In a television spot about the dangers of STDs, Ziva Cizman, 17, a senior at Lower Merion High, and her TV friend, Meighan Hand, 16, a senior at William Penn High School in Philadelphia, are unabashedly frank. That directness is a hallmark of new public service announcements for, by, and about teenagers. Unimpressed by preachy messages crafted by adults, local teens have written, acted in and produced health announcements that are designed to reach teens by not mincing words. Some adult-produced messages preach abstinence, which often does not resonate with sexually active teens, Cizman said. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia developed Teen Health Connections to engage teens in making the public service announcements. The group is airing announcements about STDs, HIV/AIDS, nutrition, fitness, smoking and stress on TV and radio, and it is also producing TV specials. The group provides a phone health line and a Web site to inform teenagers about physical and emotional health.

At Children's Hospital, 15 local high school students are directly involved in making the shows -- from discussing the themes to production to starring in the announcements with hospital physicians. A medical advisory team of doctors discusses how to present a given topic, which changes about every six months, said Carol Murray, project coordinator of the program. The teenagers, who meet at least once a month, vigorously debate the presentation, Cizman said. "Some people might say it's corny," she said. "It's hard to relate if it's something we wouldn't say." Once the students and Murray have decided how to address a topic, they begin production. Teen Health Connections, which began last year, grew out of a social marketing campaign by the hospital to promote HIV testing for adolescents, said Bret Rudy, associate division chief of the Craig-Dalsimer Division of Adolescent Medicine at Children's Hospital. It has produced 17 public service announcements and two 30-minute specials. The two major topics discussed have been sexual health and cardiovascular health. The team hopes to air mental health public service announcements early next year, Murray said.

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