While scanning today’s free weekly paper full of local ads, I came across a coupon. Being an avid coupon clipper, I checked it out because it said FREE in large letters. A widow on a fixed social security income must be frugal you know. Especially when raising two teenage foster daughters. Remember that one of them has aged out of foster care and has no income. Call me old-fashioned or tell me I live under a rock. This is the first time I have ever seen a coupon for FREE STD testing. At first, I was stunned and then I clipped it out.

Hey, I may be old-fashioned but I am a realist you know. Most teenagers in foster care today are sexually active. Not to mention that one in four teenagers has an STD. The number may be higher among foster children. No, I am not trying to be discriminatory. However, the fact remains that children who have suffered trauma and have low self-esteem are more likely to take risks. Having unprotected sex is one of those risks that teenage foster children take.

Here is another revelation of recent activity. The teenager who recently graduated from high school has a new boyfriend who is also a recent graduate. She met him at job training through the local rehab for developmentally disabled adults. Yes, it is nice that they have each found someone with similar interest and skill levels. However, it could also spell trouble since neither may think about consequences.

I don’t see an expiration date on this coupon so I will just hang on to it. Has anyone else noticed similar coupons in their area? What would your teenagers say if you handed them a coupon like this?

Photo Credit – Scanned by FosterMommy (Planned Parenthood coupon)