This document provides information about the P.A.U.S.E. (Peers Advocating for Unified Services and Education) program, which aims to train teen advocates to provide peer-to-peer support around important health and social issues affecting teenagers. The document outlines issues teenagers commonly face like mental health challenges, substance abuse, sexual health concerns and relationships. It then describes the P.A.U.S.E. program's training modules that are designed to educate teen advocates so they can help their peers access accurate information and community resources. Examples of successes of the P.A.U.S.E. program and its teen advocates in addressing local issues are also provided.

2. LET US “PAUSE” FOR
MOMENT….
DOYOU NOTICE WHAT IS
HAPPENING TO TEENS?
OR
DO YOU IGNORE AND DO
NOTHING?

3. WE HAVE A PROBLEM…WHAT IS IT?
The next few slides will help identify some issues
teens face everyday or at some point in their life…..
But do you know how to help a fellow teen ?
You can learn how….pay attention…..

14. Keep it simple…..teens want the scoop on what
to do…how to help…….

15. “Change comes with sacrifice... When you
want to make a change you must be
prepared to make a sacrifice of escaping
the comfort zone!”

16. Think about what you just saw…..how did it make you feel?...does it
mean anything??? ……Are you willing to help??

17. WHERE ARE TEENS GETTING INFORMATION WHEN
FACED WITH A RISKY SITUATION OR ISSUE..???

18. ARE THEY GETTING THE CORRECT
INFORMATION OR BEST ADVICE…???

19. P.A.U.S.E.
"Peers Advocating for Unified Services and
Education"
Volunteer Teen Advocacy Network and training program
provided by Staff of the “P.A.U.S.E 4 Teens Advocacy Network,
LLC.” that aims to provide young adults with the tools, skills and
knowledge needed to be successfully trained advocates for and
among their peers.

20. FACEBOOK, THEIR SURROUNDINGS, WHAT THEY SEE
WITH FRIENDS AND EXPERIENCE EVERYDAY EITHER AT
HOME OR SCHOOL, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, YOU TUBE,
SNAP CHAT, GRINDER, ONLINE PORN, SOCIAL
NETWORKS, TEXTING, SKYPE…
TEENS ARE SURROUNDED WITH RISKS…NOW WHAT??

21. PEERS ADVOCATING FOR UNIFIED SERVICES
AND EDUCATION
“The purpose of life is to contribute in some way to making things better.”
― Robert F. Kennedy

23. PURPOSE
• SOCIAL STIGMAS, AGE RESTRICTIONS, AND THE LACK OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY
SUPPORT ARE AMONG THE WIDELY KNOWN BARRIERS TO ACCESSING ACCURATE
INFORMATION AND RISK REDUCTION SERVICES AMONG TEENAGERS
• TEENS ARE ALSO FACED WITH MANY CHALLENGES DURING THEIR ADOLESCENT
YEARS THAT ARE OFTEN EXPERIENCED IN A SCHOOL, COMMUNITY OR FAMILY
SETTING.
• P.A.U.S.E. IS AIMED AT PROVIDING PEER-TO-PEER YOUTH ADVOCACY TRAINING AND
RESOURCES TO INCREASE COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANT SOCIAL
AND HEALTH ISSUES IMPACTING TEENS.

24. PROJECT OUTCOMES
• THE PROJECTED OUTCOME OF THE P.A.U.S.E PROGRAM IS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF TRAINED TEEN
PAUSE ADVOCATES THAT WILL HELP INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTH INFORMATION AND SOCIAL SERVICE
RESOURCES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE LIVES, SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF TEENAGERS THROUGH
PEER ADVOCACY.
• BY USING PEER-TO-PEER INTERACTIONS THAT OCCUR NATURALLY IN THE SCHOOL, COMMUNITY OR
CHURCH SETTING, WE BELIEVE THAT YOUTH WILL HAVE INCREASED KNOWLEDGE AND BETTER ACCESS TO
COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL-BASED RESOURCES THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.

