Provide opportunities for parents/caregivers to gain
the knowledge and skills they need to effectively
communicate with their children about sexuality.
To increase parent/caregiver comfort in their role as the primary
sexuality educators of their children, programs can provide them
with support by enhancing their sexual literacy, identifying their
values and beliefs, and enhancing their communication skills.
Can We Talk? and ¿Conversamos? (UPDATED)
Organization: National Education Association, Washington, DC
Original Target Audience: Parents and caregivers of young people in
grades four through eight nationwide
Language: Materials and sessions available in English and Spanish
Can We Talk? (1998) and ¿Conversamos? (2000) are two programs
sponsored by the National Education Association's Health
Information Network. They provide an opportunity for parents
and caregivers of young people in grades four through eight to
address HIV, teen pregnancy, and STDs.
This series of four workshops for parents addresses self-esteem,
puberty and sexuality, mixed messages, and peer pressure. Each
workshop begins with a two-minute video designed to initiate
dialogue on the topics scheduled for discussion. The workshops
also include a family activity book for parents or caregivers that
explains the program, provides additional support, and includes
activities for families to complete together.
Can We Talk? and ¿Conversamos?
"Implement the program where the audience is located
(church, workplace, et cetera)."
-National Education Association
For more information:
Can We Talk? and ¿Conversamos?
National Education Association Health Information Network
1201 16th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202/822-7570
Fax: 202/822-7775
Web site: http://www.canwetalk.org
Ordering information for curricula:
National Education Association Professional Library
P. O. Box 2035
Annapolis Junction, MD 20701
Phone: 877/250-5795
Fax: 301/206-9789
Web site: http://www.nea.org/books
Family Sexuality Education:
A Course for Parents
Organization: American Baptist Churches, Valley Forge, PA
Original Target Audience: Christian parents and caregivers of young
people three to 12 years of age nationwide
Language: Materials in English
First developed for use in American Baptist congregations over
15 years ago and revised in 1995, Family Sexuality Education: A
Course for Parents is a curriculum for facilitators to implement
with Christian parents to help them build communication skills in
their role as sexuality educators of their children. Primarily for
parents and caregivers of children three to 12 years of age, it also
provides information for parents of teenagers. Divided into four
two-hour and one four-hour unit, the curriculum addresses
"Exploring and Understanding Our Own Sexuality," "Sexuality
through Childhood," Sexuality in the Home," "Values," and
"Communication Skills."
For more information:
Family Sexuality Education:
A Course for Parents
Ordering information for curriculum:
Judson Press
P. O. Box 851
Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851
Phone: 800/458-3766
Fax: 610/768-2107
Web site: http://www.judsonpress.com
Parent Family Life Sex Education Program (UPDATED)
Organization: Children's Aid Society, New York, NY
Original Target Audience: Young people 11 to 12 years of age and their
parents/caregivers, and other adults in traditionally underserved
communities nationwide
Language: Materials available in English, some in Spanish
The Children's Aid Society Carrera Model, which was created in
1984, currently offers family life and sexuality education to 350
boys and girls 11 and 12 years of age. Using a holistic approach,
this program views young people as "at promise" rather than
"at risk" and provides them with contact from the time they start
the program until they complete it in the 12th grade.
As a parallel component, the Children's Aid Society offers a program
for the parents of participating young people, as well as for other
adults in the community. The Annie E. Casey Foundation started
supporting this new initiative in early 2002 by incorporating
lessons learned from their Plain Talk initiative coupled with the
existing parent component of the program offered by the
Children's Aid Society. Meeting on a weekly or bi-weekly basis for
12 months, the Parent Family Life Sex Education Program helps
parents and adults in the community become the primary sexuality
educators of their children.
Using cognitive, affective, and communication strategies, this program is
designed to influence parents' sexual literacy; to help parents and
other adults identify their values and respect others' values; and
to help them develop the language to communicate with
their children.
After completing the program, a few parents and other adults
from each site that have mastered the material are asked if they
want to receive training as a Family Life Sex Education associate.
When they complete this training, the associates are paired with
a staff member to help facilitate the next group of parents who
will attend the Parent Family Life Sex Education program.There is a
plan to provide a stipend for these associates.
Parent Family Life Sex Education Program
"Mostly, innovative educators!"
