Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #104754

Natoshia M. Askelson, MPH, College of Public Health, Department of Community and Behavioral Health, University of Iowa, 4256 Westlawn, Iowa City, IA 52245, 3193383988, natoshia-askelson@uiowa.edu and Tom Klaus, FutureNet, Inc, Neveln Community Resource Center, 406 S.W. School Street, Ankeny, IA 50023-3062.

FutureNet, Iowa's coalition for adolescent pregnancy, teen parenting and sexual health has spearheaded the Higher Standard Initiative for Iowa Sexual Health Education (HSI). This initiative addresses the gap between science-based practices in adolescent sexual health education and the reality of the education students in Iowa receive. Through advocacy for legislative change, the coordination of funders and training and support of sexuality educators, FutureNet will bring science-based practices to all adolescent pregnancy prevention (including abstinence education), teen parent and sexual health education programs in Iowa by 2010. HSI addresses the current lack of science-based practices at various levels; tackling issues in training, funding, and enforcement/political will. The legislative advocacy piece revises Iowa's Human Growth and Development Mandate for Iowa schools, which has not been updated in the last 20 years to reflect what has been learned about effective practices in sexual health education. In order to provide enforcement to the updated mandate the grant managers of funding agencies of sexual health education are invited to convene annually to ensure their request of proposals and grant applications are congruent with science-based practices. The third piece addresses the barriers of cost, lack of training and concerns about replication of programs and their successes with audiences in Iowa through a tiered approach to adopting science-based practices. Education and training efforts will be focused on moving sexual health educators up the tiers to the highest standard.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the learner will be able to

• Define science-based practices
• Recognize differences between science-based practices and proven effective programs
• Develop a higher standard initiative for their state, county or school district

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Teen Pregnancy Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.