Abstinence-based Education Grant Program
The Oklahoma Abstinence-based Education Grant Program provides funds through a competitive selection process to private non-profit, faith-based, or public organizations to provide programs to children in elementary school and middle school.
Programs targeting elementary schools
- promote positive youth development
- promote healthy behavior and clear standards for behavior
- build protective bonds between young people and the adults in their life
Programs targeting middle schools
- promote abstinence from sexual initiation
- promote avoidance of risky behaviors which may lead to sexual initiation, such as use/abuse of alcohol or drugs
- promote respect, responsibility, and decision making skills
- provide youth with skills for dealing with peer pressure
Programs may also provide
- mentoring - provide young people with safe and trusting relationships; healthy messages about life and social behavior; appropriate guidance from a positive adult role model; and opportunities for increased participation in education, civic service, and community activities
- counseling - guidance to individuals, families, groups, and communities by such activities as giving advice, delineating alternatives, helping to articulate goals, and providing needed information
- adult supervision - monitoring and assistance provided to support positive developmental, structured activities
The Oklahoma Abstinence-based Education Grant Program also promotes that parents are the primary sexual health educators of their children.
How to Talk to Your Kids About Sex
How's a parent supposed to get it all in? Those talks about periods, breast development, how babies are made, those tiny, powerful sperm cells, body odor, hygiene, pimples, and the like. Oh yes, and then there's the talks about emotions, intimacy, values, responsibility, relationships and self-image! When do we start the conversations and when do we finish? Are they too young to talk to? Are they too old to talk to? Well, the easy answer is this: for as long as your child is a guest in your home, you'll need to be talking about sex and sexuality.
Read More. . .
Also remember that you may contact your County Health Department to speak with a Teen Pregnancy Prevention Health Educator about talking with your children and teens about sex.
See the Public Service Announcements
Helpful Books for Parents
- The Adolescent Brain: Reaching for Autonomy by Robert Sylwester
- The Big Talk Book by Bruce Cook
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