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Hundreds Hear About Abstinence At Community Event

Issue

Educators for Heritage Community Services, teach abstinence education to adolescent male students in the Lowcountry. Two educators were given an opportunity to reach out to adolescent males in a different setting at an event held to benefit families and individuals in the community.  Some of these young men had families with them that stress sexual abstinence as a result of their faith, however other young men were not accompanied by a family member and expressed that they are not completely sold that practicing abstinence is the healthiest and best decision they could make right now.

Due to young men not believing that the practice of sexual abstinence is the healthiest lifestyle choice they will make, they face a very high risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI).  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that from 2004 to 2008, increases in gonorrhea rates were seen among 15- to 24- year olds (7.4% among those 15 to 19 years of age and 5.3% among those 20 to 24 years of age), and that in 2008, gonorrhea rates continued to be highest among adolescents and young adults.

Intervention

Heritage Community Services wants to make teens aware and help them avoid the consequences of sexual activity outside of marriage. Therefore, Heritage partnered with the community event to stress the importance of choosing sexual abstinence by communicating the principals of the Heritage Keepers Abstinence Education curriculum to the young men in attendance.

The following was presented to the young men attending the event:

• Developing a personal S.A.F.E. plan (State boundaries, Avoid danger, Firmly Say ‘No’, and Exit) to prepare for compromising situations.
• Explain the definition of abstinence and secondary abstinence.
• Explain the risks involved with sexual activity outside of marriage.
• Discuss the benefits of marriage and healthy families

Impact

Upon the conclusion of the event, many of the young men in attendance began to understand the risks involved with sexual activity outside of marriage.  These young men expressed their understanding that sexual abstinence is the healthiest and best decision they can make, which they will benefit from in the future.

At a 12 month follow-up, research has shown that students who participate in the Heritage Keepers^® Abstinence Education program, initiate sex at a rate half that of similar non-program students.

Contact
Heritage Community Services, 1757 Clements Ferry Road, Suite A, Charleston, SC 29492
(843) 654-7740 ext 119. Heritage@HeritageServices.org