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Program Description

An eight to ten-hour comprehensive sexuality education curriculum designed to reduce teen pregnancy, HIV/STD rates in our community. Provided by a trained health education specialist, in health or biology classes (7th – 12th grade).

The Teen Talk curriculum is medically accurate and free of racial and ethnic bias and addresses human development, relationships, sexual health, sexual behavior and personal skill development. It covers all topics from abstinence through contraception and STD/HIV.

The curriculum meets the California Education Code (Ed Codes 51930-51939) and the newly adopted Health Education Content Standards for California Public Schools, within the Growth, Development, and Sexual Health area for 7th – 12th graders.

The Teen Talk curriculum incorporates many different types of activities and allows trained health educators to pick from a variety of ways to meet the stated objectives from each of the nine subject areas;

1. Teen Talk complies with California Education Code (51930-51939).
2. All health education specialists possess knowledge of the most recent medically accurate research on human sexuality, pregnancy, and STDs.
3. Instruction and materials are age appropriate and medically accurate as defined by education code 51931.
4. Meets the Health Education Content Standards for California Public Schools.
5. Is available in English and Spanish.
6. Is appropriate for use with students of all races, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and pupils with disabilities.
7. Does not teach or promote religious doctrine.
8. Is free from promoting bias against any person on the basis of sex, ethnic group identification, race, national origin, religion, color or mental or physical disability.
9. Encourages students to communicate with their parents/guardians about human sexuality.
10. Instruction and materials teach respect for marriage and committed relationships.
11. All materials used for instruction are available for review.

Teen Talk uses several methods of evaluating its effect on the student. Knowledge increase is measured by a pre- and post-test which cover Teen Talk topics and asks students to name two clinics where they can obtain reproductive health services. We also ask students and teachers to provide a program assessment at the end of each series.

In the 2005-2006 school year, Teen Talk served over 3500 students at 23 schools (schools served) throughout the County. The program has been evaluated and been found to be successful in improving knowledge, increasing communication with parents, and encouraging attitudes consistent with choosing not to engage in sexual intercourse.