PREGNANCY CARE CENTRE 11223-­‐100 AVE EDMONTON, AB T5K 0J1 780-­‐424-­‐2624 WAIT! Let’s Talk Sex! Community Education Program Jennifer Hazin Education Coordinator [email protected] ABSTINENCE?
REALLY?
All sexual health web-­‐sites tell us that abstinence is the only way to eliminate risks of pregnancy and STI’s. WAIT! Let’s Talk Sex explores abstinence with students and challenges them to protect their emotional and physical health as well as their future plans by practicing abstinence. A bold, scientifically based, and realistic look at the consequences of casual sex in today’s society. WAIT! Let’s Talk Sex!
W AIT workshops were designed to educate students on issues surrounding sexual health. All
sexual health websites and organizations agree that abstinence is the only way to eliminate the
risks associated with being sexually active, yet very seldom is abstinence clearly defined and
explained. The Pregnancy Care Centre deals with hundreds of teen pregnancies every year, and we
have realized that very few teens know enough about abstinence to actually practice it! W AIT!
Let’s Talk Sex encourages teens to wait to be sexually active and consists of separate age
appropriate workshops for Grades 7, 8, and 9, as well as CALM 20. Each program is curriculum
based and although they build on each other, it is not necessary for students to have done previous
workshops to participate.
W AIT! Let’s Talk Sex is focused on teaching the difference between risk elim ination and
risk reduction, and encourages teens to remain abstinent until a time in their lives where sex can
be enjoyed without risk – until they are in a committed monogamous relationship as
recommended by Health Canada.i We cover many topics and issues surrounding sexual activity,
including how to protect one’s physical and emotional health and one’s future plans by practicing
abstinence. We teach teens that sex is NOT an individual sport – sex always involves two people
whose physical and emotional well-being and future plans are at risk. We encourage teens to
respect and protect every person’s ability stay healthy and to reach their goals. Using current
research on teen brain development and attachment hormones released during sexual activity, we
explore the risks of casual sex compared to the positive effects of sex within a committed
relationship.
Gr. 7 topics include:
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What is a value? What do you value?
How to make good decisions
Qualities in a good friend.
Qualities of a healthy relationship and how media influence this
Peer Pressure
So what about Dating?
Definition of Abstinence and Sexual Activity
The physical line of progression – Attraction à Sexual Activity (general; not detailed)
Physical and Emotional Consequences of Sexual Activity
Why is abstinence the best choice?
Practicing abstinence to protect values, health, and future plans.
Tying everything together – Values come first
Gr. 8 topics include:
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The teen brain – adult in training
Impact of decision making – current teenage pressures
Dating 101 –Dating as a choice, not a given
Definition of Sexual Activity and Abstinence.
Where do our ideas about sex come from?
The physical side of dating - Where sexual activity and risk begin, line of progression
Consequences of sexual activity (unplanned pregnancy, STI’s, emotional impact)
Why is abstinence the best choice?
Challenge to be informed and make informed decisions – taking responsibility.
Review – Jeopardy Game.
Edmonton Pregnancy Care Centre www.pregnancycarecentre.ca 780-­‐424-­‐2624 WAIT! Let’s Talk Sex!
Gr. 9 topics include:
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The Teen Brain – adult in size, not in function
Who do you want to date – WHO list, non-negotiable qualities
Refusal Skills
Definition of Abstinence and Sexual Activity
Physical line of progression - Attraction to Intercourse – brain chemistry and risks
Where sexual activity and risk begin.
Emotional consequences associate with sexual activity and relationships
Pornography – risks.
Contraception effectiveness compared to abstinence
Teen Pregnancy Options
STI’s
Practicing abstinence in today’s world
Turning around – past behavior does not have to predict future behavior.
CALM topics include:
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Cultural influences on sex and sexuality – media messages
Sexual freedom vs. sexual health
Pornography; sexting
Teen brain – Extreme Brain Makeover Edition
Protecting future plans; WHAT list
Using the WHO list – being picky; non-negotiable qualities.
