A Healthy Future for Montana
Youth:
A D O P T I N G A C O M P R EH EN S I V E
A P P R OACH T O S E X E D U C AT I O N
Brought to you by the Montana Partnership for Sex Education
Who We Are
 We are the Montana Partnership for Sex Education
 A statewide coalition of the following organizations:
NARAL Pro-Choice Montana
 Planned Parenthood of Montana
 ACLU of Montana
 Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
 Montana Human Rights Network
 American Association of University Women- Montana Chapter
 Montana Disability Rights Advocates
 Blue Mountain Clinic (Missoula)
 Bridger Clinic (Bozeman)
 Women’s Opportunity and Resource Development, Inc.
 Montana Women Vote

What is Comprehensive Sex Ed?
 The Sexuality Information and Education Council of
the United States (SIECUS) defines sexuality
education as ‘a lifelong process of acquiring
information and forming attitudes, beliefs, and
values. It encompasses sexual development, sexual
and reproductive health, interpersonal relationships,
affection, intimacy, body image, and gender roles.’
Current Snapshot
Currently, there is no uniform sex education policy for
school districts in the State of Montana. Each school
district can choose when, how, and if to teach sex
education at all, and even then they are often not
following the comprehensive, medically accurate
approach.
This is dangerous for Montana’s youth.
Montana Youth are at Risk
 In 2009 47.6% of all Montana high school students reported being sexually





active
16.8% of 7th & 8th graders reported being sexually active
In 2006, Montana had a 9% increase in the number of teen pregnancies
Currently there is no statewide
In Montana ______ # of girls get pregnant every hour/day/week
In Montana ______# of young people (between the ages of 15-24) are diagnosed
with an STD every hour/day/week
Facts about Comprehensive Sex Ed
 Studies and evaluations of comprehensive sex
education consistently find that it does not:



Encourage teens to start having sexual intercourse
Increase the frequency with which teens have intercourse
Increase the number of sexual partners teens have
Where We are Working
 We have targeted three communities, based on
population, cultural distinction and geography:



Helena
Great Falls
Missoula
Facts about Comprehensive Sex Ed
 Studies and evaluations of comprehensive sex
education consistently find that it does:




Delay the onset of intercourse
Reduce the frequency of intercourse
Reduce the number of sexual partners
Increase condom and contraceptive use
Your Role
 Schools give facts, parents give values
 While it is important for parents to discuss health
behaviors with their children, it is also crucial that
kids are educated about sex with medically accurate,
age appropriate l
How You Can Become an Advocate
 Letters to the Editor
 Op-Ed pieces
 Attend public input meetings for Health
Enhancement Curriculum Review
 Contacting local school officials
 We will be more specific here- superintendent names, etc
Resources
 In your community
 List local resources -- some thoughts on what this should be?
 On the web:
 SIECUS : http://www.siecus.org
 Advocates for Youth: http://www.advocatesforyouth.org
 List of sample curriculums available on the web