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Male Involvement
Program The Male Involvement Program of Planned Parenthood of Nassau County (PPNC) is an educational initiative to reach men with information about sexuality, family planning, and reproductive health. Founded in 1989, the program was initiated to respond to rising teen pregnancy rates. Now that program also works to address Nassau County's highest suburban rate of HIV infection in the United States. Coordinator Matthew Buscemi, a sexuality educator, delivers workshops on a variety of issues affecting young men as young as twelve to older adolescents and college students. Through workshops on sexuality, decision-making, contraception, STIs, and date rape, Buscemi addresses gender stereotypes and myths while clarifying values and attitudes around sexuality. Skill-building in sexual decision-making, communication, abstinence, and condom use are emphasized throughout the workshops. According the Urban Institute's report entitled Involving Males in Preventing Teen Pregnancy: "In acting as a trusted source of information, Buscemi works hard to understand and empathize with the pressures that males face to become sexually active. He stays tuned to popular culture, such as music and media, in an effort to understand the forces that compete with accurate information in influencing young people's behaviors. Buscemi says that in order to understand the males with whom he works, he needs to know what outside forces influence their sexual decisions and behaviors. By engaging them in critical thought and discussion about these influences, he can address any stereotypes or misinformation that young men may pick through popular sources. Above all, Buscemi believes that his role is not to judge the young men but rather to be available to them as an honest and valuable resource. The Male Involvement Program reaches men in a variety of settings including boys' group homes, detention centers, alternative high schools, colleges and universities, school districts, after school programs, runaway homes, and religious organizations. Buscemi educates over 7,500 men a year, approximately 50% White and 50% African American. A majority of the men in the program are considered at-risk for unintended pregnancy and STIs and many are from low-income backgrounds. An estimated 75 percent of the men are sexually active and a quarter are already fathers. About half the participants attend the workshops through their required participation in group homes or juvenile detention centers. The other half attend voluntarily after seeing flyers promoting the program or through word-of-mouth of a friend. The Male Involvement Program is supported through Title X and private donations. While Buscemi requests an honorarium for his programs, no organization is ever turned down if they cannot provide compensation. Planned Parenthood of Nassau County also provides health services for men three times a week during special evening hours, when men are more likely to attend. Many men first hear about PPNC's services through Buscemi's educational workshops or through street outreach promoting the health services. Men can receive comprehensive reproductive health services at PPNC, including free condoms. During male service hours at PPNC, Buscemi provides one-to-one education to clients regarding STI prevention, testing, and treatment, condom use, partner communication, and other male health issues. His presence in the clinic makes men more comfortable as he answers questions and discusses what to expect during the male examination. For more information about PPNC's Male Involvement Program, call (516) 483-3193, x 3018.
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