25. LIVES MATTER
ADOLESCENTS CAN BE A PUZZLE TO MANY. ADOLESCENCE IS A TIME IN ONE'S LIFE
WHEN THE BRAIN DEVELOPS QUICKLY, AND THE BODY GROWS AND MATURES FASTER
THAN LATER IN LIFE.
WHILE ADOLESCENTS ARE GENERALLY HEALTHY, HEALTH PROBLEMS CAN LEAD TO
RISKY OR IMPULSIVE ACTIONS THAT CAN HARM OR LIMIT AN ADOLESCENT'S
OPPORTUNITIES LATER IN LIFE.
GIVING AN ADOLESCENT THE CHANCE TO BUILD KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THAT
PROMOTE POSITIVE EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL EXPERIENCES ALLOWS THESE YOUNG
PEOPLE TO AVOID NEGATIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES AND GROW INTO HEALTHIER, MORE
PRODUCTIVE ADULTS

26. WHAT IF A TEEN IS AT RISK….
• WHAT IF THEY WANT TO RUNAWAY OR IN DANGER??
• WHAT IF THEY ARE DEPRESSED OR SUICIDAL?
• WHAT IF THEY ARE ABUSING DRUGS OR ALCOHOL?
• WHAT IF THEY ARE INFECTED WITH A SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE OR HIV?
• WHAT IF THEY ARE BEING PRESSURED TO HAVE SEX OR ARE PREGNANT?
• WHAT IF THEY ARE BEING ABUSED, BEATEN OR WITNESS THIS AT HOME?
• WHAT IF THEY ARE SEXUALLY HARASSED OR SUFFERING FROM DATING VIOLENCE?
• WHAT IF THEY ARE NOT SURE HOW TO APPLY TO COLLEGES TO FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION?
• WHAT IF THEY ARE CONTEMPLATING DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOL?
• WHAT IF THEY HAVE COMMITTED A CRIME?
• WHAT IF THEY ARE BEING BULLIED OR BULLIED ONLINE?
• WHAT IF THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY BROKEN?
• WHAT IF THEY HAVE NO ONE THEY CAN TURN TO FOR HELP?

27. ISSUES TEENS FACE
CYBER BULLYING IS A FORM OF TEEN VIOLENCE THAT CAN DO LASTING HARM
TO YOUNG PEOPLE. BULLYING STATISTICS SHOW THAT CYBER BULLYING IS A
SERIOUS PROBLEM AMONG TEENS
About 50,000 youth in the U.S. sleep on the street for six months or more. Homeless youth
face unique developmental challenges and vulnerability
Teens may try a number of substances, including cigarettes, alcohol, household chemicals
(inhalants), prescription and over-the-counter medicines, and illegal drugs. Teens use
alcohol more than any other substance. Marijuana is the illegal drug that teens use most
often

28. According to the National Association of Social
Workers… teenagers are more likely to rely on their
peers for sexual health information, which fosters the
need to provide youth with accurate health
information and relevant risk reduction strategies to
share among their peers.
According to the Guttmacher Institute, the vast
majority (71%) of teenagers in the U.S. will have sex
by the age of 19

29. THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND
PREVENTION (CDC) REPORT
YOUTH AGED 13 TO 24 ACCOUNT FOR APPROXIMATELY
ONE FOURTH OF THE NEW HIV INFECTIONS EACH YEAR
DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS AGE GROUP ONLY MAKES
UP 17% OF THE U.S. POPULATION.
ALARMINGLY, THE CDC REPORTS THAT NEARLY 60% OF
HIV-INFECTED YOUTH IN THE U.S. ARE UNAWARE OF
THEIR HIV STATUS AS OPPOSED TO 20% OF THE HIV
ADULT POPULATION.

