Taking Charge: Empowering Youth Today

Taking Charge is an Abstinence based program provided to 7th grade students throughout the District Health Department No. 2 service area. Abstinence is stressed as the most effective way of preventing teen pregnancy, STIs/STDs and HIV/AIDS. Other topics discussed during the program are; state laws related to sexual behaviors, how drugs and alcohol influence sexual vulnerability, how the media affects our perceptions, peer pressure, puberty and healthy relationships. Most importantly, skills are taught to and practiced by youth. Skills learned include; negotiation and refusal, recognizing unsafe / unhealthy social environments, and self – discipline.

The goal of Taking Charge is to increase the number of youth ages 10 – 15 who abstain from sexual activity and other risky behaviors.