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Student Posts Lesson on Facebook Page

Issue

An educator for Heritage Community Services teaches abstinence education to adolescent female students in the LowCountry of SC. Many of these students are sexually active, or have been sexually active in the past, and are not aware of the benefits of abstaining from sexual activity until marriage. Many of these students are considered at risk and are living in single parent homes.

Despite the fact that the students at one Lowcountry school are considered at risk the educator has always found the students to be very receptive to the concept of abstinence. Even though a lot of the students have never been encouraged to be abstinent until marriage, they warm up to the idea very easily. They are appreciative when someone comes along who believes in them. These students are at a critical stage in their lives. They are making choices that will determine whether or not they may become a statistic. According to a report from SCDHEC in 2008, 89% of all cases of Chlamydia and 82% of all cases of Gonorrhea in South Carolina occurred in those under age 29 who were sexually active.

Intervention

Heritage Community Services wants to help these teens avoid the consequences of sexual activity outside of marriage. Using funds provided by Title V, DHEC, Heritage partners with Lowcountry schools to teach their abstinence education curriculum.

Activities include:

• Have students identify their values and goals, compare and contrast the physical, emotional risks and consequences of sexual activity with their values and goals.
• Provide medically accurate information on sexually transmitted infections and diseases.
• Present evidence that sex within the boundary of marriage is the best sex.
• Have students create personal boundaries, role play with students about how to abstain from sexual activity role play and avoid risk.

Impact

It is at the schools that a lot of people consider beyond reach that the educator enjoys teaching the most. These students may not understand the benefits of abstinence on Day 1, but very easily they become engaged and ready to listen to what is being taught to them. In fact on the last day, one of the students informed the class during a review of the marriage lesson that she had posted about it on her Facebook page. Her friends started commenting about it and a discussion ensued. The educator was touched to learn that this student had embraced the message so much that she was promoting it to her friends on Facebook.

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