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Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention  

While adolescent pregnancy rates in Buncombe County have decreased substantially over the past decade, it remains an important concern in our community. Buncombe County Department of Health's Health Promotion Division works with many community partners, including Asheville City and Buncombe County Schools, and The Health Adventure (museum) to address this issue and offer a broad range of education programs for adolescents and their parents.

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Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Services include:

Also on this site:

Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention in Buncombe County and Asheville City Schools

Reproductive Health and Safety (7th and 8th Grade):

Since 1991 the Asheville City and Buncombe County School Systems have offered seventh and eighth grade students a  reproductive health and safety course which includes anatomy and reproduction, making healthy choices in life, communication skills and the benefits of sexual abstinence until marriage. Instructors for this program are Health Educators from the Buncombe County Department of Health and The Health Adventure. Approximately 93% of Buncombe County parents approve their child’s participation in this educational program each year.

The course follows the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and Buncombe County Board of Education guidelines for teaching reproductive health and safety. Classes include:

  • Information on the risks related to early sexual involvement
  • Coping skills
  • Assertive techniques to help students not become sexually active
  • Dating
  • Puberty
  • Reproductive anatomy and physiology
  • Sexually transmitted diseases

We acknowledge that parents are the best and primary educators of sexual matters for their children. We want to support your efforts, honor your wishes, and work with you to provide a quality program and the best outcome for your child. Please talk with your child as he or she participates in this program.

Students must provide written parent permission to participate in this program. Any parents who have questions are encouraged to contact either Debbie Bryant, Healthful Living Coordinator for Buncombe County Schools, (828) 255-5960 or Michele Lemell, .Healthful Living/PE & Safe Schools Coordinator for Asheville City Schools, (828) 350-6408.

Community outreach programs covering family planning, STD prevention, and related topics

For more information about community outreach programs, please call the Health Promotion Division’s Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program at (828) 250-5322 or contact us via email at
deborah.gentry@buncombecounty.org.

Information for parents and guardians of adolescents

Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Links and Resources:

Contact Information

For more information on Buncombe County Department of Health's Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention services, please contact:

Deborah Gentry
Public Health Promotion Specialist
(828) 250-5322