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August 12, 2021
Crane Parents,
The Yuma County Public Health Services District wishes to create the greatest possible opportunity for healthy youth. The Health District has received a contract through the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) to provide abstinence education services through the Sexual Risk Avoidance Education Program, Title V State SSRAE. The Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) program is funded by the Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) serving youth ages 11-19 with a focus on teens ages 15-17. The overarching goal of ADHS - Title V State Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (TVSSRAE) funding is to promote abstinence as the 100% sure way to prevent a pregnancy or an STD/STI.
Recent legislation provides parents with an opportunity to participate in, review, and provide input on any proposed sex education course of study before it is adopted by a school board. In addition, for any adopted sex education program this bill requires that parents wishing to allow their children the opportunity to participate would need to opt-in to the program by providing written permission to receive any instruction, learning materials or presentations in a program related to sexuality. Under previous law, parents were only able to opt-out of this type of instruction.
As part of their regular Crane Governing Board meeting on August 10, 2021, the Crane Governing Board conducted a public hearing to provide interested stakeholders the opportunity to voice their opinions, questions and concerns on a potential adoption of a sex education program available from the Yuma County Health Department. At the September 14, 2021, Crane Governing Board meeting, a public hearing will again take place. These hearings are meant to satisfy the 60-day period of review and inquiry required before the governing body decides whether to approve any course study pertaining to sex education per recent legislation. Public comment may include written comments, oral comments and comments submitted electronically.
Should the Crane Governing Board decide to adopt this program and have the Yuma County Health Department educators present this curriculum, the program would be offered to students in the 8th grade only.
- July 27 –September 27, 2021 – A copy of the Wyman’s TOP® curriculum is available in the Crane Elementary School District office should you be interested in viewing. The links to the developers web page are also posted on the Crane Schools website. A hard copy of the proposed curriculum will be available and accessible for review by adults at the Crane District Office for at least sixty days before the board may consider approval. Please contact Minnie Encinas to schedule a time to review the proposed curricular materials. Email [email protected] or call (928) 373-3403.
You can also visit the developer’s webpages at Wyman Center Home Page Wyman Center Teen Outreach Program Teen Outreach Program Site
- August 10, 2021, at 5:00 pm - Governing Board Meeting with presentation on Wyman’s Teen Outreach Program (TOP®) and Public Hearing were held.
- August 24, 2021, at 5:30 pm - Parent Informational Meeting held at Centennial Middle School. Parents are invited to join a question-and-answer session and speak to the Health District team leading the program.
- September 10, 2021 - Governing Board Meeting with Public Hearing
- October 12, 2021 – Potential Board action considering adoption of Wyman’s TOP® curriculum and Yuma County Health Department instruction.
- October 13 - October 27 - If approved, we shall continue to make the curriculum available for parental review, both online and in-person for at least two weeks before any instruction is offered. Accordingly, if this curriculum is adopted, classes would not begin prior to October 28th.
The evidence-based curriculum for this program is the Wyman’s Teen Outreach Program (TOP®); Wyman’s TOP® features engaging and developmentally appropriate curriculum that builds social and emotional skills. Youth will learn from a combination of activities ranging from community service learning, emotion management skills, empathy, interpersonal skills, positive sense of self, decision-making, problem-solving skills, as well as goal setting; this is done using high quality facilitation methods that help in creating a safe space along with youth led meetings, focused on key topics related to adolescent health and development. Wyman’s TOP® can be delivered in-class or as an after-school program depending on the school’s decision. Wyman’s TOP® program is composed of 13 lessons and 20 community service learning (CSL) hours.
As previously mentioned, if the program is adopted by the governing board, only 8th grade students would be eligible. Parents and/or guardians would be required to provide a signed permission slip as it is an opt-in program.
Yuma County Health Department information regarding this program can be provided by contacting Gloria Coronado, Health Promotions Program Manager at (928) 317-4580.
Sincerely,
Laurie Doering
Superintendent