Not too long ago, the cable news channels were running stories on an alleged “pregnancy pact” among teenage girls at an East Coast high school. Pact or not, this is a good reminder to all of us that once again it is time to have a candid discussion about teenage pregnancy with our daughters and sons. We all agree that our teenagers should be teenagers and not parents. We all agree that we need to talk to our teenagers about preventing teen pregnancies, although some of us disagree on where and when those conversations should take place.

It was not so long ago that people believed that only “bad” girls got pregnant out of wedlock because “good girls don’t go all the way.” We know now that this problem isn’t about good girls and bad girls. We know that an unintended teen pregnancy can and does happen in any family. Unintended pregnancies aren’t about being good or bad. They are about pressure and unfortunate decisions, and a lack of easily available information.

Statistics regarding unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases are growing more and more alarming. According to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), half of all pregnancies are unintended and one in four teen girls has a sexually transmitted disease.

The only way to change those bleak statistics is with prevention. Abstinence is certainly the most important option, but to offer it as the sole option is, I believe, a disservice. That is why I joined my colleagues in the House and Senate last spring to sponsor the Pregnancy Prevention Package to give women affordable access to birth control; ensure that young people receive medically accurate, abstinence-plus sex education; and guarantee that women who survive rape or sexual assault are offered information about, and access to, emergency contraception. My bill in this package, Senate Bill 42, would expand health care prescription coverage to include certain contraceptives.

This legislative package is a comprehensive plan to stem the incidence of unintended pregnancies. It will help us increase and improve the health information our young people receive. We should promote abstinence while still giving them accurate information on how to use protection.  In spite of all that we tell them, some teenagers are sexually active. We need to recognize that and work with our school community so that our teens don’t end up parents before their time. Of course it is preferable if these conversations with teenagers happen in the home with their parents. But, sadly, this does not always happen, and our teenagers really should not pay the price if their parents are uncomfortable talking to them. That is why I believe it is crucial that we offer our daughters and sons abstinence-plus sex education in our schools:  making it clear to them that it is much better to wait, but explaining protection if they won’t wait.

Children are a blessing and we bring them into this world when we are best equipped to love them and provide good lives for them. We must do a better job of educating and talking to our young people. They should be teenagers during their teenage years. They should be parents later on when they are truly ready for the most important job they will ever have.

A while back, I posted a blog about cutting my hair for charity. I figured I'd not only post an update, but let you know that I had the incredible experience of meeting the little girl that will receive a custom hair piece made from the hair that I donated.

Addison Copeland was severely burned as an infant. Due to scarring, she can't grow her own hair on most of her head. She joined me at the Children With Hairloss Charity Ball at the end of September as I had my ponytail cut off... and then encouraged me to go completely bald as donors quickly collected another $3100 for the charity! She even held my hand during the process. Addison is an extraordinary little girl and the charity ball was a great experience. For more information about donating hair or money to this Michigan-based organization, visit www.childrenwithhairloss.us.

I’ve been in the public eye for many years now, so when my hair started to grow, people noticed. As it started to crawl past my shoulders and eventually found its place in a ponytail at the base of my neck, people noticed. Right now I’m “different,” and I’m okay with that.

At the end of this month, I will climb into a chair and watch the remnants of the last year and a half fall from my shoulders as a hairdresser transforms me back into the clean-cut state senator first elected six years ago. As my long hair disappears, I’ll remember a childhood playmate who felt he could never fit in because every hair on his body was missing. I’ll think of a dear friend who felt like a freak after a motorcycle accident left him burned beyond recognition, and then found the courage to re-claim his life and go on to change the lives of others. I’ll remember the cashier with the waist-long hair who told me she was growing it out to make a wig for a sick child. And I’ll think forward to the child who will no longer feel “different” when he or she receives a hair replacement made from the hair I spent a year and a half of my own life growing.

As a state senator, I work every day to improve the lives of the people in Michigan, but it may take months or even years to see the impact of my work. Donating my hair to a child with a medical condition is a direct way I can improve the life of another person, and the effect is immediate. I’ve always been concerned for children, but hesitated at first to grow my hair long because of the job position I hold. I changed my mind when I realized I’m in the perfect position to be a positive role model and encourage others to support a cause I feel strongly about.

My hair will be cut at a fundraiser on September 27 for Children With Hairloss, a non-profit organization that provides free hair replacements to children with medical conditions that cause them to lose their hair. This organization won’t turn down a needy child, and immediately boosts the self-esteem of kids who feel “different” because they don’t look like their friends and classmates. Children With Hairloss helps children of all races and ethnicities, and will accept donated hair from any donor who wants to make a difference. The only requirement is that you spend the time growing your hair for these kids.

To find out more about this worthwhile organization or their upcoming fundraising event, please visit www.childrenwithhairloss.us.

It’s not every day you hear about a State Senator jumping out of an airplane! Now that she’s had a chance to catch her breath, we took the opportunity to find out what was going through Sen. Gretchen Whitmer’s head, and what motivated her to do something most people would never dream of doing.

You recently jumped out of a plane. Is this something you ever thought you’d do in your life?

I had actually gone before, about ten years ago before I had my daughters. I had not planned to do it again, but my friend Colette inspired me and I thought it would be a fun thing to do for a great cause.

Your jump was actually a fundraising effort to build sensory rooms for kids with special needs in the East Lansing Public Schools. What inspired you to help out with this cause?

