Heritage Keepers^® Programs

Healthy Relationships and Marriage Education

Community Capacity Building

Technical Assistance and Training Opportunities

Research-based Theory and Methodology

• Suggested Reading

Testimonials

Success Stories

South Carolina Healthy Family Formation Coalition

FAQ - Curricula

FAQ - Adults

FAQ - Parents

No Regrets

Issue

The Heritage educator was in the final moments of a class serving an upstate middle school. “I am going to make you all a promise” she said. With each child leaning in to hear, she looked each one of them in the eye as she promised, “You will never regret walking away.” With STDs affecting one in four girls aged 15-19, not to mention the emotional risks of sex outside of marriage, she knew countless young people have regretted not walking away. Learning to avoid and exit risky situations (regarding sex or other risky behaviors) was critical to their future success. She hoped those words would echo in their minds for years to come.

As the class was leaving a student approached the educator. “You said that last year, too.” She said. She went on to explain that several times over the past year she had encountered risky circumstances. “I walked away” she said, “and you were right. I never regretted it.” Not only was this young girl free from unintended consequences of sex outside of marriage, she was actively building a habit of making wise judgments. The educator knew that this skill would not only keep her safe, but take her far in the years ahead.   

Intervention

Heritage Community Services developed The Heritage Method^® to increase the numbers of adolescents refraining from non-marital sexual activity.

• The Heritage Method^® complies with the US Congress’s A-H definition of abstinence education.
• The Heritage Method^® has two school-based components (Heritage Keepers^® Abstinence Education I & II and Heritage Keepers^® Life Skills I-V) and four community based components (Faith, Parent, Media, and Family Assets and Character Councils).
• The Heritage Method^® serves high schools, middle schools, and the communities around the state.
• The Heritage Method^® reaches adolescents and the adults who influence them.

Impact

The Heritage Method^®reduces the number of youth initiating sexual activity and suffering from harmful consequences like STDs.

• A year after Heritage Keepers^® Abstinence Education, students who participated in our program reported initiating sex at a rate half that of similar non-program students.
• The Upstate Heritage Community Service office serves over 3000 students and 500 parents each year.
• Students all receive the abstinence message each year with some additionally taking the Heritage Keepers^® Life Skills classes to keep them further on track.

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