In America's fast-paced, "sex sells" culture, the pressure on teens to become sexually active can be immense.

Parents talking to their teens can help, but many parents may have trouble initiating the conversation.

Mid Dakota Teen Clinic is tackling the problem. Together with members of a teen advisory board, the clinic puts on the presentations Guy Talk and Girl Talk for parents and their fourth- through sixth-graders. The talks deal with all aspects of growing up, including sex.

"Basically, it's a forum to start conversations between sons and dads," Brad Stork, family nurse practitioner and Guy Talk presenter, said of the Guy Talk presentation.

The Guy Talks are delivered twice a year by a presenter and a member of Mid Dakota Teen Clinic's teen board. Girl Talks happen four times a year and also are given by a presenter from the clinic's staff and members of the teen board.

The teen board is a group of eight high school students who volunteer to talk at the Guy Talk and Girl Talk presentations, as well as at schools and to at-risk students, about abstinence and the dangers of unprotected sex.

According to Sheila Heinert, a registered nurse who is the program leader for the teen clinic, the aim of the program is abstinence, but if the teens they are talking to are already sexually active, then the importance of safe sex is emphasized.

The teen advisory board is selected on a volunteer basis. Teens from the local high schools who are interested in the work that the board does submit applications to the teen clinic.

Century High School student Matthew Kurtz will be the teen board member at the next Guy Talk on Sunday.

"I knew a girl on the board my sophomore year, and they were looking to get more guys for the guy side of the teen clinic. She knew my beliefs, and told me I should join," Kurtz said about joining the teen board two years ago.

Kurtz said he chooses abstinence because, "spiritually, it's what I believe in and I want to some day, when I am committed to a relationship through marriage, be able to give my whole self to somebody else. Also, I don't need a child in my life right now."

"I think having the younger guys come from the teen clinic really adds to it because it's one thing for them to hear it from me, it's another thing to hear it from someone who just recently went through puberty," Stork said.

The next Girl Talk will be Dec. 2. Both of the upcoming talks will take place in the St. Alexius Boniface Auditorium, on the corner of 10th Street and Rosser Avenue.

Preregistration is required and there is a cost of $5 per person. Parents who are interested can find out more about the program and sign up by going to http://www.middakotateens.com or calling the Mid Dakota Teen Clinic at 530-6026.

(James Ziegler is a student at Bismarck State College. He can be reached at 302-0822.)