My friend Colette's son Everett is autistic. This is a growing problem, and we’re seeing rapid increases in autism diagnoses in our country. One of the hallmarks of autism is that a child has difficulty processing sensory information and often feels overloaded. Sensory rooms can help kids process the information so that they can learn in a traditional environment. The money we raised will go toward building a sensory room for the East Lansing Public Schools. Ideally, we would like to build one in every school, because the need is so great.

How much money did your group raise, and what will the schools be able to do with that money?

We raised over $6,000, which will build the room. Any dollars unspent will go toward a sensory room in another building.

Did you ever doubt you’d complete the jump?

The weather was lousy on the morning of the jump and we briefly thought about postponing it.  I was surprised by how disappointed I was, and glad that the clouds parted and we could do it.  The scariest part was flying up to 10,000 feet in the tiny old plane - jumping was exciting and fun!

Did you have to complete any kind of training before going up in the plane?

We had a brief training. We jumped "tandem,” with a professional skydiver tethered to us. You jump out of the plane, flip over a few times, free fall for 30 seconds and pull the cord and float back down to earth. It was a wild and then very peaceful experience.

What was going through your head as you stepped out the door into the open air?

First it was, “What am I doing???” and then “Gosh, I hope my chute opens!”

What did you take away from this experience, and has it made you a stronger person?

Seeing Everett out there and thinking about how Colette would do anything to improve her son's life and educational experience, and thinking about all the other kids who are going to benefit from this small thing we did, was really moving. As a mom, I can relate to the compulsion to take every action necessary for your child's welfare. It’s funny how doing something so out of "the norm" can put life into perspective.

Sen. Whitmer is pictured here with Colette Evangelista and her son, Everett.

To see Sen. Whitmer's floor statement about her efforts to raise money for the sensory room, click here: http://www.senate.mi.gov/dem/play.php?id=461

On August 4, 2008, Governor Jennifer Granholm signed Senate Bill 170 into law. And while it was a day for me to celebrate the final passage of legislation I sponsored, thousands of grandparents and guardians celebrated as well. That's because Public Act 260 (which SB 170 became) allows Department of Human Services (DHS) subsidies to court-appointed guardians or relative caregivers of children in the foster care system. For the first time in Michigan history, grandparents and/or relative guardians are eligible to receive monthly support payments equal to those given to foster parents.

I have worked on this bill for more than eight years while I served both in the House and the Senate. The Senate finally granted me a hearing and both chambers subsequently voted affirmatively on the legislation.

This is a thrilling victory for the futures of Michigan children.

While the main goal of DHS is to keep families together, often situations like parental mental or physical health problems, military service or other extenuating circumstances require that children be removed from the home. And while placement with relatives is preferable, these caregivers often don't have the necessary financial resources to provide for the child's needs. Grandparents may be living on fixed or limited incomes, unable to support the added expenses of feeding, clothing and raising a child. Potential guardians may be living in small apartments, unable to accommodate children. And others may have to give up income-producing jobs to provide care.

This subsidized guardianship assistance will allow the relative or legal custodian to give the child a warm, loving and financially secure home during an emotionally difficult time without depleting savings or going into debt. What better gift could we provide these precious children?

The 2008-09 DHS budget appropriates about $4.6 million for a subsidized guardianship program, which will provide subsidized guardianships for hundreds of children for the remainder of the year. The bill won't impose any financial cost on local governments or county DHS offices because the subsidized guardianships would be completely funded at the State level. In addition, the subsidy reduces strain on the foster care system by saving the state money and reducing the foster care caseload.

Some 20 years ago Dr. Charles Wright, speaking at Detroit's African-American Museum, said, "When we realize we are part of the same family, we'll come up with real solutions."     

Public Act 260 indicates that for a few moments the legislature was part of the same family by providing caregivers and guardians real solutions. We are providing much-needed financial support that will result in familiar, stable and loving homes. And the beneficiaries are Michigan's precious children.

 Hallelujah!

Take a look at these pictures. They look like ordinary toys, right? Do you think a five-year-old could tell that they are really lighters?

As you can see, these dangerous novelty lighters are designed to resemble toys, guns, watches, musical instruments, food and beverages, cell phones and other common objects. They are sold in gas stations and convenience stores all over the state, even grocery store checkout aisles where children can easily reach them. With my $40 an intern in my office was able to round up an armload of toy-like lighters in less than an hour this week, including ones shaped like a fire hydrant and a fire extinguisher, which are supposed to be symbols of fire prevention and safety.

These devices have already caused house fires and injuries throughout the country, including a recent case in Arkansas where two toddlers were killed in a fire started by a motorcycle lighter.

Yesterday I was joined by Michigan’s Fire Marshal Andy Neumann and fire chiefs from across the state to announce legislation that would ban the sale of novelty lighters here in Michigan. Laura Fowler of Beaverton, Michigan also joined us at the event to share her story about a recent incident where she accidentally purchased a novelty lighter for her four-year-old daughter that looked like a rubber Dalmatian. Thankfully, Laura’s daughter was not injured and did not start a fire, but she was clearly shaken by the experience.

These dangerous devices have already been banned by ten European countries, and as the General Cousel for the U.S. Lighter Association said in a recent USA Today article, they “do not serve any purpose.”

I completely agree, which is why we need to proactively ban these novelty lighters before any Michigan families lose a loved one or their home to a fire started by these seemingly benign objects. Not everyone will be lucky enough to have their child go unharmed by playing with these toy-like lighters.

As a parent, my children’s health and safety are my top priority. As a lawmaker, I also share a responsibility to help protect the children of Michigan, which is why we must act quickly to ban these dangerous novelty lighters and keep kids safe.