Develop homework assignments and activities to supplement sexuality education programs that provide opportunities for families to practice skills, share values, and reinforce "facts" about sexuality.
Homework assignments and activities that are used as part of a school-based sexuality education program, after-school program, or workshop can provide a unique opportunity for parents and caregivers to participate in their children's sexuality education, to keep them informed about the topics that their children are learning, and to encourage them to share their values with their children.
In addition, the research tells us that it is possible to reach large numbers of parents through student homework assignments; that many complete the assignments; that numerous assignments and activities can be provided; and that these assignments do increase parent-child communication, at least in the short run (click here for more information about this evaluated program).
Filling the Gaps: Hard to Teach Topics in Sexuality Education (UPDATED)
Organization: Sexuality Information and Education Council of the
United States, New York, NY
Original Target Audience: Adolescents and their parents/
caregivers nationwide
Language: Materials in English
Filling the Gaps: Hard to Teach Topics in Sexuality Education is a teaching manual published in 1998 by SIECUS. Addressing eight "hard-to-teach" topics relating to sexuality—abstinence, condoms, diversity, pregnancy options, safer sex, sexual behavior, sexual identity and orientation, and sexuality and society—each unit includes a homework assignment that requires parental or other adult involvement. These activities complement or reinforce topics discussed in class. Filling the Gaps can be downloaded free of charge at http://www.siecus.org/pubs/filling_the_gaps.pdf
For more information:
Filling the Gaps: Hard to Teach Topics in Sexuality Education
Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States
Publications Department
130 West 42nd Street, Suite 350
New York, NY 10036-7802
Phone: 212/819-9770
Fax: 212/819-9776
E-mail: siecus@siecus.org
Web Site: http://www.siecus.org
Parents and Adolescents Can Talk (UPDATED)
Organization: Bluegrass Center for Family Life Education, Inc., Lexington, KY
Original Target Audience: Parents/caregivers and their children in grades
seven through nine in Gallatin County, MT
Language: Materials and sessions in English
Parents and Adolescents Can Talk (PACT) is a project that began in
1985 in Gallatin County, MT, and is currently implemented by the
Bluegrass Center for Family Life Education, Inc. It is a 20-hour
program for parents and their children in grades seven through
nine that includes homework assignments for parents and adolescents
to complete alone and together.
Designed for groups of six to 10 family units, PACT consists of
eight two-and-a-half hour sessions focusing on self-concept, effective
parent-child communication, assertiveness, decision-making, anatomy
and health issues, consequences of sexual behavior and pregnancy, and
values and attitudes about sexuality.
Throughout these sessions, parents and children meet both
together and separately. A four-month break is scheduled
between the seventh and eighth session to give families time to
use the communication skills they have learned. Sessions are
adaptable to many community settings, such as weekly meetings,
two-weekend retreats, or other combinations.They are also
adaptable to diverse communities because they encourage facilitators
to incorporate the values of the participants and tailor the
sessions accordingly.
A pre-/post-test and four-month follow-up are also part of the
program and are designed to measure short- and long-term
changes in knowledge, attitudes, communication, decision-making,
and values.
Parents and Adolescents Can Talk
"The last field test (November and December 2001)
indicates that role plays are more acceptable and
interesting to the students than videos and that handouts
are more effective than 'overhead projections.'
Group games are also effective."
-Bluegrass Center for Family Life Education, Inc.
For more information:
Parents and Adolescents Can Talk
Bluegrass Center for Family Life Education, Inc.
3475 Lyon Drive #47
Lexington, KY 40513
Phone: 859/493-2841
Fax: 859/224-0379
E-mail: ajomall@aol.com
