To dispel myths about birth control and to make young people aware of the consequences of unprotected sex. Also, to impress that abstinence is the only moral and 100% effective means of teenage birth control.

OVERVIEW

There are prevalent myths about birth control circulating among teenagers, ranging from, "you can’t get pregnant the first time," to "you can’t get pregnant if you don’t kiss." The level of ignorance is astounding.

LEADER PREPARATION

• Determine your own stand on the ethics of birth control (e.g., Is birth control acceptable even for married couples? What is the historic understanding?).
• Study current resources addressing various aspects of the issue as it relates to teenagers.
• Compile useful statistics for the group presentation.
• If possible, edit together a short presentation video of appropriate clips from TV shows or movies during which birth control is discussed.
• Set up a VCR and viewing monitor.
• Talk with the other leaders who may be participating with you in leading the discussion, and get clearance from concerned parties (i.e., parents, staff leader, principal).

GROUP BUILDING

Have volunteers act out a "first date" scenario. Share some of your own humorous dating experiences; possibly lead them into sharing some of theirs.

GROUP DISCUSSION

This is by no means an exhaustive list of questions, but they will get the group started in discussion:

• How would you feel if you were in the same situation as the characters in the video?
• What are some immediate and long-term consequences of having sex?
• What are some of the ways you have heard to prevent pregnancy? (Seize the opportunity to dispel myths.)
• How do you feel about teenagers having sex and about the use of birth control? (Use statistical information as appropriate.)
• Do you feel pressure from friends to have sex? What can you do about it?
• Do you know friends who have gotten pregnant? How did that make you feel?
• Do you discuss sex with your parents? Can you be open and honest with them? Why or why not?
• Who can you talk with openly about sex? Why?

WRAP-UP

• Review the immediate and long term consequences (physical and emotional) of sex and pregnancy.
• Stress abstinence as the most practical and moral choice.
• Encourage the group to discuss sex and birth control with parents.
• Remind the group that it’s okay to be a virgin, that it doesn’t make one less "cool" than anyone else. In fact, it really makes one more acceptable.

EVALUATION AND FOLLOW-UP

• It is important to encourage questions, both during and after the session.
• As appropriate, discuss your own struggles, successes, and failures with individual students.
• Seek opportunities to continue the discussion in private and informal settings with individual teens.
• Talk with parents about this program and encourage them to pursue the issue with their kids.

Keith Boyd cCYS