Women's Enrichment Center
Part 3-The Abstinence Program
By KATHLEEN MCKEVITT

According to the research of staff writer Robert E. Rector of the Washington Post, "teenage sexual activity is a major problem confronting the nation and has led to a a rising incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), emotional and psychological injuries, and out-of-wedlock childbearing. Abstinence education programs for youth have been proven to be effective in reducing early sexual activity...provide the foundation for personal responsibility, and enduring marital commitment. Therefore, they are vitally important to efforts aimed at reducing out-of-wedlock childbearing among young adult women, improving child well-being, and increasing adult happiness over the long term."

Here, at the Woman's Enrichment Center, the Abstinence program offered through schools and from the Center is aimed at young people between the 7th and 8th graders." Millions of kids, have been educated through Federal programs, since 1999," according to another to Washington Post writer, Ceci Connolly. In the Blairsville, through the Enrichment center, over 500 kids have been reached to encourage reproductive health.

According to Chris Scoggins, Executive Director of the Women's Enrichment Center in Blairsville, "we have educated over 8,000 students since May of 1999 in Towns, Union, Fannin and Gilmer counties in Georgia, and Cherokee, and Clay counties in North Carolina."

Plans in place now for this school year are to start the Abstinence series in Whitfield County and Murray County this fall. Scoggins adds that the "okay is already in place in Dalton, but we are still waiting to hear from Murray County. "

"We mainly ask kids to think about the value of their lives, and the many-faceted values of abstinence, and we've discovered from our teaching and follow-up questionnaires that 60 percent say in their post-tests that they

have decided to be abstinent until marriage," says Scoggins.

When asked about the pre-test information (a form filled out before the class), Scoggins reports that of the 7th and 8th graders, 0-8 percent alledge that they have been sexually active. Among high school kids, the response is as high as 50 percent.

It appears that girls ages 13 and 14 are more mature, and interested in the program, and come to realize that most sexually active teens don't end up in marriage. Scoggins says, "we talk to them about defending, protecting and honoring their bodies, and their lives. Guys are more interested in respect and success, while girls are more interested in security, relationship, and communication. We try to encourage both girls and guys to build relationships that are healthy emotionally, time-tested, honoring and supportive."

In the class they say, "you don't have to do something physical to be loved. In fact, the opposite is most often the case."

Scoggins repeats an oftquoted line from the course, "you are unique, precious and special for your own individual gifts. Keep your commitments to yourself first. You don't need to perform a sexual act to find value and dignity. Your self-worth is priceless."

"Sex and Family Education" from Birmingham, Alabama provides the course materials used in this Woman's Enrichment center which are also commonly used in many pregnancy crisis centers in the United States. During the three-day class,which is often held during a Health or fitness class, there is a pre-and posttest. Facilitators stay within the confines of the course material. A copy is left at each school. When asked if any parent had ever objected to their child taking the three-day course, Scoggins says, "only once, and that was a misunderstanding. As soon as I had a chance to talk with the parent everything was fine. So we see a lot of positive reinforcement from parents."

The course is called "YOU ARE UNIQUE,-Abstinence based character education course."

In it are sections called Medical Presentation, Emotional Consequences, Facts about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and Building Self-Esteem, to name a few.

Scoggins says, "it is so important for kids to know that basically, condoms don't work. An AIDS virus is 460 times smaller than a single sperm cell, and condoms have a 5-25 percent failure rate. There are no vaccines available except for hepatitis, you can't build immunity against STD's and you can't

always trust what someone says about their own personal health."

When kids ask us about how to live in a society that not only condones sexual freedom but sells it, Scoggins says, "we start with the basics: Love is seeking the highest and the best for the other person, even if it means giving up your own desires. Remember that is important to avoid alcohol and drugs, have good, healthy conversations, refuse to go places where you can get into trouble, wear attractive, not sexy clothing, be with others with values like yours, have planned activities, meet the parents of your date, be prepared to say "no" more than one time, watch your "thought life," and have high goals and stick to them. You're worth it!"

To learn more about this program, contact Chris Scoggins at the Woman's Enrichment Center in Blairsville, Georgia, at 169 Kimsey Street, P.O. Box 1789, or call: 800-503-0122, or 706835-1251, or 706-745-7518. Scoggins says, "we will bring this program to anyone, anytime, and anywhere we possibly can."