Curriculum
Currently, the state of Oklahoma has the second highest teen birth rate in the nation.
Additionally, Oklahoma County has the highest number of teen births in our state. However, national research tells us that one of the ways to decrease the teen birth rate is through providing high-quality, developmentally-appropriate, medically-accurate sex education.
We believe that sex education is important and is something that all young people should learn so that they can make the best decisions possible when it comes to their health. Learning about sex, anatomy, abstinence, contraceptives and relationships are valuable tools that will carry throughout life, not just in middle and high school.
The Central Oklahoma Teen Pregnancy Prevention Collaboration currently uses Evidence-Based Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) programs for curricula in schools. Evidence-based TPP programs have been shown to have a positive impact on preventing teen pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, or sexual risk behaviors. The programs we use discuss both abstinence and contraception as viable ways to reduce risk of unplanned pregnancy and STIs, in a medically-accurate and developmentally-focused context.
Our health educator team presents programs in partnership with multiple schools in Oklahoma County, but are concentrated mainly in the Oklahoma City Public Schools district. Our age-appropriate curricula ranges from 6th grade to 12th grade, and our goal is always delivering with quality and fidelity to the evidence-based model.
Want to get your school involved in sex-education? Contact Thrive for more info--we’d be happy to talk with you!
Evidence-Based Programs
Making a Difference! (MAD): 8-module curriculum that provides young adolescents with the knowledge, confidence and skills necessary to reduce their risk of sexually transmitted diseases, HIV and pregnancy by abstaining from sex. The program’s goal is to empower young adolescents to change their behavior in ways that will reduce their risk of pregnancy, HIV and other STD infection. The curriculum emphasizes that young adolescents should postpone sexual activity and that practicing abstinence is the only way to eliminate the risk for pregnancy and STDs, including HIV.
MPC Making Positive Choices! (MPC): 8-module curriculum that provides adolescents with the knowledge, confidence and skills necessary to reduce their risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), HIV and pregnancy by abstaining from sex or using condoms if they choose to have sex.
Positive Prevention PLUS: A comprehensive evidence-based sexual health and teen pregnancy prevention curriculum for grades 7-12. These lessons were created to reduce the risk of becoming infected with HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and also to reduce the risk of an unplanned pregnancy.
Love Notes: Shows young adults how to make wise choices about relationships, partners, sex, pregnancy and more. The lessons integrate relationship skills with pregnancy prevention and other strategies for positive change. Rather than focusing on what to avoid, the course builds assets and appeals to inspirations. It offers new frameworks for decision making, along with untapped sources of motivation.
Get Real: Emphasizes social and emotional skills as a key component of healthy relationships and responsible decision making. Information provided is medically accurate, age-appropriate and is shown to:
- Delay sex among middle school students
- Empower parents to be the primary sexuality educators of their children and help their kids delay sex
- Reinforce family communication and improve communication skills for health relationships