Kurt Conklin, MPH, CHES School Health Project Coordinator, SIECUS kconklin@siecus

1. Capital Idea!Addressing Sexual Health Needs of Middle School Students in the District of Columbia Kurt Conklin, MPH, CHES School Health Project Coordinator, SIECUS kconklin@siecus.org or (212) 819-9770 x322 Society of State Leaders National Conference: Leadership Through Collaboration March 24, 2011San Diego

2. Dedicated to… Ellwood Cubberley • San Diego Superintendent of Schools, 1896-98 • Author, Public Education in the U.S. (1919) • Dean of Education, Stanford U. (1917-33)

3. And to… Paulo Freire • Literacy educator, Brazil (b.1921-d.1997) • Author, Pedagogy of the Oppressed. (1970) • UNESCO Prize for Education for Peace (1986)

4. What is ‘dialogical action’? Freire: Education (and training) that emphasizes two-way communication to promote understanding, cultural creation, and liberation Contrasted with: non-dialogic actions, which deny dialogue, distort communication, and simply reproduce power.

5. A thousand words is worth a picture:

6. Structural Challenges to HIV Education • 45,000 public school students • 20% in special ed • 66% reduced or free school lunch • 125 traditional public schools • Nearly 100 charter schools • 1 in 3 DC students is enrolled in a charter

7. Sexual Health Promotion Through NGO/School Partnerships What: Capacity-building for District of Columbia Schools When: Summer 2009 -2011 and beyond Why: • To address Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health (ARSH) disparities • To increase collaboration between schools and MCH providers and allies • To build capacity of school stakeholders to strengthen sexual health promotion, services, and education

8. Sexual Health Promotion Through NGO/School Partnerships Who: Up to 15 DC public middle schools and charter middle/high schools (4,000+ students) OSSE: Office of State Superintendent of Education – Wellness & Nutrition Services DCPS: District of Columbia Public Schools – Office of Youth Engagement SIECUS: NGO founded in 1964 to support comprehensive sexuality education CDC-DASH: Division of Adolescent and School Health (project funder) How: Step 1: Identify target group and schools Step 2: Assemble ARSH stakeholder teams Step 3: Administer needs assessment tool (quantitative data) Step 4: Site visits with teams (qualitative data) Step 5: Draft proposals for projects; teams review and select Step 6: Draft work plans for selected projects; teams review and finalize Step 7: Implement projects

9. Sexual Health Promotion Through NGO/School Partnerships Schools since Fall 2009 (and Ward): Oyster-Adams Bilingual School (DCPS) 3 Alice Deal M.S. (DCPS) 3 Young America Works (OSSE) 4 Hamilton Academy (DCPS) 5 Stuart-Hobson M.S. (DCPS) 6 Kelly Miller M.S. (DCPS) 7 Maya Angelou (OSSE) 7 Sousa M.S. (DCPS) 7 Kramer M.S. (DCPS) 8 Hart M.S. (DCPS) 8 Thurgood Marshall Academy (OSSE) 8

10. Sexual Health Promotion Through NGO/School Partnerships School Teams Typically 4-6 staff and parent representative Teams vary widely, reflecting each school’s unique existing capacities The ideal: Health/PE Teacher Other subject teacher Principal or Assistant Principal Parent Representative School counselor/social worker School Nurse

11. Sexual Health Promotion Through NGO/School Partnerships Assessing Needs: Areas of Inquiry • Sexual Health Instruction • HIV/STD-Related Health Disparities • Overall School Environment • General Cultural Competency • Engaging LGBQ Youth • Engaging Transgender Youth

12. Sexual Health Promotion Through NGO/School Partnerships Themes from the data Self-rated highly: Cultural competence Engaging at-risk youth Referrals for ARSH services Accessing HIV-related data Areas for capacity-building: Professional development on LGBQ & Trans issues Parent outreach and engagement Working more closely with colleagues Additional ARSH informational resources More ARSH community partners

14. Sexual Health Promotion Through NGO/School Partnerships Potential Projects: PD on “hard-to-teach” topics Publications for adolescents: • Sex Etc. from Answer (Rutgers U.) • Talk About Sex (SIECUS) ‘Positive Phone Calling’ to parents Service learning projects with local partner CBOs and MCH programs

15. Sexual Health Promotion Through NGO/School Partnerships Evolving Steps: • Work Plans • Budgets • Timelines • Roles and Responsibilities • Impact Measures • Additional Schools

16. Summer Newsletters • Sustaining momentum during school break • Raising awareness • Local resources • National news

17. Challenges • Student altercation • Charter revoked • Death of principal • School overwhelmed • Spending/non-spending issues

18. Case Study: Browne E.C. • Enrollment Fair • PhotoVoice • Partner Smithsonian Institution

19. Case Study: Sousa M.S. • Teacher PD • Puberty • Partners DC Dept. of Health & Metro Teen AIDS

20. Case Study: Alice Deal M.S. • Teacher PD • LGBQ and Trans • Partners SIECUS, GLSEN, APA

21. Partners Galore! • Metro Teen AIDS • DC Health Dept. • Whitman-Walker Clinic • SMYAL (Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League) • Young Women’s Project • 100 Black Men of Greater Washington DC • Clínica del Pueblo • Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater DC • Transgender Health & Empowerment • Smithsonian Institution • Answer • GLSEN • APA

22. Sexual Health Promotion Through NGO/School Partnerships For more information (and special thanks to): Aisha Moore aisha.moore@dc.gov Program Specialist, Youth Risk Behaviors - Wellness and Nutrition Services Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) Washington DC Phone: 202-481-3939 Andrea DeSantis andrea.desantis@dc.gov Risk Reduction Coordinator - Office of Youth Engagement District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) Washington DC Phone:  202-442-5040