Abstinence Education

The Border Health Foundation is keenly aware of the need to address risk factors that may lead to increasing teenage pregnancies along the U.S.-Mexico Border. In our Senderos (Abstinence Education) project we are aggressively addressing language and cultural factors in the delivery of Abstinence education to migrant and Hispanic adolescents (ages 12-18) and their parents.



Goals and Objectives
• Reduce teen pregnancy and premature sexual activity among adolescents.
• Increase effective communication between parents and children about abstinence until marriage as the expected norm.
• Offer a summer schedule of Abstinence Education and recreational activities for adolescents to provide an environment that promotes abstinence until marriage as the social norm among youth.

Methods/Activities
• Abstinence Education for 5,280 adolescents yearly in Borderland middle schools and high schools.
• Parent education sessions in churches, schools and other community facilities for 900 parents annually.
• A summer schedule for 315 youth which includes a week-long summer day camp.
• Abstinence prevention education at recreation and community centers.
• Referrals to health, counseling, social and faith-based services.
• A tested evidence-based curriculum called "Worth the Wait" has been implemented.
• Program activities are provided in English as well as regional Spanish for participants with limited English proficiency .