Reducing the Risk (RTR) sexual health education curriculum for high school students

Trained Program Facilitators O Tracey Penny, B.S.-Health Educator with CCPHSD O Ami Lindemann-NAU senior majoring in psychology, minoring in biology

Overview An evidence based curriculum that focuses on the development of attitudes and skills that will help teens have healthy relationships, prevent Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD’s), prevent pregnancy and to be able to communicate about important life decisions.

Curriculum Objectives O Demonstrate effective communication skills for remaining abstinent and for avoiding unprotected sexual intercourse. O Lots of role plays so they can practice the communication skills

Curriculum Objectives O Understand the risks and consequences of being a teen parent or being infected with an STD. O Emphasis on goal setting O Recognize that abstaining or using contraception are the only ways to avoid pregnancy and /or STD’s. O Emphasis on abstinence being the only 100% sure way to be safe.

Curriculum Objectives O Realize that facts about conception and protection are essential to avoid pregnancy and/or STD’s O Create a “Healthy Life Plan” O Goals O Dreams O Healthy Habits

Ground Rules O To create an atmosphere of trust and comfort O Everyone has the right to pass O Every question is a good question O Be respectful of each other and instructor O Confidentiality O Treat role plays seriously O No personal questions O Use standard terms O Be accurate with parents O Each person speaks for himself or herself

What are the classes like? O 16 sessions 50 minutes in length O Factual information about anatomy, pregnancy, contraception, STD’s O Role plays to practice communication skills O Emphasis on abstinence being the only 100% safe choice but do talk about condoms O Activities to enhance and reinforce info O Question box

Lessons O Class 1: Abstinence, Sex and Protection O Pregnancy risk activity, introduce role plays, Don’t Pass It Along activity, personalizing risks O Class 2: Abstinence-Not Having sex O Facts about abstinence, communication skills O Class 3: Refusals O Talk to your parents, refusal skills, practice role plays, anatomy O Class 4: Using Refusal Skills O Refusals quiz, difficult refusals, role plays

Lessons O Class 5: Delay Tactics O Introduce delay tactics, role plays O Class 6: Avoiding High Risk Situations O Discuss talk to your parents, signs of sex and caution, handling crisis situations, protection myths and truths O Class 7: Getting and Using Protection I O Ways to prevent pregnancy, shopping “homework” O Class 8: Getting and Using Protection II O Condoms, call a clinic, how will you avoid pregnancy?, how is STD prevented?

Lessons O Class 9: Knowing and Talking About Protection O Review protection myths and truths, role plays O Class 10: Skills Integration O Review refusals, role plays O Class 11: Skills Integration O My kid sister, role plays O Class 12: Preventing HIV and Other STD’s O Facts about STD’s, homework-how HIV would change my life

Lessons O Class 13: HIV Risk Behaviors O Risk continuum, personal risks O Class 14: Implementing Protection from STD and Pregnancy O The steps to protection, role plays O Class 15: Sticking With Abstinence and Protection O Review shopping information, doubt busters O Class 16: Skills Integration O Review HIV homework, roles plays, “I learned”

Be forewarned O Emphasis on communicating with parents O Talk to your parents activity-this is a “homework” assignment so don’t be surprised! O Anatomy and STD sessions trigger a lot of discussion. O One “homework” assignment involves going to a store and looking at condoms.

Questions?