Master's Project Title:

Promoting Preconception Health and Improving Sexual Health Among Youth in Poudre School District, Colorado: An Evidence-based Revision of a District-wide High School Sexuality Education Curriculum, in Alignment with New State-Level Sex Education Standards

MCH Student:

Kori Wilford

Date of Defense:

July 18, 2012

Abstract:

Background: The Poudre School District, located in Fort Collins, Colorado uses a ten-lesson high school sexuality curriculum that was developed in 2005 by district content specialists, medical and public health professionals and community members. Multiple factors have contributed to the need for the curriculum to be updated and revised, including the passage of Colorado’s Healthy Youth Act in 2007 and the development of Colorado’s Academic Standards for Comprehensive Health in 2010. Additionally, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s maternal and child health priorities of promoting preconception health and improving youth sexual health can potentially be addressed through stronger comprehensive school-based sexuality education programs

Objectives: The primary objective of this project was to provide updates, revisions and recommendations for Poudre School District’s high school sexuality education curriculum in order to align it with Colorado’s new Healthy Youth Act and Academic Standards for Comprehensive Health. The secondary objective was to, for the first time, incorporate Colorado’s maternal and child health priorities of promoting preconception health and improving youth sexual health into the sexuality education curriculum.

Methods: Utilizing the characteristics of effective school based curricula, guidelines from Colorado’s Healthy Youth Act and Academic Standards for Comprehensive Health, PSD’s high school sexuality education curriculum was revised and updated. Lessons were revised with information and activities that will provide an overall theme of the importance of thinking ahead and planning for a healthy future. Reproductive life planning tools that have been created for youth in the United States were reviewed and adapted for use within PSD’s curriculum.

Results: A draft of the recommended updates and revisions for the ten-lesson high school sexuality education curriculum has been provided to the Poudre School District Health and Science Curriculum Coordinator to review and finalize. Tools that show how content aligns with Colorado’s Healthy Youth Act are included, as well as a summary of gaps in content that need to be addressed for complete alignment with the Academic Standards for Comprehensive Health.

Conclusion: By aligning PSD’s high school sexuality education curriculum with Colorado’s Healthy Youth Act, Academic Standards for Comprehensive Health and incorporating the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s maternal and child health priorities of promoting preconception health and improving youth sexual health, the district is setting an example for other school districts in Colorado who are working to improve their sexuality education programs.