New Jersey Network Public Television, in partnership with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, is helping to create heightened health awareness throughout the state with Horizon HealthFuture, an initiative involving teens of various New Jersey Boys & Girls Clubs and the Urban League. Five participating clubs, are producing a five minute teen health literacy video that sheds light on certain pressing health issues, such as HIV/AIDS and urban drug use and prevention. The initiative also allows for work place literacy computer labs to be installed at each club to further NJN's commitment to increasing health and educational literacy and job-readiness. NJN's workplace literacy program traditionally geared for adults entering the work force, are being expanded to serve teens who are looking to develop work and learning skills.

As part of the HealthFuture initiative, NJN producers and crews are working side by side with groups of teens to teach them video production skills. Each group is using those skills to write produce, edit and shoot their own teen perspective health video. Teens have chosen issues for their videos that deal with issues affecting their peers including drub abuse, pregnancy, violence peer pressure and HIV/AIDS. Using their own personal knowledge, research and man on the street experience, the teens produce an informative mini documentaries geared toward educating others teens in their community.

The five clubs involved the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newark, Atlantic City, Camden and Trenton and the Urban League of Hudson County. NJN and Horizon are honored to present these Teen Health Literacy Videos online and also offer you a behind the scenes look at this initiative.