-Children's Aid Society
Parents and caregivers participating in the Children’s Aid Society’s (CAS) Parent Family Life Sex Education Program attended weekly sessions from October 2002 to March 2003 at community based organizations (CBOs) in and around New York City. These CBOs included the Citizen’s Advice Bureau in the Bronx, CAS Intermediate Schools 218 and 90 and Public Schools 8 and 5 in Washington Heights, New York City Mission Society in Harlem, Project Reach Youth in Harlem, and the Grand Street Settlement on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Incentives provided to participants at each session included travel expenses, childcare, and dinner. On April 25, 2003 a graduation ceremony was held to honor 147 parents and caregivers who completed this program to increase their literacy about sexuality issues.
In addition, the Children’s Aid Society has a program known as Walkers and Talkers. Implemented before the Parent Family Life Sex Education Program started, this program has trained parents and caregivers who are extraordinarily competent and interested in delivering sexuality information to their peers. Supported by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, this six-month training takes place for three hours on Saturdays to teach participants how to deliver the messages and become Community and Family Life Sex Educators (also known as Promotores). Recently, qualified graduates of the basic Parent Family Life Sex Education Program were interviewed to become Walkers and Talkers. Ten graduates have been selected and all are involved in an intensive Saturday training program that will end June 2004. Their work with local groups will being Fall 2004.
“Community members who are trained as part of these programs have a certain moral authority, an insider strength that is difficult to come by for outside professionals. They understand intrinsically what life is like for people in their community.”
-Dr. Michael Carrera
Graduates of the Parent Family Life Sex Education Program with Dr. Michael Carrera (2nd from left) and their instructor Raphael Jaquez (2nd from right), April 2003.
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For more information:
Parent Family Life Sex Education Program
The Children's Aid Society
Dr. Michael A. Carrera
Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program
350 East 88th Street
New York, NY 10128
Phone: 212/876-9716
Fax: 212/876-1482
E-mail: casntc@attglobal.net
Web site: http://www.stopteenpregnancy.com
Early Childhood Sexuality Education
Development Project (UPDATED)
Organization: Family Planning Association of Hong Kong
Original Target Audience: Chinese parents and teachers of young children
in Hong Kong
Language: Materials and sessions in Chinese
The Early Childhood Sexuality Education Development Project of The
Family Planning Association of Hong Kong (FPAHK) provides training
for both pre-primary teachers and parents of young children to equip
them with the knowledge, confidence, and skills necessary to
educate young children about sexuality. This two-year project, that recruited participants by letter of invitation, bagan in 2000 and trained 665 teachers and 1,640 parents in 25 pilot schools in Hong Kong.
The trainings are currently conducted in 25 pilot schools in Hong
Kong, which were recruited by letter of invitation. On average,
approximately 50 parents (about one-fourth of the total parents
in a school) attend each training course. A parallel track is attended by
approximately 98 percent of the teachers in each school.
Each two-hour parent training course mixes lectures, brainstorming,
and role-playing. The course is designed to help parents learn
about the sexual development of young children and the key
concepts in early childhood sexuality education; explore their
own attitudes toward early childhood sexuality education; and
improve their skills in answering their children's sexuality-related
questions. Upon completion of the training, participants fill out an
evaluation form to provide facilitators with feedback. Overall, the informal surveys found that the program increased participants' knowledge about sexuality issues, cultivated more open sexual attitudes, and enhanced their level of confidence in talking about sex with young children.
In addition, a teaching kit was available to teachers and parents that included a teaching manual with four lesson plans—"origins of life," "know our bodies," "protecting against child sexual abuse," and "gender roles"—, worksheets, display charts, dolls, and other materials. As a result of the high demand for these materials, FPAHK continues to offer publications to help teachers and parents talk with children about sexuality issues. In the near future, they also hope to launch an online course for parents and children.
Even though the initial project ended in 2002, FPAHK continues to recruit local primary schools and offer school-based training to teachers and parents. In 2003, 91 teachers and 882 parents from more than 29 kindergartens and nurseries have received training in sexuality education. At the end of the training, a tea gathering was held in July 2003 for participants to share their experiences of delivering sexuality education.
To support parents in continuing the dialogue about sexuality
with their children, FPAHK is revamping their sexuality education website
(http://www.famplan.org.hk/sexedu).
Early Childhood Sexuality Education
Development Project
"From the training evaluation feedback, we found that most
teachers and parents welcome school-based training, where
mutual objectives and home-school cooperation for implementing
sexuality education for young children can occur."
-Family Planning Association of Hong Kong
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"More than half of the pilot schools started their own sexuality education programs, and some of them set up their own resource corner for parents to borrow relevant teaching materials (many of which were FPAHK publications). Also, the school-based training approach has facilitated the setting of mutual objectives for providing sexuality education to young children in the home and school. Teachers and parents are also willing to seek continuous resource support from FPAHK for the delivery of sexuality education."
