UMass Chan Affiliations
Graduate School of NursingDocument Type
PosterPublication Date
2016-04-19Keywords
sex educationsexual health
adolescent health
Community Health and Preventive Medicine
Gender and Sexuality
Nursing
Public Health Education and Promotion
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Show full item recordAbstract
Like many public school systems across the country, cuts to funding have impacted the availability of sexual health education for youth in Barre, Massachusetts. Barre Family Health Center, a federally qualified community health center, in partnership with students from University of Massachusetts Medical School are attempting to fill the gap with Girl Talk!, a curriculum developed to promote empowerment, self-awareness and health to youth. Girl Talk! is a 10 week program for girls ages 10 to 12, focusing on sexual health while also promoting self-esteem, safety & communication through dynamic activities. We evaluated the efficacy of the program using qualitative interviews with participants and their parents. Based on initial data from the inaugural session, several topics have been added to the curriculum including bullying, self-harm, safe social media use, and eating disorders. We have also begun conducting a needs assessment for building a program to include boys, called Guy Talk!. This curriculum will parallel Girl Talk! with particular attention to the needs that boys have surrounding sexual health. To reach more of the community and make sexual health information more available to youth, we have developed a multi-faceted approach by building a partnership with the local high school, parents, and student groups. We feel this comprehensive approach to sexual health promotion in the community, which connects the local health center, high school, and youth is both sustainable and essential for the health of individuals, families, and community.DOI
10.13028/kt57-4q76Permanent Link to this Item
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/34534Notes
Presented during a Graduate School of Nursing poster session at UMass Medical School on April 19, 2016.
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Copyright is held by the author, with all rights reserved.ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.13028/kt57-4q76
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