PROGRAMS  |  BLACK CHURCH INITIATIVE AND LA INICIATIVA LATINA

Clearing House and Resource Center - Parents

The MultiCultural Programs Department Clearing House and Resource Center features a collection of theological books, sermons, speeches,  workshop presentations, youth and adult sexuality curriculums. The Clearing House and Resource Center serves as a resource to clergy, seminarians, health and human service educators, parents and youth. Resources are available for loan. For more information, contact bciinfo@rcrc.org or call 202-628-7700.

Books

When Children Want Children, Leon Dash

How to Talk so Teens Will Listen and So Teens Will Talk , Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
In this book Faber and Mazlish teach parents and adults how to listen and respon helpfully to your teenager’s concerns, express your irritation or anger without being hurtful, take action without punishing, encourage your teen to assume responsibility, work out problems together, and talk about sex and drugs without preaching or alienating.

It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up and Sexual Health, Robie Harris
In this intelligent, amiable and carefully researched book, Harris ( Before You Were Three ) frankly explains the physical, psychological, emotional and social changes that occur during puberty--and the implications of these changes. Taking a conversational, relaxed tone, Harris also discusses such subjects as sexual orientation, sexual reproduction, pregnancy, birth control, sexually transmitted diseases and sexual abuse.

It's So Amazing: A Book About Sperm, Eggs, Birth, Babies and Families, Robie Harris
The creators of It's Perfectly Normal, targeted to middle-schoolers, here reach out to a slightly younger audience with candor and humor, neatly distilling various aspects of sex, reproduction and love. An inquisitive, loquacious bird and an embarrassed bee act as comic and straight man and serve as diverting foils to Harris's conversational narrative; kids will both identify with and chuckle at the two characters' reactions and asides. Specific topics covered include changes in boys' and girls' bodies during puberty, intercourse, birth control, chromosomes and genes, adoption and adjusting to a newborn sibling.

It's Not the Stork: A Book about Girls, Boys, Babies and Bodies, Families and Friends, Robie Harris
Kindergarten-Grade 3–Harris opens by introducing two cartoon characters–a green-feathered bird clad in a purple shirt and blue high-top sneakers and his spike-haired friend, a bee. They wonder, So where DO babies come from? Their conversational commentary, given in word balloons, is a lighthearted supplement to a more focused narrative. Told in the second person, the text is straightforward, informative, and personable. Facts are presented step-by-step, starting from the similarities and differences between boys and girls bodies, moving to a babys conception, growth in the womb, and birth, ending with an exploration of different configurations of families as well as a section on okay versus not okay touches.

Moving Out and Moving On: Guide for Female Teens and Their Mothers, Brenda Hayes
Moving Out and Moving On hits hard on subjects that our young ladies need to be taught. We can no longer tip-toe around the issues of teen pregnancies, suicide, low self-esteem, abuse, and early school dropouts. This skillfully written, no-holds-barred book is guaranteed to be an eye-opener.

How to Talk with Teens about Love, Relationships, and Sex: A Parent's Guide, Amy Miron and Charles Miron
Many parents find it difficult, even impossible to talk with their kids about love, relationships, and especially sex. But the real choice parents face is not if their kids will learn about these topics, but how they will learn and who will do the teaching. This candid guide covers everything you might ever want to discuss with your teen about intimacy and sex.

The Gift of Sexuality: Empowerment for Religious Teens, Steven Clapp
The author of this book surveyed 5,819 teens across North American to learn how their faith affects their decision making in important areas of their life such as dating, marriage, and sexuality. Unlike many religious books that simply tell you “DON’T DO IT,” this book gives you the full information you need to make responsible decisions.

Connected: Christian Parenting in An Age of IM and MySpace, Peggy Kendall
Do you know where your tween or teenaged children are? Chances are that they’re hanging out virtual style. Almost two-thirds of American teens use instant messaging. MySpace adds 85,000+ profiles daily. These technologies have important implications for today’s Christian parents who are desperate for guidance in what can be a scary new cyber world. Dr. Peggy Kendall provides the answers as to how parents can keep up with their kids and new technology with this wonderfully practical and useful book.

What to Expect When You’re Accepted: An African American Christian’s Guide to College, Christopher Michael Jones
In this convenient handbook, you will find solid advice about forming and maintaining solid relationships, gentle warnings about avoiding common pitfalls, practical counsel about staying physically healthy, concrete tips for achieving academic success, and last but not least, spiritual wisdom for each stage of the collegiate journey.

Framing Youth: 10 Myths about the Next Generation, Mike Males
Teens must be controlled. That’s the prevailing picture of youth presented in the media and by government officials. In this whirlwind tour of common myths, Mike Males shows you what teens are really like, and what they really need.

Rewired: Youth Ministry in and Age of IM and MySpace, Peggy Kendall
Do you know where your church’s teens hang out? Chances are they’re hanging out virtual style. MySpace and IM have redefined how the typical teenager spends time with friends. And these technologies have important implications for today’s youth leader.