PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Worth the Wait's success is largely due to our Community Saturation Model debuted in Pampa, Texas. The model is a research-based, multi-disciplinary approach utilizing widely accepted theories from the fields of psychology, education, sociology, and marketing. The model utilizes the following strategies and interventions: school implementation of abstinence education curricula, student extra-curricular activities, parent education, community involvement activities and educational programs, social marketing via an award-winning media campaign, and professional staff development activities.
Staff development is provided to teachers and school administrators in participating sites on an annual basis. Yearly staff development is valuable in changing the social expectations regarding early teen sexual activity as well as providing information regarding the philosophy and goals of risk avoidance messages promoted by WTW. Educators can encourage teens to avoid risk-behaviors and foster a connection to school.
Curriculum training is provided to teachers providing direct classroom instruction of the program as well as to volunteer medical and community speakers on an annual or as needed basis.
Parent education programs are provided and are also open to the public. Overviews of curricula and student surveys are presented as well as a variety of educational topics related to promoting conversation between parents and teens and helping their teens avoid involvement in risk behaviors.
Parent newsletters are distributed quarterly to parents of all middle school and high school students in participating schools. Parents are targeted as the primary instructors of their children. It is important to enlist parents as partners, as they play a key role in encouraging young people to avoid early pregnancy and stay in school. Parental expectations and attitudes toward teen sexuality are a highly significant factor in teens actual sexual behavior. Parent and family connectedness is a major protective factor deterring teen's sexual activity and pregnancy. (Reducing the Risks: Connections that make a difference in the lives of youth. Journal of the American Medical Association, September 1997).
Curricula are implemented into core classes in grades 6, 7, and 8 as well as in selected high school classes. Approximately eight to ten lessons per grade level per year are taught by teachers, volunteer nurses, physicians, and community youth leaders who have attended curriculum training. Some of the topics covered are: peer pressure, goal setting; communication; relationship skills, decision-making; dating and marriage; human sexuality, anatomy and reproduction; pregnancy and childbirth; sexually transmitted diseases; influences on sexual decision making; emotional, psychological, and physical consequences of teen sexual activity; effects of drug and alcohol use on decision-making and sexual activity; and refusal skills. Strong emphasis is placed on the importance of education and the life skills necessary to carry out good decisions. Focus is on the whole person, including the intellectual, physical, emotional, and social aspects. Curricula utilized are medically accurate and developmentally appropriate.
Student assemblies are held annually. Professional, highly motivational speakers are contracted to make presentations. These speakers provide students with desirable role models, provide momentum for the program as well as support and affirmation for teens choosing this lifestyle. Student assemblies are very effective enhancement activities when combined with classroom presentations.
Presentations are also given to church groups and various civic, community, and professional organizations. This is important in recruitment of volunteers as well as building community awareness of the scope of the problem of teen pregnancy, trends,and research as well as building support for the program.
Program evaluation is conducted in partnership with Baylor University on an annual basis via a baseline student survey, followed by pre- and post- surveys as well as mail-out parent and teacher surveys. Results from research and evaluation of Worth the Wait by Baylor University are showing promising results. Significant impact in knowledge, attitudes and intentions toward abstinence are documented. Students who have participated in multiple WTW programs beginning at an early age exhibit a significantly lower rate of sexual initiation than non-participating students. Program participants have also shown an increase in self-esteem measurements. According to Texas Department of Health statistics, the teen pregnancy rate (ages 13-17) in Gray County decreased an impressive 53% in Gray County, WTW's original implementation site.
This interactive website serves as a resource for parents, adults, and teens to access up-to-date information on STDs, teen pregnancy, communicating with teens, current youth culture, pro-abstinence entertainers and role models.
WTW's utilizes the award winning Waiting Teen Media
Campaign is a powerful tool in further saturating the
entire Panhandle area with the aggressive, research-based social
marketing campaign to promote abstinence until marriage.
The original goal of the campaign was to educate the community
regarding the seriousness of teen pregnancy, and generating
community concern and involvement. Subsequent goals are
for parents to begin to dialogue with their children, and for
teens to develop a true understanding of the realities of sex
and pregnancy which are not accurately portrayed in the media
that saturates their world. Recent results from our media evaluation
indicate that teens in the program with the highest media recall
rates also show positive attitudes and intentions to remain
abstinent. A professional media consultant provides expertise
in determining media buys and targeted groups. www.waitingteen.com
WTW's Teen Advisory Council involves area teenagers in the evaluation, creative, and developmental processes of Worth the Wait. Specifically, the goal of TAC is to gauge area teens' perception of Worth the Wait and to create a "hip" image with those teens.
Worth the Wait's Teen Advisory Council (TAC) tries to harness some of the intense energy of the Millennial Generation by involving area teens in the evaluation, creative, and developmental processes of Worth the Wait. This avenue allows WTW to reach and interact with teens and to receive guidance from a diverse group of adolescents on topical issues affecting their lives.
WTW is available for consulting services for abstinence education to schools and communities across the country. |
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