30. Among teen couples who do not use any method of contraception, 85-90% will experience a
pregnancy within a year.
Mental illnesses are disorders of brain function. They have many causes and result from complex
interactions between a person’s genes and their environment. Having a mental illness is not a choice
or moral failing. Mental illnesses occur at similar rates around the world, in every culture and in all
socio economic groups.
The statistics are staggering, 1 in 5 young people suffer from a mental illness, that’s 20 percent of our
population but yet only about 4 percent of the total health care budget is spent on our mental health.
Suicide is the third leading cause of death for youth between the ages of 10 and 24
Approximately one in five adolescents has a diagnosable mental disorder, such as depression and/or
anxiety disorders. Friends and family can watch for warning signs of mental disorders and urge
young people to get help. Effective treatments exist and may involve a combination of psychotherapy
and medication. Unfortunately, less than half of adolescents with psychiatric disorders received any
kind of treatment in the last year

31. Harassment can be a big problem for kids and teens, especially when smartphones, online
messaging, and social media sites make it easy for bullies to do their thing.
When bullying behavior involves unwanted sexual comments, suggestions, advances, or threats
to another person, it's called sexual harassment or sexual bullying
Sexual harassment is against the law. You have a right to feel comfortable and safe. If you feel
uncomfortable about the way someone is acting towards you it is not your fault. Telling someone
about sexual harassment is not tattling. It is making the school or workplace safer and preventing
people from getting hurt. Let’s face it, words do hurt.
Approximately 1.8 million adolescents in the United States have been the victims of sexual
assault
Approximately 1 in 5 female high school students report being physically and/or sexually abused
by a dating partner

32. TEENS ARE TAKING ACTION
“Never underestimate the difference YOU can make in the lives of others.

33. GAINESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL CHAPTER- CONDOMS IN SCHOOLS
In January 2014, 2014 local Alachua county teens were trained and
started their own PAUSE club chapter on GHS campus.
Their greatest success was convincing the Alachua County School
Superintendent to allow condoms to be made available in the school
nurse office in all Alachua County High Schools to help reduce high
STD rates . The GHS PAUSE Chapter has coordinated community
awareness events, outreach and have supported and referred over
150 teens in one school year to vital
services. They continue to coordinate
campus awareness campaigns and outreach.
A movement starts with one…and we did…PAUSE Board members

34. How did they do it??
THEY MOBILIZED to HELP REDUCE THE STD INCIDENCE RATES
1. They were made aware of the high STD rates in Alachua County and decided to take action.
2. The PAUSE club president started an online petition and received over 350 signatures from
Alachua county residents supporting the idea to allow condoms in the school nurse office.
3. The teens met with the School board members and addressed the need for more trained
PAUSE advocates and the availability of condoms on high school campuses due to the high
rates of STD among teens.
4. The Superintendent did not approve initially but a lot of media attention pressed him to decide
5. The teens met again after getting media and community support with the Alachua County
School superintendent one last time suggesting an OPT OUT form be made available on the
SBAC webpage for parents that did not want their teens to access condoms in the school Nurse
office.
7. In April of 2015, The Alachua county Superintendent approved the request and condoms are
now available via the school nurse, to those who are not on a signed “OPT OUT” list by their
parent.
Teens have a right to be heard, provide input and contribute to change for a healthier community

35. SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTION AMONG
STUDENT INITIATIVE
April 2016, PAUSE teens identified a sexual harassment problem among students in school that needed to
be addressed
1. Students are being sexually harassed and not reporting nor getting the help and support they need.
PAUSE Teen Advocate Kira Christmas started an anonymous online survey to assess what is actually
happening among students. Data is important.
2. The results of the online survey identified safety concerns, lack of post reporting support and fear of
retaliation but most of all, students did not feel anything would be done.
3. Meeting was scheduled with the Alachua County Sheriff office and a partnership with the County Victims
office to address the issue.
4. Ongoing meetings with school representatives and community to bring more awareness to this issue.
5. PAUSE 4 TEENS ADVOCACY network encourages all community agencies to address and educate
students about sexual harassment.
ONGOING INITIATIVE

