Union program helps students make better choices, prevent pregnancies

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Read past stories and find resources related to teen pregnancy.

Related Story: Union could become top Carrera model

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They talk about their new savings accounts started with $50. They mention field trips to the University of Tulsa and space center. They recount the specifics of what makes a bully and steps they use to get along with family and friends.

But the prevention program also includes a sex education component, which bucks the trend in Oklahoma schools.

"It's a regular thing and it's going to happen one day, so why not talk about it?" said 13-year-old Tyler Oates. "People act like it's a big deal, and it's not."

The class is an effort to help educate students in a state with teen birth rates that have historically been among the top in the nation, according to the National Vital Statistics and Centers for Disease Control. Oklahoma stands at No. 5 in births among those 15-19 and No. 2 among 18-to-19-year-olds.

One of the girls in the class, who was embarrassed to give her name, said she would rather focus on her books or bank account.

"It's gross to talk about body parts, and it made me uncomfortable," she said. "I know it's going to happen. I just don't want to talk about it."

Both said no one outside the school has spoken to them about puberty, body changes or how they may start to have different feelings about others.

"It was a surprise, but it didn't make me feel uncomfortable or weird," said 12-year-old Raven Washington. "It's good to talk about it so we know what to expect. Boys may make us cry or break our hearts. But at least we know why now."

The Carrera Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program was created in 1984 as an after-school program in New York City.

It is a scientifically proven program located in 12 states reaching 3,500 students. Union's program, which began last November, is the largest of its 25 national programs.

Schools 'fear' sex ed

Traditionally, Oklahoma public schools have steered clear of sex education outside of abstinence-only programs.

In 2007, a congressional study of abstinence-only programs concluded they did not keep teenagers from having sex or influence condom use. About $1.3 billion in tax money was spent on the programs during a 10-to-15-year period, according to a variety of studies and government officials.

"The good news is that abstinence-based programs did not increase pregnancy, but it didn't do anything to improve statistics," said Alice Blue, fidelity manager of the Carrera grant. "But we've spent a lot of money without seeing good outcomes."

Schools have always had some fear of sex-education programs, Blue said, "but parents want it. Parents want their children to be literate about everything. They want them to know more, not less. They want them to be prepared."

Rather than focus exclusively on sex education, Carrera puts an equal focus on providing medical care, financial literacy, job planning, academic mentoring, fine arts and sports. Partnerships have been created for access to features including health care, field trips and speakers.

"It's another piece of the puzzle that evidence shows makes the difference," Blue said. "No one knows what is being prevented in a prevention program. But when you think about why teenagers don't get pregnant, it's because they have goals. They have things they want to do before having children."

Carrera costs between $2,500 and $3,000 per student, making it difficult to implement on a large scale. The cost for the first years are more expensive and go down as more students are added to the program, Blue said.

The Union program is a three-year initiative funded by a federal grant, the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, Tulsa's George Kaiser Family Foundation and Union's schools.

The Children's Aid Society will direct the federal and Edna McConnell Clark Foundation grants.

Union is the only school with the Carrera program not able to offer it to all students. It has slots for 220 per class and will add a class each year. Union has at least 1,000 students in each of its middle-school classes.

"If I had to figure out who really needs it, I'd say at least 99 percent of students out there," Blue said. "We wish we could have all students participate, but it's just not feasible yet."

Program focuses on self-image

Last year, Union recruited students in the sixth grade as the inaugural class.

This year, the number of applications from parents wanting to get their children into Carrera doubled and a waiting list has been created. A student can also be referred by a teacher, principal or counselor.

There is no set criteria for acceptance, but administrators give preference to students who may have anxiety or other social stressors, said program director Kelly Brassfield. No student is ever expelled from the program.

"Just like our district, the students in our program are a melting pot of our community," Brassfield said. "The students in Carrera mirror the overall student body. We want our students to realize they are setting the tone for the building, like they are getting a scholarship. We want students to realize this is worth it."

