally relevant, age, gender, and developmentally appropriate information, skills, resources and support.
• Effective adolescent pregnancy prevention, pregnancy programs and parenting programs utilize research-based strategies, demonstrate an understanding and respect for the rights and capabilities of adolescents, and include a range of stake holders in the decision-making, implementation and evaluation processes. We further believe that identification and evaluation of innovative strategies and promising approaches will benefit the field.
• Both male and female partners are equally responsible for preventing early pregnancy, as well as supporting, nurturing and parenting their children.
• All children deserve to grow up in safe, nurturing environments that promote their healthy development. We further recognize the responsibility to address the multiple needs of children of young parents.
• Individuals and organizations in the field must have access to, and utilize, the most current information on research, best practices and fiscal resources, as well as professional growth opportunities.
• The collaboration of families, communities, practitioners, schools, religious institutions and local, state, regional and national coalitions and networks is essential in addressing the issues of adolescent pregnancy, prevention and parenting.