Health education
Primary prevention -- health education and supportive counseling - has the highest potential for lowering unplanned pregnancies, as well as the risk of STIs. We build our educational services around research-based, best practice recommendations from The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy and Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States. These recommendations include:
- Provide comprehensive sexuality education that includes information about contraception and abstinence as important components of a complete education
- Deliver and consistently reinforce consistent, clear messages about abstaining from sexual activity and/or to use methods of protection against pregnancy and STIs
- Provide basic, accurate information about the risks of teen sexual activity and about ways to avoid intercourse
WSTC Educators made over 16,000 contacts in over 750 presentations held in area schools and other community locations. Topics include healthy adolescent development, communication skills, all methods of contraception including abstinence and emergency contraception, puberty, resources in the area where adolescents can obtain family planning services, sexual decision making, sexually transmitted infections, and teen pregnancy. Because of the unique learning styles of youth, our sessions include teaching methods and activities that address social pressures influencing sexual behavior; involve participants with role playing, hands-on activities and team challenges; use examples and illustrations that allow participants to personalize the information, and provide examples of and practice with communication, negotiation, and refusal skills. Please call our education department for more details at 952-474-3251.