36. PAUSE TEEN ADVOCACY TRAINING
Must be committed to offering support, advice, encouragement and linkages to services that are available to
teens in the community.
Be respectful, honest, non judgmental, trustworthy, committed and dependable
Register for next Pause training at www.pause4teens.com or send email for more info at
pause4teens@gmail.com
Complete 2 days of training and receive community service hours
Must have consent signed from parent or guardian to be an advocate and part of the PAUSE network
Upon completion of training, Start or join a chapter in your community or school campus
Must be willing to Report, support, encourage, educate and empower teens to make the right choices
“Kindness can transform someone's dark moment with a blaze of light”

37. Program Action - Peers Advocating for Unified Services and Education (P.A.U.S.E.) Logic Model
Inputs
Outputs Outcomes -- Impact
Activities Participation Short Medium Long
What we invest? What we do? Who we reach? What the short term
result are?
What the medium
term results are?
What the ultimate
impact is (are)?
Members
Teen Advocates
Volunteers
Teachers
PAUSE Leader
School Nurse
Provide teen advocates
with accurate and up-
to-date information
regarding linkages to
community resources,
sexual health, domestic
violence, drug/alcohol
abuse, healthy
relationships, and
career development.
Teenagers
Community Members
Community Based
Organizations
Community Service
Providers Across Social
Services
Community Leaders
Educators
Alachua County Public
Schools
Individuals interested in
P.A.U.S.E. program will
know about available
community resources
Information will be
made available to
answer any questions
advocates may have
Alachua County Public
Schools will become
more aware of the
P.A.U.S.E. program
P.A.U.S.E. participants
will become more
knowledgeable about
issues affecting teens
Other agencies
/organizations serving
teens will become
aware of the P.A.U.S.E.
program
Increase the number of
individuals providing
effective P.A.U.S.E.
information
Increase the number of
peers and friends
receiving P.A.U.S.E.
information
Increase the number of
organizations and
schools learning about
and participating in
P.A.U.S.E.
Increase the number of
organizations reporting
decreases in risky
behaviors, increases in
positive behaviors, and
significant impacts on
quality of life for teens
Decrease stigma and
misconceptions among
issues affecting teens
Teens across Florida
will be receiving
coordinated
P.A.U.S.E. services
Evaluation system in
place and data
collected and
summarized at state
level on the
effectiveness of
P.A.U.S.E. initiative
Language and culture
of P.A.U.S.E. will be
embedded across
state school systems
Teens will be more
aware of and become
more active in their
overall well being;
particular their sexual
health
Advocates will develop
leadership skills, attain
career resources, and
become resources
within their social
network
Resources
Time
Facility for training
Facility for meetings
Electronics (cell phone,
laptop, computers, etc)
Build relationships with
community based
organizations and/or
professionals to serve
as community partners
and to provide
guidance and
mentorship to teens
Assumptions External Factors
 Teens will be motivated to participate in the PAUSE program and associated
activities through intrinsic and external motivators
 The teens participation in PAUSE will help foster an appreciation for themselves
and an overall improved quality of life
 Social factors affecting teen participants (peer pressure, stigma, and
misconceptions)
 Minimal or Lack of funding to train more youth

38. MODULE 1: SEXUAL HARRASSMENT, DATE RAPE, ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of Module 1, participants will be able to:
1. Name 3 examples of sexual harassment.
2. List at least 4 actions they can take in the event that their peer becomes a victim
of sexual harassment.
3. Describe the 4 steps they should take if one of their peers has been raped.
4. Name at least 3 things they should do if their peer is in an abusive relationship.
5. Name at least one community resource for peers who become victims of rape.
6. Name at least one community resource for peers who are in abusive
relationships.
By the end of Module 2, participants will be able to:
1. Define “bullying”.
2. List at least 3 actions they can take in the event that their peer is being bullied.
3. Describe the steps they should take in the event that they become aware of
cyberbullying.
4. Explain what LGBT stands for.
5. Identify 4 things they can do to become an “ally” in the LGBT community.
6. Identify 5 warning signs that someone has an eating disorder.
7. Explain how they would respond if they suspect that their peer is having selfinjury/suicidal
thoughts.
8. Name at least 1 community resource for each topic discussed
MODULE 2: BULLYING,COMING OUT AS AN LGBT TEEN, EATING DISORDERS, SUICIDE & SELF-INJURY

