ur Mississippi Action For Progress, Inc. (MAP, Inc.) Abstinence Education Program Team has been successful in their efforts to implement the Abstinence Educational Curriculum in each of the respective counties – Warren, Leflore and Yazoo. To date, we‘ve collectively reached over 800 parents and students who’ve attended our workshops, informative sessions and health fairs. For the most part, our success is attributed to the aggressive implementation and consistency of our “team” players.
To assist with this ongoing process, M.A.P.'s Office of Research and Development and the specified counties of Warren, Leflore, and Yazoo implemented two additional Abstinence Program Curriculum Training Sessions – March 2008 (“Choosing the Best”), conducted by Ruth Geertz, National Training Director – “Choosing the Best” focuses on the complete person and their individual quest to understand the importance of Abstinence for “self” while cultivating healthy relationship habits and acknowledging the “journey” aspect of Abstinence) and May 2008 (“Families United to Prevent Teen Pregnancy (FUPTP)”, conducted by Dawn Groshek, Director of Development and Alison Sergio, Director of Programs for Rosalie Manor/FUPTP – Families United to Prevent Teen Pregnancy focuses on, but not limited to, the fostering & maintenance of a long-term healthy relationship through remaining Abstinent Until Marriage, while incorporating a concept entitled “Secondary Virginity”, which proposes the engagement into Abstinence even after he/she has been sexually active). Each curriculum set its
own tone, while adding to the total outlook on Abstinence Education. Inasmuch, the information was well received. As each county begins to implement the curricula, it is our hope and belief that nothing but positive feedback will ensue.
Overall, the program specifically teaches: abstaining from sexual activity outside marriage; social psychological and health gains to be realized by abstaining from sexual activity; abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy; sexually transmitted disease, and other associated health problems, sexual activity outside the context of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects; how to reject sexual advances and how alcohol and drug use increases vulnerability to sexual advances; and the importance of attaining self-sufficiency before engaging in sexual activity.
Our objective is to educate 1,200+ children and families about "Abstinence" and "Choosing to Be Abstinent" by conducting monthly seminars/workshops and distributing pamphlets/printed materials.