-Grace Lee
"Exploration of one's sexual attitudes is extremely important in the training, as many Chinese teachers and parents still hold the myth that early implementation of sexuality education would encourage sexual activities among young children. Also, they cling to the notion of "childhood innocence" which limits their ability to provide timely and accurate sexuality information.
Furthermore, educators need access to updated and attractive resources to enhance their confidence and effectiveness in delivering sexuality education. Hence, we should continue to strengthen our development in related resource materials."
-Grace Lee
|
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A teacher sharing her memories about conducting sexuality education classes with her children during one of the training programs. |
 |
Teachers and parents joined together for sharing as part of the project. |
 |
Children participating in the "know our body" activity. |
 |
FPAHK teaching materials and dolls known as "Tak Tak" and "Kar Kar" designed for young children. |
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A resource corner in one kindergarten displaying FPAHK teaching materials. |
For more information:
Early Childhood Sexuality Education
Development Project
Family Planning Association of Hong Kong
Grace M.Y. Lee
10/F Southorn Centre
130 Hennessy Road
Wanchia, Hong Kong
Phone: 852 2919 7731
Fax: 852 2834 6767
E-mail: gracelee@famplan.org.hk
Web site: http://www.famplan.org.hk
Family Life Education:
A Manual for Parent Educators
Organization: Margaret Sanger Centre International, South Africa
Original Target Audience: Parent educators in Zambia
Language: Materials in English
Family Life Education: A Manual for Parent Educators, published in
1997, is designed to provide parent educators in urban and rural
communities in Zambia with a selection of strategies for
communicating healthy attitudes and behaviors about sexuality.
Zambia's Adolescent Reproductive Health Consortium created
this manual to address cultural taboos surrounding parent-child
communication, and to assist in developing an honest, open, and
informed dialogue between parents and their children on all
aspects of sexuality.
Integrating knowledge of human growth and development, sexuality,
anatomy and physiology, health, sexual and reproductive health,
decision-making, parenting, self-awareness, self-acceptance, and
family planning, the manual offers a selection of lesson plans and
activities to use with small groups of parents and caregivers.
Based on the needs of the community, facilitators can use the
manual to design outlines for a series of two-to-three hour sessions,
all-day programs, or a combination of both. Family Life Education
does not require parents to be literate or proficient in English. It
was created to evolve and change as the community changes.
For more information:
Family Life Education:
A Manual for Parent Educators
Margaret Sanger Centre International, South Africa
Adolescent Reproductive Project
Folami Harris
25 Owl Street, 4th Floor
Auckland Park 2006
Johannesburg, South Africa
Phone: 27 11 726-1172
Fax: 27 11 726-2424
E-mail: info@mscisa.org.za
Web site: http://www.mscisa.org.za
Human Sexual Behavior Course
Organization: University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
Original Target Audience: Freshmen attending the University of New Orleans
Language: Materials and sessions in English
For over 20 years, a freshman-level human sexuality course at the
University of New Orleans, Human Sexual Behavior, has helped
increase parent-child communication about sexuality issues (click here for information about this evaluated program). Offered through the Department of Psychology,
the course is taught each semester to 1,000 students. Using the
textbook Human Sexuality Today by Bruce M. King, the course
addresses a wide variety of sexuality-related topics, including
cross-cultural and historical perspectives, anatomy, hormones, the
sexual response cycle, STDs, birth control, pregnancy and childbirth,
sexual orientation, sexual development, sexual behaviors, love and
relationships, sexual abuse, and communication, including talking
with your children about sexuality. The importance of
communicating about sexuality-related issues is an integral focus
of this human sexuality course.
Human Sexual Behavior Course
The research tells us that it is possible to increase ongoing
communication between parents/caregivers and their children
when parents/caregivers complete a college-level human
sexuality course that covers a variety of topics with an emphasis
on communication.
For more information:
Human Sexual Behavior Course
University of New Orleans
Bruce King, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology
New Orleans, LA 70148
Phone: 504/280-6767
Fax: 504/280-6049
E-mail: bmking@uno.edu
Let's Talk
Organization: Breaking the Cycle, Hartford, CT
Original Target Audience: Parents in Hartford, the local urban community,
many of whom are Latino or African American
Language: Sessions available in English and Spanish
Let's Talk is a program that began in 1999 and helps parents and
caregivers learn to communicate openly and effectively with their
children about sexuality issues. It is part of Breaking the Cycle,
Hartford, CT's, strategic campaign for teen pregnancy prevention
(a community partnership between the City of Hartford, the
Hartford Action Plan on Infant Health, and the Hartford Public
Schools) that incorporates principles and activities developed by the
Stowe Village [Plain Talk] site in Hartford, CT (see Plain Talk for Parents mentioned below).