Definition of Abstinence and Sexual Activity
Physical Line of Progression – Attraction to Intercourse – brain chemistry and risks
along the line
Emotional consequences of sexual activity.
Birth Control Methods – effectiveness vs. typical use
Pregnancy Options
STIs – modes of transmission, symptoms, treatment
Condom protection against STIs
Sexual history – what story will you tell? What is your partner’s story? Add it up!
Why is abstinence the best choice?
Abstinence in today’s world
Turning around – past behavior does not have to predict future behavior.
Edmonton Pregnancy Care Centre www.pregnancycarecentre.ca 780-­‐424-­‐2624 WAIT! Let’s Talk Sex!
Each workshop is fairly interactive - this depends on how large the group is, how long we are
given to speak, and the behavior of the students. All sessions are best given over 2 class periods.
When we are given ample time we are happy to conduct a Q and A time after the presentation. Our
speakers are professional, but blunt. We do discuss oral, anal, dry, and vaginal sex in each
workshop (except grade 7 which is more general). Many teens believe that oral and anal sex are
risk free because pregnancy is not a concern. These activities are sex and carry with them great
risk of STIs and emotional repercussions of which many teens are unaware.
It is our intention to always talk about sex with respect, as something special and valuable in
healthy committed relationships, and as something worth waiting for! It is often said that teens
won’t listen, that “they’ll just do it anyway”. It is true that some students will “do it anyway”,
but it is our experience that between 90-95 percent of the students will consider waiting to have
sex after what they have learned in the WAIT program! They just need to know what abstinence
really is, how to practice it, and they deserve to be given current information on the choice that all
sexual health websites agree is the only way to eliminate risks to the heart, risks of teen
pregnancy, and risks of STIs.
Our speakers are dynam ic, fun, and engaging and have been carefully selected because they
interact well with teens. They consistently receive very positive comments from teachers and
students and work hard to be informed with the most up-to-date scientific and medical information.
They pepper their presentations with stories of teenagers who have experienced various
consequences of sexual activity.
WHAT TEACHERS ARE SAYING:
CALM 20 – “The best presenter and presentation I have had in 20 years of teaching!”
GRADE 9 – “So much valuable information, students were engaged the whole time.”
GRADE 8 – “The students loved the Line of Progression activity!!”
GRADE 7 – “You were able to put the students at ease and give them lots of information while
speaking at their level.
WHAT STUDENTS ARE SAYING:
CALM 20 – “That was awesome!! You have given me a lot to think about!”
CALM 20 – “I had sex a few months ago for the first time and really regret it – thank you for
teaching us how to make choices we won’t regret! I will use this information in the
future.”
GRADE 9 – “I learned more in 2 classes with you than I learned in my last few years of regular
health classes.”
GRADE 8 – “I had to place a baby for adoption a few months ago – thank you for coming and
teaching all of us how to wait until we’re older. I learned a lot about healthy
relationships.”
GRADE 7 – “You were fun and didn’t make this awkward at all.”
GRADE 7 – “My favorite part was how to have a healthy relationship – it’s what I want to have one
day and now I know what qualities I need to practice and what I need to look for in
someone to date.”
Edmonton Pregnancy Care Centre www.pregnancycarecentre.ca 780-­‐424-­‐2624 WAIT! Let’s Talk Sex!
BOOKING INFORMATION
Last year, over 16, 000 students in Edmonton and
surrounding areas participated in the WAIT! Let’s Talk Sex
Program.
We are still currently accepting bookings . . . but there are
limited spaces available and they fill up quickly! It’s first
come – first serve.
To reserve a workshop for your school, please contact the
booking coordinator at:
[email protected]
Dedicated to teaching healthy choices for healthy futures to
all students in all schools!
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(source: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/epiu-aepi/std-mts/condom_e.html)
Edmonton Pregnancy Care Centre www.pregnancycarecentre.ca 780-­‐424-­‐2624