39. MODULE 3: TEENS & SEXUALITY, STDs/STIs, & TEEN PREGNANCY
By the end of Module 3, participants will be able to:
1. Demonstrate how they would respond if their peer approached them with
thoughts of having sex for the first time.
2. List at least 3 possible consequences of choosing to have sex.
3. Distinguish between a bacterial and a viral STD/STI.
4. Explain the different modes of transmission for STDs/STIs.
5. Explain the basic biology of the female menstrual cycle.
6. Name at least 3 common myths about pregnancy.
7. List at least 4 possible signs of pregnancy.
8. Describe at least 3 actions someone should take to ensure a healthy pregnancy.
9. Identify at least 2 community resources for peers that might be pregnant.
By the end of Module 4, participants will be able to:
1. List at least 3 ways to prevent transmission of STDs /HIV.
2. Explain how to properly use penetrative (male) condoms.
3. Explain how to properly use insertive (female) condoms.
4. Name the 4 primary fluids that can transmit HIV.
5. List the 5 ways that HIV can be contracted.
6. Define the “window period” for HIV.
7. Describe the 3 types of HIV tests offered.
8. Explain how clients can receive their STD results.
9. Talk through a person’s barriers to getting tested for HIV and STDs.
10. Name the 3 locations/times that peers can be tested for HIV/STDs for FREE
MODULE 4: PREVENTION, HIV/AIDS, & GETTING TESTED

40. MODULE 5: ALCOHOL & SUBSTANCE ABUSE, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
By the end of Module 5, participants will be able to:
1. List at least 3 signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse.
2. Define binge-drinking.
3. Describe at least 3 signs of alcohol poisoning.
4. Define “gateway drugs”.
5. Name at least 3 commonly used drugs by teenagers.
6. Describe at least 3 qualities of a leader.
7. Describe appropriate professional attire.
8. List at least 3 things that they should not post on their social media sites.
9. Explain at least 2 things that are considered “bad” email etiquette.
Upon Completion of the training, teen advocates receive a badge to identify themselves on
their school campus and in the community that they are a trained advocate and a safe
person to come to for support and guidance. Advocates will make referrals and provide
support to their fellow peers.
They receive a PAUSE advocacy t-shirts to wear at school and in the community while
receiving community service hours at the end of the school year for their work with the
project.

41. PAUSE ADVOCACY NETWORK NEEDS MORE
PAUSE CHAPTERS
Teens must be trained to start their own PAUSE chapters

42. OTHER SERVICES OFFERED
PAUSE 4 Teens Advocacy Network LLC. offers the
following services:
Healthy Relationships, HIV and STD Prevention and
Awareness presentations
(1 hr, 2 hr, 4 hr) cost of 100.00 per class and event
PAUSE Teen advocates speakers
Donations accepted to provide end of year college scholarships
to trained PAUSE advocates

43. THANK YOU
“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us
can work to change a small portion of events.
It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human
history is shaped.
Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot
of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple
of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of
energy and daring those ripples to build a current which can sweep
down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
― Robert F. Kennedy

44. PAUSE 4 TEENS ADVOCACY NETWORK, LLC.Agency Information
352-231-6383
Donations and checks are to be made payable to:
PAUSE 4 TEENS ADVOCACY NETWORK, LLC
Correspondence can be mailed to:
Minister Teresa Mercado, Director/Owner
PO BOX 516
Interlachen, Florida 32148
Website
www.pause4teens.com
Email
pause4teens@gmail.com
PAUSE ADVISORS/TRAINERS
Ms. Keiyesa Parker- Founder
Ms. Teresa Mercado-Director
​Positively U, Inc., Fiscal Agent
Charisse Ahmed-Activist
Raquelle Newman/Editor
Kira Christmas-
trainer/activist
Rev. Theodore McRae
Bonita Young Esq.
Dr. Michael Bowie/B.A.S.E
Dr. Robert Cook/ UF
Derek Williams/ Web Master
Minister Anthony Williams