Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains Announces Debut of the Responsible Sex Education Institute
For Immediate Release: Jan. 30, 2014
Institute at the forefront of sexual health education
DENVER – Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains is pleased to announce the debut of the Responsible Sex Education Institute.
Since the 1980s, PPRM has been a leader in providing medically accurate, age-appropriate, and complete information about sexual health. While the Responsible Sex Education Institute gives PPRM’s Education department a new look and image, our educators will continue to provide the same quality education PPRM has been known for.
We teach and support evidence-based curricula supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Responsible Sex Education Institute also follows the recently released National Sexuality Education Standards, which provide educators with clear, consistent and straightforward guidance on the essential minimum core content for age-appropriate sexuality education.
“Our new name and brand speaks to our programs by more effectively describing the work our educators do each and every single day and by better defining our mission and values,” said Marie Logsden, vice president for community education, professional training and organizational diversity for PPRM.
The need for greater access to medically accurate, age-appropriate information is clear in the CDC’s 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey, which found that more than one-in-four 9th graders in Colorado has had sex. By 12th grade nearly 60 percent of youth reported having had sex and 36 percent of sexually active youth reported not using a condom during last sexual intercourse.
The CDC estimates that by age 25, one-in-two sexually active young people will contract a sexually transmitted disease. They also estimate that roughly one-in-four teenage girls in the United States have at least one common STD. And even though they are at the lowest level in years, the Kaiser Family Foundation estimates 733,000 American teens (15-19) become pregnant each year.
Complete, medically accurate, and age-appropriate information about sex and sexuality provide teens with the information they deserve. This information has been proven to help teens delay the onset of sexual activity, reduce the frequency of sexual activity, reduce the number of sexual partners, and increase condom and contraceptive use, according to the CDC.
“Our youth are our future leaders—we must support them by providing them with the information and education they need to help them make healthy and informed sexual decisions,” said Logsden.
The Responsible Sex Education Institute is also here to support parents who want to learn how best to communicate effectively with their children about sexuality and sexual health. Many parents depend on a complete sex education program that includes information about abstinence, contraception and STDs; but some parents are not prepared for, or are uncomfortable providing this information.
“We want all teens to be safe and make responsible decisions about life. We can’t be with them all the time, but we can make sure that they have the education and information they need to make smart, healthy decisions,” said Logsden.
The Responsible Sex Education Institute works with close to 200 community partners within our region, including schools, churches, and youth organizations. For more information visit our website at www.responsiblesexedinstitute.org.
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Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains empowers individuals and families in the communities we serve to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health by providing high quality health services, comprehensive sex education, and strategic advocacy. More than 123,000 women, men, and young adults annually visit our 28 health centers throughout Colorado, New Mexico, Southern Nevada, and Wyoming. Since 1916, we have been the region’s most trusted provider of reproductive health care. For more information about Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, call 1.800.230.PLAN or visit pprm.org for the health center nearest you.
Source
Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, Inc.
Contact
Monica McCafferty
303.813.7732
720.475.0289
Published
April 12, 2012