Recruited from area high schools, STATS members first of all, have a strong belief in the message that saying "no" to sex until marriage is the healthiest choice for teens. Second, they've got the courage to stand up in front of their peers and tackle the tough issues of sex today. When the media - music, movies, TV, etc are saying, "go ahead, everyone's doing it", teens need to be strong enough to fly in the face of today's culture. And third, they care. It makes a difference to them that younger teens are buying into an unhealthy lifestyle and they want them to know that everyone's not doing it. With these qualifications out of the way, here is the path our STATS members take.
In September, we hold our annual STATS Kick-Off. This is a time when we show video clips of the previous year and talk about what it takes to be in STATS. This includes:
a teacher or principal recommendation
a personal interview
academic eligibility
ability to miss school one day a month
exceptional attendance
ability to stand up and speak publicly
attending the annual training retreat
time for creating and practicing new material for team presentation
signing a one-year commitment to stay abstinent from sex, drugs, alcohol, and tobacco
Whew, If that sounds like a lot, well, it is. But holding out for quality students is worth it and has been a key to Muskegon STATS serving as a vital health component for our county and beyond!
Friday, January 2, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
STATS, Straight Talk About Tough Stuff, is a group of high school students who creatively share information on a topic that can save lives - sexual abstinence. Targeting middle schoolers, we use skits, dramas, music and personal talks to give out the message, "Everyone's not doing it!"
Topics such as Love vs. Infatuation, How Far is Too Far? STD Prevention, Alcohol and its Effects, How Do I Say "No", Is There Such a Thing as Safe Sex?, Why Wait 'til Marriage, Sexual Abuse, Secondary Virginity, and many more are included, fresh and updated every year.
Teen to Teen - And That's Why it Works
When it comes to sex, teens reaching teens is highly effective and we are told repeatedly that our impact is memorable. This is documented not only by post-test results and student comments, but by the number of current STATS members who joined largely because of the impact STATS had on them when they were in middle school.
STATS in Muskegon is in it's 15th year! And each year we've grown and expanded to the point that we are now in 14 middle schools. To cover this many schools, we have six teams of 8 students with six team leaders.
Give 'Em What They Want
In a nation-wide study, when asked what they wanted most in a sex education curriculum, 84% of teens interviewed, indicated that they wanted more information on how to say "no," not condoms or birth control but,"How to say 'No' without hurting the other person's feelings."
Yes, that's it. Teens want to know,"How do I say 'No' to sex, but 'Yes' to relationships?"
The STATS message gives teens what they want, a reason to say "No" and ways to say it.
Topics such as Love vs. Infatuation, How Far is Too Far? STD Prevention, Alcohol and its Effects, How Do I Say "No", Is There Such a Thing as Safe Sex?, Why Wait 'til Marriage, Sexual Abuse, Secondary Virginity, and many more are included, fresh and updated every year.
Teen to Teen - And That's Why it Works
When it comes to sex, teens reaching teens is highly effective and we are told repeatedly that our impact is memorable. This is documented not only by post-test results and student comments, but by the number of current STATS members who joined largely because of the impact STATS had on them when they were in middle school.
STATS in Muskegon is in it's 15th year! And each year we've grown and expanded to the point that we are now in 14 middle schools. To cover this many schools, we have six teams of 8 students with six team leaders.
Give 'Em What They Want
In a nation-wide study, when asked what they wanted most in a sex education curriculum, 84% of teens interviewed, indicated that they wanted more information on how to say "no," not condoms or birth control but,"How to say 'No' without hurting the other person's feelings."
Yes, that's it. Teens want to know,"How do I say 'No' to sex, but 'Yes' to relationships?"
The STATS message gives teens what they want, a reason to say "No" and ways to say it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)