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1. Sex and the City: Developing a Comprehensive Sex Education Program for a VERY CONSERVATIVE ‘Abstinence Only’ CommunityDr. Linda Brice1, Dr. Elizabeth Trejos2, Kathleen McPherson3, Nancy Trevino2Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center – 1. School of Nursing; 3. School of Medicine Texas Tech University – 2. College of Human Sciences RESEARCH RESULTS FOR TEEN STRAIGHT TALK TEEN STRAIGHT TALK PROGRAM “Teen Straight Talk Sex Education Program Loses City of Lubbock Support” Lubbock’s Teen Straight Talk program had already printed 7,500 fliers advertising its next educational event when it learned the City of Lubbock wanted to be removed from the list of sponsors. The Lubbock Health Department notified Dr. Linda Brice, Teen Straight Talk Co-Founder, it would no longer sponsor the event, which focuses on teen issues and sex education. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal October 1, 2010 ABSTRACT . QUATITATIVE STUDY RESULTS Parental Attitudes:There was a significant difference in the scores for Parent Attitude Pre-test (M=3.22, SD=.79) and Parent Attitude Post-test (M=3.69, SD=.62) conditions. These results suggest that Teen Straight Talk really does have an effect on Parent Attitude. Parental Knowledge:There was a significant difference in the scores for Parent Knowledge Pre-test (M=3.25, SD=.67) and Parent Knowledge Post-test (M=3.69, SD=.45) conditions. These results suggest that Teen Straight Talk really does have an effect on Parent Knowledge. Parental Beliefs:There was not a significant difference in the scores for Parent Beliefs Pre-test (M=3.77, SD=.49) and Parent Beliefs Post-test (M=3.84, SD=.47) conditions; These results suggest that Teen Straight Talk does not have an effect on Parent Beliefs due to high beliefs at the pre-test. Texas has some of the highest rates in the country of teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs),low birth weight babies, preterm births, infant mortality, neonatal complications, along with child physical and sexual abuse. One West Texas community has also ranked as one of the highest in these categories in the State of Texas and subsequently in the United States. Many community health and educational leaders believe that one reason for these multiple health concerns was the requirement for teaching “abstinence only” education in the high schools, and no sexual education in the middle school. Teens and preteens were not learning about sex, protection (condoms), contraception, responsibilities & consequences of being sexually active, and many parents did not feel they were prepared to talk with their children about these topics. After many years of continued rising rates of these health concerns, increased tax dollars spent and lives of teens and their babies in turmoil, Health Care Professionals in Lubbock, Texas took action to start a comprehensive, community wide, sex education program for parents and their adolescents (Ages 10-18). The goal was to start a dialogue between parents, teens and even preteens and tweens on sexual health topics including: * Male/Female Anatomy * How the Body Works * What is an STD * Abstinence * Contraception & Proper Condom Use * The Responsibilities and Consequences of Being Sexually Active * How to Protect from Contracting an STD or Becoming Pregnant The Teen Straight Talk Program is a FREEprogram which is divided into two major parts. The first part of the program is presented by Texas Tech University Faculty, Graduate Students and professional counselors found in the Lubbock community and surrounding West Texas, and allows for open discussions on topics listed below that may lead to the high rate of teen problems such as depression, eating disorders, suicides, drug & alcohol abuse and sometimes teen pregnancies & STDs: * Teen Pressures * Dealing with Peer Pressures * Sexuality * Body Image & Good Nutrition * Self-Esteem * Depression & Suicide * Bullying * Question & Answer Time The second part of the Teen Straight Talk Program presents the “Big Decision,” which is a comprehensive sex education program provided by Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center OB/GYN Faulty and Residents, Medical Students, Nursing Faculty and Nursing Students. This program helps to open up the lines of communication by instructing with pictures, diagrams and dialogue, along with providing resource materials for adults and adolescents on topics: * Abstinence * Male & Female Anatomy * Sexual Responsibility & Consequences * Teen Pregnancy * Sexually Transmitted Diseases * Contraceptives & Protection (Proper Use of Condoms) * Community Resources * Question & Answer Time Figure 1. TST Parent Pre- and Post-Evaluation data. QUALITATIAVE STUDY RESULTS Qualitative Data: The parents’ responses from the paper surveys were typed exactly as they had printed them into a Word document by a research assistant and labeled with the individual respondents’ identifying number. There were four documents of which two are recorded below: “What was the most interesting information that you gained?”for this questions, there were a range from 4 to 11 themes found by the raters. The themes were collapsed into 4 grand themes: Information, Holistic Positive Experience, Statistics, and Open. “What Teen Straight Talk did well?” for this questions, there were a range from 3 to 8 themes found by the raters. The themes were collapsed into 3 grand themes: Information, All/Holistic Approach, and Organization. The Teen Straight Talk Board of Directors believe that it is very important to educate our adults and youth so they can sit down and communicate on these important topics, regardless of the Mayor and City Council’s lack of support for the program. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER AND WE WANT TO SHARE IT!!! Parents, teens and community members still wanted the comprehensive sex education even if the Lubbock City fathers were not going to support the Teen Straight Talk Program BACKGROUND “Texas Forgoes Federal Funds for Comprehensive Sex Ed” At the end of the summer, Texas quietly opted to forgo yet another pot of federal money – specifically, $4.4 million that would have gone toward educating youth on abstinence and contraception to prevent teen pregnancy…”the Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner made the final decision, and the Governor’s Office was part of that decision…” “This is yet another example of politics dominating policy…” “Unfortunately, this has hampered the state’s ability to access much needed funds to overcome very real challenges that our state is facing (High Teen Pregnancy and STD Rates.)” Texas Tribune, October 6, 2010 Our Teen Straight Talk Program was developed to help educate and inform adults and adolescents on important, yet sensitive topics, involving not only comprehensive sex education and how the body works, but also to assist our adolescents deal with many of the physical, emotional and social problems they deal with on a daily basis. Since we began this program we have educated over 2,500 adults and adolescents. The Teen Straight Talk Program is part of a dream that many organizations and individuals in this West Texas community have worked toward for a long time. It is a community based program supported by over 60 community organizations, businesses and individuals. This project is designed to be an “Ice Breaker” and open up a line of communication between parents, grandparents, foster parents, aunts, uncles, and community leaders to be able to talk to their teens, tweens and preteens. Figure 2. Most interesting information gained. Figure 3. What TST did well. Unfortunately, the political views of the State on sex education filter down to all the communities!!! Parents, teens and community members in class at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center