What we do:
The Smart Teens/Healthy Decisions Coalition provides comprehensive human sexuality courses to eligible schools, homeschool groups, and community-based organizations that work with teens or pre-teen adolescents in Garland County. The Coalition works with the host organization to select one of eight medically-accurate, proven-effective programs to best meet the needs of the host organization's students.
In addition, the Smart Teens/Healthy Decisions Coalition provides:
• Curriculum and Staff Development -- curriculum as well as staff awareness and training events
• Parent Education -- activities/education for parents, parent newsletters, parent meeting prior to classes, and student-parent homework activities
• Special Events -- activities/education for student body and/or select subgroups centered around particular event days/dates like: "National Day to
prevent Teen Pregnancy" (in May), National HIV Awareness/Testing Day (in June), "World AIDS Day" (in December), as well as other HIV awareness days targeting girls/women, Latinos, etc .
• School/Community Linkages -- activities to enhance students' familiarity with and access to support services outside school, resource guides, and presentations by HIV positive speakers
a. Community Linkages Volunteer Support Programs for Teen Mothers -- "Mother2Mother" groups meet during lunch (weekly or bi-monthly) in a casual round circle format to provide assistance to pregnant and new (teen) mothers to help them learn from other women in the community how to balance the pressures of parenting and work so that they will be more likely to finish their education and reach their personal goals. Other topics covered: labor/delivery (what to expect), mother-infant bonding, infant care, post-partum depression, self-esteem/body image, etc.
b. Community Linkages Volunteer Support Programs for Victims of Sexual Abuse -- groups meet during lunch (weekly or bi-monthly) in a casual round circle format to give young victims of sexual abuse a safe forum to discuss their feelings and struggles in coping with their situation. Discussion groups are guided by volunteer counselors from CCS and the Smart Teens Community Educator or other volunteers from the field of education. Topics covered: trust issues, anger management, coping with emotions in healthy ways, regaining self-esteem, feeling safe, setting personal boundaries, etc.
• Workshops -- Summer, weekend, or evening workshops for teens uses Be Proud! Be Responsible! curricula (6 hours of instruction, activities, discussions, games, films). Workshop for parents focuses on what to say, how much to say, and when to start so that parents can prepare their children for what lies ahead, share their values, and promote positive relationship/communication skills.
The Coalition employs a state-certified instructor to work as Community Educator. Ravyn Denton is a licensed secondary educator with a current teaching certificate and ten-years’ experience teaching in both public and private secondary and post-secondary schools. She has been trained by New Futures for Youth in the use of the curriculum materials to teach any of eight different, proven programs. The hosting organization selects the program that best suits their needs and desires. All student materials are provided. There is no cost to those sponsoring the programs.
Who is eligible to receive Coalition services? 
Any Garland County, Arkansas school, church, homeschooling group or other community organization serving teens or preteen adolescents can host a program. The hosting organization works with the Smart Teens / Healthy Decisions Community Educator to select the best curriculum for their group.
For more information, contact Ravyn Denton, Community Educator,
at 501-617-0337 or e-mail at: ravyn_d@hotmail.com
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