The program includes sessions for parents/caregivers about sexual
development, values, age-appropriate discussions, and parent-child
communication. Conducted by trained facilitators in a one-day,
four-hour workshop in English or Spanish, they are hosted by
agencies, schools, and individual parents. Breaking the Cycle is currently
adapting the program for teen parents.
Let's Talk
"The length of the session is important; parents say they can't
find four hours to devote to a workshop, but once they're there,
they often think it is too short. Offering to do the workshop in
participants' homes has proven very successful."
-Breaking the Cycle
For more information:
Let's Talk
Breaking the Cycle
Alice Leibowitz
30 Arbor Street
Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: 860/236-4872
Fax: 860/232-8321
E-mail: alicel@pariskygroup.com
Web site: http://www.teenpregnancyhartford.org
Plain Talk for Parents
Organization: Neighborhood House, Seattle, WA
Original Target Audience: Parents/caregivers of young people in grades
four through 12 in White Center, WA
Language: Materials and sessions available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese,
and Cambodian
Striving to reduce adolescent sexual risk-taking and pregnancy,
Plain Talk, a neighborhood-based initiative, helps parents, caregivers,
and community leaders develop skills and tools to effectively
communicate with young people (click here for information about this evaluated program). Launched by The
Annie E. Casey Foundation in 1993, this initiative was implemented in
five urban communities: Mechanicsville in Atlanta, GA; Logan
Heights in San Diego, CA; White Center in Seattle,WA; St.
Thomas in New Orleans, LA; and Stowe Village in Hartford, CT.
Using the same principles, each site had one year to plan and
three years to implement an initiative specific to its community.
"The basic premise is the same for all [the Plain Talk sites]. It's
really important that parents and kids share the information, get
educated, become empowered [and] get organized in their
communities. . .and if they do, they can make a difference," says
Melba Hill Pascha of the Plain Talk Atlanta Advisory Council.1
Plain Talk for Parents, a curriculum implemented in 1995 by the
Seattle site, believes that parents and caregivers are the best people to
teach their children about sexuality. The program is designed to
support family dialogue as young people progress from grades
four through 12.
The four-part series focuses on character education and helps
parents and caregivers talk with their children in a nonjudgmental
way. Class topics include dating, sexuality, media, health, STDs, and
decision-making.
Through workshop activities and role-playing, participants learn
to reflect on their attitudes and begin to incorporate sexuality
education at home. At the end of each session, parents and caregivers
receive homework assignments to complete with their children.
Parents also receive excerpts from age-appropriate sexuality education
curricula and are sometimes given handouts from the local
school's sexuality education curricula for discussions at home and
at school.
"Parents know how to produce kids," says Nary Suon, an immigrant
from Cambodia who was hired by Plain Talk, White Center, to
serve as an outreach worker to the Southeast Asian community
members of this small, quiet "village" in Seattle,WA. "But they
need education to protect them. If you want to help kids, you
must put more services in the community, more parenting classes, and
more ways to help families."2
One Cambodian mother named Yany, who completed the program,
explained, "I was taught to be shy about my body. It is my custom. . .
but now I can explain things to my kids. I can talk, you know."3
For more information:
Plain Talk for Parents
Neighborhood House
Howard Martin, Area Manager
10041 6th Avenue, S.W.
Seattle,WA 98146
Phone: 206/461-4554
Fax: 206/767-7671
E-mail: howardm@nhwa.org
Web site: http://www.nhwa.org
Project Families Together
Organization: Vietnamese Community of Orange County, Inc.,
Westminster, CA
Original Target Audience: Vietnamese American young people, parents, and
caregivers in Orange County, CA
Language: Materials and sessions available in English and Vietnamese
Project Families Together, implemented in 1996, is a project of the
Vietnamese Community of Orange County, Inc. Intended to delay
the initiation of sexual activity and reduce the rate of teen pregnancy
in the Vietnamese American community in Orange County, the
initiative includes a free after-school program for young people
ages 10 to 18, counseling for teens at risk and their parents, and a
component specifically for parents.
To help build the bridge between parents and children with different
acculturation levels, Project Families Together provides workshops
for parents on talking with their children about a host of issues,
including sexuality. In addition, the project offers bilingual/bicultural
resource materials and referral guides to complement the
workshops, including brochures on sexuality, HIV/AIDS, and
homosexuality. There is also a staff member who regularly translates
English-language research materials and data on topics related to
teen pregnancy prevention from mainstream media into
Vietnamese to help parents understand the world that their
children navigate.
