WV Gets WISE: Sex Education
Built to Last
Danene Sorace, Consultant
Grove Foundation
June 11, 2013
www.futureofsexeducation.org
Objectives
1. Describe the state/national context related to
adolescent health
2. Identify at least one connection between
sexual health and academic achievement
3. Describe two characteristics of WISE
4. Analyze the potential impact of WISE in WV
WHO’S IN THE ROOM?
LET’S PLAY!
Category: Adolescent Sexual Health
The United States boasts one of the highest
rates of these among industrialized countries.
Among young people ages 15-25, one in four
will contract this disease.
Now recommended for teens, these work for up
to 12 years. Also a type of bird.
High or Low
NATIONAL
Ever had sexual intercourse
47
51
Had sex before age 13
6
5
Four or more partners
15
12
Had sex in last 3 months
34
38
Did not use a condom
40
40
WV High School Survey
% of Student who ever had sexual intercourse
100
69.4
80
58.8
60
50.9
51.8
50.1
49.9
39.2
39.9
40
20
0
Total
Male
Female
9th
10th
*non-Hispanic
11th
12th
Black*
Hispanic/
Latino
White*
About WISE
Working to Institutionalize Sex Education (WISE)
WISE aims to implement high quality
school-based sex education policy and practice
in a sustainable way.
WISE Program Overview
1) Focus on school-based sex ed
2) Goal is institutionalization
WISE Sites
Cardea Services
Oregon
Department of
Education
Genesee Valley
Educational
Partnership
WA
NY
EyesOpenIowa
OR
ETR Associates
IA
CA
WV
NC
CO
Colorado Youth
Matter
West
Virginia
Free
GA
Adolescent
Pregnancy
Prevention
Campaign of
North Carolina
Georgia Campaign
for Adolescent
Power and Potential
17
“The WISE Method”
Planning
Engagement
Conduct
environmental
scan
Engage
champions, inc.
administrator
Identify
districts to
assess
Policy
Assess
readiness/capacity
Address
district
policy
Implementation
Connect
sex ed to
ed standards
Review/
map
curriculum
Select
curriculum
Train
teachers
Implement
CSE
in
classroom
Monitor CSE
implementation
What WISE does not do:
• Deliver training in the classroom
• Determine curriculum
• Work with schools that are not
interested/ready
• Recreate the wheel
Partnerships
• Several examples:
– WA – Educational Service Districts
– CA – County Offices of Education
– GA – Public Health Districts
– NY – Local Councils on Adolescent Pregnancy
– IA – CAPP Grantees
Questions?
Ingredients for Success
Why West Virginia?
WV’s Top Ten
10. Need.
WV’s Top Ten
9. Size matters!
55 school districts
282,000 thousand students
WV’s Top Ten
8. Largely One System of Public Education
RESA’s
WV’s Top Ten
7. DASH Funded Coordinator
WV’s Top Ten
6. APPI and PREP
$275,000
Making Proud Choices
Reducing the Risk
WV’s Top Ten
5. Strong Policy.
HIV/AIDS required in grades 6-12
Qualified professionals required
Opt-out policy
WV’s Top Ten
4. Content Standards & Objectives.
Content and skills!
Puberty by 5th grade
5th grade!
Contraceptives by 7th grade
WV’s Top Ten
3. HEAP!
Since 2006
WV and DC
WV’s Top Ten
2. Parent Support
WV’s Top Ten
1. YOU!
Resource
www.wisetoolkit.org
3–2–1
• 3 things that you will take away from this
session
• 2 things you want to know more about it
• 1 thing you want to do immediately
Contact Information
• Danene Sorace, Consultant, WISE Initiative
danene.sorace@gmail.com