Carrera is an elective, with teachers rotating throughout the week. The Carrera teachers are required to have a master's-level degree in the area they instruct and stay with the class as students are promoted.

"We are focusing on self-image at this age so they feel good about themselves and their bodies," said Dayana Paula, who teaches seventh grade family life/sex education. "The way kids feel about themselves impacts the choices they make."

Brassfield said high-stakes testing has led to rigorous and rigid curriculum development.

"Educators would love to stop their math lesson to talk about situations right in front of them, but they can't do that," Brassfield said. "With Carrera, we can stop and take a breath in a non-education area and ask what is going on.

"It gives leeway for students to develop personal growth and character building. I think every school wishes they could provide this for students."

Students focus on life skills

Many of the seventh-graders said Power Group is one of their favorite classes. It is designed to cover mental health.

"It's about handling relationships, whether that be with siblings, parents or friends," Brassfield said. "These are lessons that will help them navigate through life, and some things even adults have a hard time with."

In a class last week, students were asked about what specific behavior goals they had for themselves this year.

Thirteen-year-old Trinity Wallace said she wants to stop gossiping with and about her friends.

"If they try to say something, I'll say, 'no, no, no.' And I'll try not to be childish," Wallace said.

Last year, Raven Washington said Power Group made her see her actions as possible bullying.

"I used to ask people to carry my notebook to my classes," she said. "My teacher saw that and said it was bullying. She taught me that if someone didn't want to do it, then I needed to do something different. She taught me what to do. This year, I just go to my locker and get my own notebook each hour."

The program will be introducing sports such as golf as life-long activities. Incorporating knowledge of the arts is part of the program. Family events such as attending football games and picnics are planned for students.

Job Club is a component that includes work readiness and financial literacy.

As part of that class, students were each given $50 from a local foundation to start savings accounts. In total, the accounts now have about $20,000.

Teacher Brent Rempe said students have access to their accounts to spend as they want.

"We've found there is a peer pressure in savings," Rempe said. "Those who have more money will encourage or help those with low accounts save more."

But some students have wrestled with whether to use it for household expenses.

"I know a few students who have used their money to help their families pay different bills," Rempe said. "When I hear that, I help connect them with community resources. But I know students facing that decision."

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School sex-education programs

Union Superintendent Cathy Burden said Carrera was sought for its statistically sound outcomes and wrap-around services, which are in line philosophically with the district's community school concept.

School officials also mention the state's decades-long reputation for ranking high in the U.S. teen birth rates.

"I'm hoping other school districts will begin at the elementary level to focus on the whole student and engage the whole family," Burden said. "Other schools and districts are coming to look at our community schools model and are seeing it can persist through education. We hope to be a lighthouse for districts across the state."

Union is considered a trailblazer by local social service and prevention advocates for its implementation of Carrera.

Most districts report having sex education programs only in alternative schools or for specific, permission-only classes. Also, some districts offer only an abstinence-based curriculum.

Union Associate Superintendent Kirt Hartzler said the district is dedicated to showing the effectiveness of these types of comprehensive prevention programs.

"This can be a game changer in education," Hartzler said. "This is something we better pay attention to when you look at the data of teen pregnancy."

Last spring, more than 1,000 students in the Jenks, Sand Springs and Union districts participated in the Tulsa City-County Health Department's Personal Responsibility Education Program, or PREP.

The Tulsa Public Schools district integrated the Health Department's program into its summer school for high school students at three sites. The program was voluntary and required parental consent.

The district does not have a sex education program.

Based on results from the summer program, TPS has formed a committee with parents and students to review and possibly recommend a teen pregnancy prevention program for middle and high schools.

"We have evaluations of the sex education program which indicate that this was very well received by students," said Assistant Superintendent Verna Ruffin.

- GINNIE GRAHAM, World Staff Writer

Original Print Headline: Pregnancy prevention

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Ginnie Graham 918-581-8376
ginnie.graham@tulsaworld.com

Source: http://www.tulsaworld.com/site/articlepath.aspx?articleid=20120923_11_A1_CUTLIN354546&rss_lnk=1

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