Lashun Penn left the county health department Thursday wealthy in crayons, bibs and sippy cups.

Along with about 30 other new and expectant moms, Ms. Penn attended the "Let's Talk About Me. Before, During and After Pregnancy: Young Women's Conference" put on by the Volunteer State Health Plan, a subsidiary of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.

The event was held at the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department.

In addition to free health screenings and presentations on topics such as breastfeeding, family planning, nutrition and self-esteem, the women collected information and freebies from local vendors' booths.

"There's a lot of stuff (you can get) that they don't tell you about," said Ms. Penn, 23, who is seven months pregnant with her second child. "It's inspiring when you're going through a lot."

The Chattanooga State Community College student picked up brochures on a moms-to-be club that offers women camaraderie as well as techniques for labor and delivery.

"A lot of this stuff really does help you," she said.

Lolita Bryson, a community care partner for Volunteer State Health Plan, said her organization and the health department specifically chose to hold the event during the Hamilton County schools system's spring break.

"If there was a teen mom out there who wanted to come, there would be no barriers," she said.

Sandra Nelson, who works for the health department in its sexually transmitted diseases clinic, spoke about ways to avoid various infections and diseases and how to teach children to do so.

"In every high school and middle school right now, there's somebody having oral sex, and it's drifted down to our elementary schools," she said.

Ms. Nelson suggested that parents become more involved. "If you've got kids, volunteer to walk the halls at their school," she said.

Peggy Nash, a representative from Parents are First Teachers, said attending Thursday's event was beneficial for her nonprofit organization as well as for the mothers. Parents are First Teachers dispatches teachers to participating homes once a month to lead parents and children in educational activities.

"This is the best-kept secret in Hamilton County," she said. "Nobody I've talked to so far has known about us."

Follow Kelli Gauthier on Twitter at twitter.com/gauthierkelli

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