Beyond Abstinency Only

A Sex Education Program For Young Men and Their Parents

Teenagers need and deserve information, guidance and support during adolescence, a turbulent time marked by powerful changes, including the emergence of sexual thoughts, feelings and impulses.

Many school sex education programs address the emergence of sexuality by using fear-based, abstinence only models that often do not teach an effective decision-making process that teens can use in the real world. Adolescents need to be aware of the significant personal, interpersonal and legal ramifications of decisions to engage in sexual activities. Research strongly suggests that the abstinence only approach has failed to help teens increase their levels of sexual responsibility.

On the other hand, studies indicate that teens provided with comprehensive and accurate sex education are:

Less likely to have casual sex.
Less likely to have an unplanned pregnancy.
Less likely to get a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
More likely to use birth control.

Who will benefit from the program?

Parents who believe that their teen will make better, more responsible decisions about sex when given sound information, accompanied by guidance and support.
Teens who want to discuss sex in an honest and straightforward manner and learn about an effective sexual decision-making plan they can use in the real world.

What does the program provide?

Cornerstone's Beyond Abstinence Only Program involves weekly group sessions (parents and teens meet separately) over a six-week period designed to provide young men and their parents with factual and forthright information about human sexuality.

Young men will learn:

How to talk to your parents about sex.
How to determine if a sexual activity is okay or not okay.
10 crucial factors to consider when thinking about being sexual.
Why scoring is appropriate in sports, not dating.
The only birth control method that is 100% effective.
The facts about pregnancy, birth control and sexually transmitted infections.
The laws governing sexual behavior.
How Internet porn can ruin your sex life.
And much more.

Parents will learn:

How to talk to your teen about sex.
Sexual behaviors for teens--what is acceptable and appropriate?
A relationship-based model for sexual decision-making.
How to make sure your son does not have sex until he is "old enough."
When to be concerned about the influence of music, movies and video games.
Why "it's not your father's pornography" on the Internet.
What to do if sexual abuse has taken place in your family.
And much more.