Curricula Overview:
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 prevent unintended pregnancies with components to build communication and develop refusal and negotiation skills.
To change behavior, adolescents need not only information
and a perception of personal vulnerability, but also the communication skills and the confidence in their ability to act safely.
The Smart Teens / Healthy Decisions Coalition works in coordination with the hosting school or community organization to select and to present one of the following eight comprehensive human sexuality curricula.
Interested organizations may call or e-mail to obtain additional information and to arrange an appointment with Community Educator, Ravyn Denton to view and/or discuss the curricula and materials.
Following are brief descriptions of each of the eight curricula:
1. Making A Difference! An Abstinence Based Approach to Prevention of STDs, HIV and Teen Pregnancy is an eight module (8 hours of instruction that can be arranged to accommodate different schedules) curriculum that provides young adolescents (middle school aged) with the knowledge, confidence, and skills necessary to reduce their risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), HIV, and pregnancy by abstaining from sex. It is based on cognitive behavioral theories, focus groups, and the researchers' extensive experience working with youth. Making A Difference! is an adaptation and extension of the original Be Proud! Be Responsible! curriculum in that it integrates STD, HIV and pregnancy prevention to reduce STD/HIV and pregnancy risk-related behaviors and to cultivate positive attitudes and beliefs regarding abstinence. The curriculum allows students to practice newly learned abstinence negotiation skills to build confidence in their ability to abstain from sex. [full description/ordering information]
2. Be Proud! Be Responsible! is a six-part curriculum (6 hours of instruction that can be presented over one to six days) providing adolescents ages 14-19 the knowledge, motivation, and skills necessary to change their behaviors in ways that will reduce their risk of pregnancy or contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Be Proud! Be Responsible! curriculum can be implemented in various community settings, including schools or youth-serving agencies and has a peer-to-peer education component where youth are encouraged to share their new knowledge with their peers. The program has strong abstinence messages and seeks to create a positive impression of abstinence while building refusal communication skills through role play and in-class group practice. However, the curriculum gives medically-accurate, factual information on protective factors to reduce the risk of pregnancy or sexually-transmitted infections and teaches negotiation skills. [full description/ordering information]
3. Becoming a Responsible Teen (B.A.R.T.) is an HIV prevention curriculum primarily for adolescents, ages 14-18, in non-school, community-based settings but is also appropriate for youth grades 9-12 in a public school setting. It consists of eight sessions, 1.5 to 2 hours each, and includes interactive group discussions and role plays in which teens learn to "spread the word" to peers about HIV risks and to practice communication skills outside the group. Although the focus of Becoming a Responsible Teen is HIV/AIDS prevention, the curriculum includes topics and activities relevant to teen pregnancy prevention. Teens learn to clarify their own values about sexual decisions and pressures as well as practice skills to reduce sexual risk taking. Abstinence is woven throughout the curriculum and is discussed as the best way to prevent HIV infection and pregnancy. Also included are: assertive communication, refusal techniques, self-management, problem solving, and correct condom use. [full description/ordering information]
4. Making Proud Choices! A Safer Sex Approach to STDs, Teen Pregnancy, and HIV Prevention is an eight-module curriculum that provides young adolescents with the knowledge, confidence, and skills necessary to reduce their risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), HIV, and pregnancy by abstaining from sex or using condoms if they choose to have sex. It is based on cognitive behavioral theories, focus groups, and the researchers' extensive experience working with youth. Making Proud Choices! is an adaptation and extension of the original Be Proud! Be Responsible! curriculum in that it integrates STD, HIV and pregnancy prevention. [full description/ordering information]
To reduce risk for STD/HIV and pregnancy risk-related behaviors, young adolescents need not only knowledge and perception of personal vulnerability, but also positive attitudes towards abstinence. For those already sexually active, positive attitudes about condom use along with confidence in their ability to obtain and to use condoms correctly can reduce high-risk behavior. The Making Proud Choices! curriculum is designed to meet those needs.
5. Reducing the Risk: Building Skills to Prevent Pregnancy, HIV and STD includes 16 well-defined lessons of about 1 hour each which clearly emphasizes abstinence messages while teaching refusal statements, delay statements and alternative actions students can use to abstain. The curriculum is designed for 9th and 10th grade classrooms or community-based settings. The curriculum contains lessons on effective communication skills with several activities giving students opportunities to learn and practice effective communication skills including refusal skills, delaying tactics, and avoiding high-risk situations. Additionally, the curriculum provides detailed information regarding effective and ineffective methods of protection from pregnancy, STD’s and HIV. The Reducing the Risk curriculum provides information on abstinence as the safest choice, but also discusses protective sex; explicit condom use skills are covered. [full description/ordering information]
6. Focus on Youth is a community-based (urban or suburban alternatives), 8-session HIV/STD prevention program for high-risk youth in grades 6-10 (can be older as well). It has been effective in giving youth the skills and knowledge they need to protect themselves from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. The curriculum uses fun, interactive activities such as games, role plays, discussion and community projects to convey prevention knowledge and skills. Although Focus on Kids is an HIV/AIDS prevention curriculum, it covers topics and skills pertinent to teen pregnancy prevention such as: decision-making, refusal skills, communication and advocacy skills; abstinence, and correct use of condoms. Completion of the course gives youth the skills they need to make better decisions when faced with sex and drug pressures. [full description/ordering information]
7. Get Real about AIDS is a 14-lesson curriculum using entertaining activities, discussions, role-plays, simulations and videos to give high school aged students the knowledge and skills needed to reduce their risk of HIV infection. Although Get Real about AIDS is an HIV prevention curriculum, it addresses sexual risk-taking behaviors related to pregnancy prevention, including: delaying sexual activity, using condoms, being monogamous if sexually active, and avoiding risky situations.
8. Safer Choices is an intervention curriculum taught over two consecutive years, with ten lessons in Year One (Level One) and ten lessons in Year Two (Level Two). The program's strength lies in it's effective involvement of the entire community (educators, students, counselors, and parents). The program consists of five primary components:
• School Organization, featuring a School Health Promotion Council involving teachers, students, parents, administrators, and community representatives;
• Curriculum and Staff Development, which includes a sequential 20-session classroom curriculum as well as staff awareness and training events;
• Peer Resources and School Environment, which involves establishing a Safer Choices peer team or club that hosts school-wide activities;
• Parent Education, featuring activities for parents such as parent newsletters, student-parent homework activities, and other parent events; and
• School/Community Linkages, which involve activities to enhance students' familiarity with and access to support services outside school, such as homework to gather information about local services, resource guides, presentations by HIV positive speakers.
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