RESOURCES FOR PROVIDING
ABSTINENCE EDUCATION
Postponing Sexual Involvement
is used internationally.
Photo above: The National PSI Director from New Zealand along with her husband
and Teen Services Program staff members.
Postponing Sexual Involvement
Postponing Sexual Involvement is one of the most widely used abstinence education programs in the United States. It consists of a series of skill-building programs designed to help youth ages 10-17 manage social and peer pressures that might lead to sexual involvement
Each of the three Postponing Sexual Involvement Educational Series targets a different age group. The program is approved by federal and state governments.
A parent series accompanies the preteen and young teen levels.
Postponing Sexual Involvement Educational Series for 10-12 year olds (5th and 6th grades). Focuses on handling curiosity about sex in a healthy way, teaches refusal skills when confronted with pressures to put themselves at risk. |
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Postponing Sexual Involvement Helps parents learn to talk to their children about handling curiosity about sex and pressures to experiment. Stresses ongoing communication and setting clear limits. |
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| Postponing Sexual Involvement Educational Series for 12 -14 year olds (7th and 8th grades). Teens assess the risks of sexual involvement and how to handle social and peer pressures. Teaches assertiveness skills and provides practice of skills in common problem situations. Emphasizes setting “stopping points” when physically showing affection. |
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Postponing Sexual Involvement Parents identify social and peer pressures that teens experience with respect to sex and common problem situations. A communication questionnaire enables parents to assess how they communicate with their teens and ways to improve communication. |
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Postponing Sexual Involvement Educational Series for 15-17 year olds (9th and 10th grades). Helps teens explore issues such as date rape and abuse in relationships as well as building healthy relationships. Communication skills are taught. |
Managing Pressures Before Marriage
Managing Pressures Before Marriage is an adaptation of the Postponing Sexual Involvement Educational Series. The program meets each of the eight guidelines that some Federal and State funding agencies require. Managing Pressures gives a consistent message that preteens and teens should avoid sexual involvement until they married.
Each of the three Managing Pressures Before Marriage Educational Series targets a different age group. The program is approved by federal and state governments.
A parent series accompanies the preteen and young teen levels.
Managing Pressures Before Marriage Focuses on handling curiosity about sex in a healthy positive way. Explores becoming a man or a woman. Teaches refusal skills and how to handle peer pressures commonly experienced by preteens. |
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| Managing Pressures Before Marriage Helps parents reinforce messages and skills that enable students to avoid sexual involvement before marriage. Focuses on handling curiosity and avoiding situations that lead to temptation. Parents role play situations preteens may face. |
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| Managing Pressures Before Marriage Educational Series for 12-14 year olds (7th and 8th grades). Enables teens to determine appropriate stopping points and communicate firmly about the desire to wait until married before having sex. Teaches skills such as “self-talk.” |
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Managing Pressures Before Marriage Reinforces the importance of communicating values and beliefs. Teaches assertiveness techniques for saying no that parents can share with their children. Also helps parents assess their communication style and gives helpful hints for talking with children. |
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Managing Pressures Before Marriage Educational Series for 15-17 year olds (9th and 10th grades). Helps teens understand that saying no to sex does not mean saying no to the relationship but just how feelings are physically shown. Teaches assertiveness skills and use of “I” statements. |
Media Madness
An innovative curriculum that blends media literacy and health education to provide the “missing piece” in abstinence education. Regardless of initial success, the lasting effects of abstinence programs are likely to be severely undermined unless young people can be given a healthy dose of skepticism. The Media Madness program can be used to enhance or reinforce existing abstinence programs. It can also be used as a stand-alone program.
| Media Madness Helps middle school students understand how the media can influence their sexual actions and behaviors. Teaches skills that enable young teens to reject negative media messages even when they are being echoed by their peers. |
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| Media Madness Parents are helped to mentor their children in relation to the media. They learn how media techniques can fool young people into accepting the media’s version of reality. Parents increase their ability to communicate effectively with their child about sexual messages coming from media. |
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| Training Teen Leaders Enables adults to teach teen leaders basic leadership skills and classroom management techniques that ensure successful classroom presentations. Teens have an opportunity to practice their new skill set using the Postponing Sexual Involvement curriculum. |
Emory University