McMillen Health Receives Funding to Continue Teen Health Education
Fort Wayne, Indiana – McMillen Health has received funding to continue two programs created to promote healthy choices in teens. The Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) awarded the organization nearly $442,000 to provide Indiana youth with pregnancy prevention education October 2021 through September 2023.
The grant provides funding for the continuation of the curricula Choices Today, Options Tomorrow, for grades 9 through 12, and Promoting Health Among Teens, for grades 6 to 8. Both curricula include eight modules that equip youth with the practical skills, knowledge, and confidence to stand up for healthy life choices in the areas of sexual activity and related risky behaviors. Each module consists of a 45-minute presentation with a professional educator and follow-up activities. Module topics include pregnancy and conception, the danger of drugs and alcohol, positive decision making, the financial impact of teen pregnancy, and teens’ roles now and in the future.
“Through this funding opportunity, McMillen Health will provide pregnancy prevention curricula to at least 2,000 youth in grades 6-12 throughout Indiana,” said Nicole Fairchild, McMillen Health Executive Director. “Teens will learn valuable and accurate knowledge about pregnancy, STIs, HIV, and the associated risky behaviors, along with the financial impact of a teenage pregnancy. Students form connections between choices and analyze the potential consequences while increasing their self-efficacy to make and stand by positive choices such as abstinence.”
McMillen Health has offered Choices Today, Options Tomorrow since 2015 and Promoting Health Among Teens since 2017. The two curricula have already provided education to more than 8,600 students through both in-person sessions and live distance-learning. More than 88% of these teens have increased their knowledge on the consequences of teen pregnancy and how alcohol and drug use increase vulnerability to sexual advances and can identify ways to prevent contracting HIV and other STIs along with ways to reject sexual advances. Read the full press release here.