II. Abstinence Until Marriage Education "How-To"s From S.A.f.E.
Every pregnant girl knows the ultimate pregnancy and STD prevention is abstinence. All the condoms and vaccines in the world can never be as effective as a simple but determined "No." The only safe sex is no sex.
Although plain and simple, this solution can only work through education. To establish a program which will get the message of abstinence to teens before they make irresponsible sexual choices requires some groundwork.
The experience of S.A.f.E. (Sex and Family Education) in Birmingham, Alabama, is a good example of how meeting the challenge of abstinence education can be successful. For many years S.A.f.E. has successfully developed and implemented abstinence until marriage courses in the classrooms of Alabama.
Since the first presentation in 1988, S.A.f.E. has developed 6 different curricula designed to prevent rather than merely respond to adolescent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases through abstinence until marriage education. Through collaboration with local non-profit agencies, health departments, community volunteers and school administrators, S.A.f.E. has expanded its outreach into more than 125 communities nationwide.
The original and main curriculum, YOU ARE UNIQUE, targets Jr. Hi students. This 3-hour course encourages responsible, mature consideration of the harmful consequences of pre-marital sex and the beneficial results of sexual abstinence. The course addresses emotional as well as physical concerns and equips students with strategies for making healthy sexual choices. Clear, accurate, and up-to-date information, colorful transparencies and engaging demonstrations supplement a fully scripted teacher’s manual for YOU ARE UNIQUE. Attitudinal surveys of participating students before and after the presentation bear witness to the effectiveness of this approach. "This program is really good and made me choose to wait," was one student’s comment.
The S.A.f.E. message generates enthusiastic responses. Schools have asked for supplementary courses for younger and older students. Historically, more than 98% of parents support S.A.f.E.’s programs by giving permission for their children to participate on parental consent forms. School administrators and teachers have found S.A.f.E.’s programs to have a positive impact on the attitudes of their students. And student response cards always indicate appreciation of straight talk from a caring presenter.
How did all this come about? This is a frequent question when people see the entire scope of the S.A.f.E ministry. From a one-course-one-school presentation to a comprehensive curricula presented in hundreds of classrooms across the country each year, S.A.f.E. has grown through a process of trial and error as varied as the individual people and organizations who have worked with the program. However certain principals have proven effective over the years. To establish an abstinence until marriage education program for schools in your area you must develop knowledge, contacts, funding, and persistence.
KNOWLEDGE:
To teach others, one must first teach oneself. It is important to research:
1.Your State’s Course of Study:
Many states require the teaching of abstinence in their sex education curriculum. Find out exactly what your state expects of its sex education teachers and provide materials these people can use. If your state does not require abstinence education, you may have to start a grassroots movement to get it implemented into the curriculum.
2. The School System You Are Targeting:
You must be able to offer a program that will be compatible with the school’s scheduling, class period length, class size and the types of students you will encounter.
3. The Available Curricula:
There are several good abstinence until marriage curricula available. Research them all and choose one which best addresses your goals and situation. Caution, many sex education curricula present abstinence as one of many choices for "safe sex." This double message is confusing to students and negates your message. Choose an engaging curriculum with the objectives that students will:
A. Develop self-worth and personal values.
B. Use strategies for choosing and remaining sexually abstinent.
C. Receive accurate information regarding sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy.
D. Recognize abstinence as the only 100% effective method of preventing pregnancy and STD’s.
CONTACTS:
You must become a one-person publicity agency. Spread the word of your desire to start an abstinence until marriage program in:
- Community Churches:
Ask to speak to classes or interested groups. They can supply entry into schools, support, and volunteer help.
- School Administrators and Faculty:
Contact Principals, Counselors, School Nurses and Health Teachers or other appropriate teachers. Arrange a meeting to introduce your program to them. Or find teachers who can get you into their schools.
- Community Leaders:
Contact community leaders, supportive local newspaper reporters, television personalities, and talk radio programs to inform them of your goals and the need for abstinence until marriage education in your community. Companies which employ many of a particular school’s parents will often support your efforts.
- Referrals:
Ask each school teacher/administrator to evaluate your program or write a letter of support which can be shared with other schools.
- Never ref
use any invitation to speak about your program.
FUNDING:
Even though it is very rewarding to see young people make life-enhancing decisions, this is not a career which will make you rich. However, there are many possibilities for support of such an effort. It is imperative that you establish your program as a 501 (c)(3) organization with the Federal Government or affiliate with one. This will allow you to raise money from:
- Individual Donations:
You will likely find individuals who would like to support your efforts with gifts. Many times contacts meant to open doors into schools will open somebody’s pocket too. If you can find a way to use volunteers in your program, these people will often support you financially also.
- Federal, State and Private Grant Money:
There are many agencies providing grant assistance for programs which benefit communities.
- Community churches and civic organizations.
PERSISTENCE:
It will take time and effort, but it can be done! You can be sure that such an endeavor will prevent some tragic mistakes in the lives of the teens you reach.
Establish partnerships with people who are convinced of the importance of your message. You will need a "support group."
S.A.f.E. 2/02 http://sexandfamilyeducation.org