For more information:
Project Families Together
Vietnamese Community of Orange County, Inc.
Michelle Bui
14541 Brookhurst Street, Suite C9
Westminster, CA 92683
Phone: 714/839-4441
Fax: 714/839-6668
E-mail: vncocyouth@aol.com
Web site: http://www.vncoc.org
Project Straight Talk
Organization: Inwood House, New York, NY
Original Target Audience: African American and Latino fifth grade boys in
the local urban community
Language: Materials and sessions in English; parent materials in English
and Spanish
Funded through New York State's Abstinence Education and
Promotion Initiative, Inwood House's Project Straight Talk,
operating since March 1999, is a school-based project located
in District 12 at Community School 198 in the Morrisania
section of the Bronx, New York City.
Tailored for fifth-grade boys, this project includes several core
components-weekly small group discussions, individual counseling,
after-school activities, parent workshops, parent-child events to
strengthen family communication, summer camp, and a community
advisory committee established to support the program's goals
and objectives.
Reflecting Inwood House's mission, this project provides participants
with information and skills to resist peer pressure, make responsible
decisions about sexual involvement, avoid too-early parenthood
and other risky behaviors, and lead independent and
productive lives.
At the beginning of each school semester, 30 fifth grade boys are
identified by project staff and school faculty and invited to participate
in Project Straight Talk. Boys who obtain parental consent join a
small group of eight to 10 students that meet weekly throughout
the semester.
Led by a male facilitator, these groups discuss a variety of topics
in an age-appropriate context. Sexuality-related topics include
puberty; human sexual growth; the importance of abstinence and
postponing sexual involvement; HIV/AIDS prevention; social, cultural,
peer, and media pressures; gender stereotypes; respect; success in
school; and communicating with parents and caregivers.
Creating a supportive peer group, the program reinforces and
clarifies values, helping boys build confidence in their ability to
make healthy decisions.
In an effort to empower parents and caregivers to help each
other with the difficult issues related to their sons' sexual
development and/or risk-taking behavior, parents/caregivers of
the boys participating in the project are invited to attend two
consecutive information sessions held during evening hours.
Eight to 10 parents/caregivers attend each workshop cycle and
continue to support each other throughout the year.
Serving a minimum of 30 parents and caregivers annually, this
program is conducted in three cycles during the Fall and Spring
semesters. Parents receive a small stipend for participating. They
are recruited by phone, home visits, mailings, and presentations at
parent association gatherings.
In addition, four parent-child events are held throughout the year
to bring Project Straight Talk participants together. These include
special holiday or cultural celebrations that are observed in the
community, sports events, picnics, and an overnight retreat.
A six-week summer camp is held in July and August to introduce
incoming fifth graders and their parents/caregivers to Project
Straight Talk. Educational, recreational, and cultural activities are
provided for participants and their families.
Finally, a community advisory committee comprised of school
staff, parents, and concerned community leaders meets quarterly
to review the project's progress in meeting its goals and identify
neighborhood resources to support Project Straight Talk.
In Spring 2001, a preliminary post-test evaluation was administered
to participating fifth grade boys. In addition, twelve Project Straight
Talk parents also participated in a focus group. Subsequent evaluations
will include pre-/post-test and long-term follow-up surveys.
Project Straight Talk
"When working in a school, project staff must meet with key
stakeholders to gain their support prior to starting the program.
This has worked well. Project staff first met with the principal and
guidance counselor, then made presentations to the parents on the
school leadership team, and finally gained approval through
the District Superintendent's office."
-Inwood House
For more information:
Project Straight Talk
C. S. 198
Douglas Watterson, Project Coordinator
1180 Tinton Avenue, Room 403AA
Bronx, NY 10456
Phone: 718/378-3483
Fax: 718/378-3909
E-mail: pstraighttalk@aol.com
Inwood House
Pat Maloney
320 East 82nd Street
New York, NY, 10028
Phone: 212/861-4400, extension 222
Fax: 212/535-3775
E-mail: pmaloney@inwoodhouse.com
Web site: http://www.inwoodhouse.com
References
- The Annie E. Casey Foundation, "Plain Talk: The Story of a
Community-Based Strategy to Reduce Teen Pregnancy"
(Baltimore: MD,The Annie E. Casey Foundation, 1998).
- Ibid.; Sexuality Information and Education Council of the
United States (SIECUS), "Where Parents and Caregivers Can Find
Help," SIECUS Report, 2001, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 12-13.
- SIECUS, "Where Parents and Caregivers Can Find Help,"
pp. 12-13.
