Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What is “Comprehensive Sexuality Education”?
A: The foundation of comprehensive sexuality education is the message that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Recognizing, however, that not all teens will remain chaste, included in effective comprehensive programs is age-appropriate, medically accurate information about ways people can protect themselves from acquiring STIs and preventing unintended pregnancies and communication education to develop refusal and negotiation skills.
Q: How is “abstinence-based” reflected or defined in the curricula?
A: There are eight different curricula from which organizations may choose in order to select the most appropriate material/selection for the learners. With the belief that abstinence is a viable option when young people are given information and allowed to discuss, think about, and engage in activities to help them build communication skills vital to practicing abstinence, the curricula focus on knowledge, attitudes, and skills that encourage and assist young people in implementing abstinence in their relationships. Learning activities, videos, and scenarios used in the program provide a clear and direct abstinence message while discussing consequences of unprotected sex: unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Seven of the eight curricula discuss ways to reduce high-risk sexual behavior.
Q: How are the terms “abstinence-only,” “abstinence-based,” and “abstinence-plus” alike/different?
A: “Abstinence-only” programs have the exclusive purpose of teaching the social, psychological, and health gains to be realized by abstaining from sexual activity outside of marriage without discussing methods of pregnancy and STI prevention.
“Abstinence-based” programs present a clear and direct message that abstinence is the best choice and the only 100% safe choice for avoiding unintended pregnancy or the contraction of sexually transmitted infections. An abstinence-based curriculum informs youth of their personal risk and helps them to develop refusal, delay, and negotiation/communication skills while improving their perception of abstinence, but factual information about contraception and protective factors is included in the program.
“Abstinence-plus” programs work to improve teens’ perception of abstinence while sending a clear and direct message that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Recognizing, however, that approximately 47% of American teens (54% here in Garland Co.) are sexually active (higher in at-risk populations), these programs include age-appropriate, medically accurate information about ways to protect themselves from acquiring STIs and preventing unintended pregnancies. These programs will teach proper condom use and encourage sexually active youth to reduce their number of partners and to make mature and healthy decisions.
Q: Do these programs "teach abortion" as a solution?
A: No. If we do our job well, we'll hopefully reduce the number of youth in our area who face an unplanned pregnancy -- and the number of people who may seek abortion. The mission of the Smart Teens / Healthy Decisions Coalition is to reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies by 1) teaching teens communication and refusal skills to delay sexual initiation when possible and 2) by changing the attitudes of those youth who do not abstain to favor less risky behavior (condom and contraceptive use). In all eight of the curricula, the word "abortion" does not even appear -- nor does the concept of terminating pregnancy -- the focus is on preventing both unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections by either abstaining or by consistently employing protection.
Q: Will talking about sexual issues make students more likely to engage in sexual activity?
A: Research shows that knowledge really is power and that comprehensive human sexuality courses can be very effective in changing both attitudes and risky behavior. The programs that Smart Teens presents focus on pregnancy and HIV/STI prevention behaviors and on the communication skills needed to communicate with peers. Information is presented at age-appropriate levels from CDC approved curricula selected by the hosting organization. Sharing medically-accurate and age-appropriate information is very important, especially education that works to change their perception of risk and attitudes toward risky behaviors.
Gaining a sense of personal vulnerability and assessing their personal risk of contracting STIs or unplanned pregnancy also helps teens stop, think, and consider. Learning alternative ways of expressing affection as well as learning to make more responsible decisions help our youth in their teen years and beyond. Adolescents, perhaps out of a desire to appear more "mature" or to seem more like adults, are naturally drawn to things that seem to be of the adult world: sex, alcohol and drugs. Talking about these issues may actually help de-mystify these things and help adolescents see that behaving in these ways doesn't make them more like an adult -- making responsible decisions does. Providing adolescents with the communication skills needed to refuse, negotiate, or at the very least, delay is needed to prepare them for the challenges today's teens face.
Research shows that many teens feel better about their decision to abstain when they are armed with the fact that not everybody is doing it -- that about half of U.S. teens are not! Learning that 60% of sexually experienced teens report that they wish they had waited longer and learning that approximately 75% (73% male / 78% female) report that they don't think it's embarrassing to admit to peers that they are virgins help empower teens to stand up to peer pressure. For more information on recent research/reports, click here for printable/downloadable .pdf file.
Q: Why is Comprehensive Sexuality Education needed in Garland County?
A: The startling Garland County statistics (see menu bar, left) demonstrate that more than half of our high school students are sexually active with over one-third of those students engaging in unprotected intercourse, putting them at a high risk for unplanned pregnancy and/or contracting sexually transmitted infections. 1 in 3 Garland County females between the ages of fifteen and nineteen become pregnant.
In addition to these statistics, a recent national study found that nearly half of African-American teenagers ages 14 to 19 and twenty percent of Caucasian teenagers in the study were infected with at least one of the sexually transmitted diseases monitored in the study — human papillomavirus (HPV), chlamydia, genital herpes and trichomoniasis, a common parasite. Clearly, Garland County teens either do not fully understand the consequences of their decisions and/or have the information they need to protect themselves.
Q: Is Comprehensive "Sex Ed” contradictory to teaching Abstinence?
A: No. The programs emphasize that the only 100% effective way to prevent unintended pregnancy and/or STIs is to abstain. No one can really argue that point. Teaching about ways to reduce risks for those who are already sexually active and/or who do not abstain doesn't discourage teens from abstaining, and in this case "knowledge is power." Talking about the statistics ("not everybody is doing it") and talking about the risks may actually increase a youth's intentions to remain chaste, and learning better communication skills and ways to refuse and/or to delay may actually enable teens to carry through on that intention. Sexuality education that blends strong abstinence messages with information on how to make responsible decisions to protect one's health is balanced.
In a report by Erika Philips of Kansas State University comparing abstinence-only sexuality courses with comprehensive sexuality instruction, only evidence-based programs that combined medically accurate information at an age-appropriate level with ample time provided for practice of skills were able to affect an impact on teen's attitudes, knowledge, and sexual behavior.
Q: What is New Futures for Youth?
A: Established in 1988, New Futures for Youth is a collaborative of public and private, community and institutional representatives committed to improved outcomes for youth, especially those considered “at risk.” New Futures conducts research on issues affecting youth and families and provides training and technical assistance to individuals and organizations. New Futures facilitates joint planning by community-based organizations, agencies, and institutions regarding strategies for addressing youth issues and implementing youth services. In addition, staff and collaborative members assist public officials in developing policies that are supportive of enhanced outcomes for youth, families, and communities.
Q: How Were These Programs Chosen?
A: The adolescent pregnancy prevention/STI program has been evaluated on program design and content, as well as evaluation design and outcomes and has been found to be effective and is one of few programs endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). The CDC notes that “research has clearly shown that the most effective programs [to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS] are comprehensive ones that include a focus on delaying sexual behavior and provide information on how sexually active young people can protect themselves.”¹ This program is based upon theoretical approaches that have been demonstrated to be effective in reducing health-related risky behaviors. Few programs will meet all criteria, thereby reserving “Evidence-Based Programs” as a gold standard category. The program criteria and evaluation criteria are fully described and included on this site's "Curricula Selection Criteria" page (see menu bar, left).
¹ Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Fact Sheet: Young People at Risk: HIV/AIDS Among America’s Youth, National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, March 2002.
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