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Why should I care about HIV/AIDS and Sexuality? 
Sexual intercourse, particularly without the use of a condom, puts teens at
risk for unintended pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases
(STDs).
Adolescents and young adults (ages 15-24) have the highest STD rates of any age group.
Teen pregnancy and teen births are more common in the U.S. than in any other industrialized country.
Untreated STDs can lead to long-term health consequences, missed school time, and other complications.
Students who are worried about being pregnant or having an STD may pay less attention in the classroom and have lower academic performance. Less than one third of teenagers who have a child before age 18 ever finish high school.
Teens who are taking sexual risks are also more likely to be taking other health risks such
as using drugs and alcohol.
While no single approach will work for all students, research shows that providing comprehensive sex education, ensuring access to reproductive health care, and supporting positive youth development are approaches that schools can use to reduce teen sexual risk taking.
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What are Rhode Island’s state requirements for HIV/AIDS and Sexuality in schools?
HIV/AIDS and Family Life/Sexuality Education
HIV/AIDS and Family Life/Sexuality education are required by state law (RI General Laws §16-22-17 - AIDS Education; §16-22-18 - Health & Family Life Education) as part of comprehensive school health education. They are also required health education content areas, according to Sec. 5.1.7 and 5.1.8 of the Rules and Regulations for School Health Programs, and the Rhode Island Comprehensive Health Instructional Outcomes.
Parental Approval
According to RI General Laws §16-22-17 and §16-22-18, a parent may review the HIV/AIDS and Family Life/Sexuality education curricular and instructional materials. Parents may also exempt a student from such instruction (an “opt-out” policy).
Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation
The Rhode Island Board of Regents of Elementary and Secondary Education released a Policy Statement Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation in 1997. According to this statement, "no student shall be excluded from, discriminated against, or harassed in any educational program, activity or facility in a public school on account of sexual orientation or perception of same. The policy shall apply to admissions, guidance, recreational and extra-curricular activities as well as all public educational programs and activities."
Students or Staff with HIV
RIGL §23-6-17 prohibits the disclosure of any individual’s HIV test without the written consent of that individual, or, in the case of a minor, that individual's parent or guardian. (Also see other Sections of RIGL Chapter 23-6: Prevention and Suppression of Contagious Diseases).
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What’s your HIV IQ?
This PowerPoint Presentation will test your HIV/AIDS general knowledge.
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What are some of the best practices for schools around HIV/AIDS and Sexuality?
- Run a school-based health centers (SBHCs) to:
- Provide clinical primary and behavioral health care services;
- Provide students with information on human sexuality with an emphasis
- on the health and psychosocial benefits of abstinence; and
- Refer students to Community Health Centers for additional care and education, counseling, HIV/STD screening and treatment, access to condoms and contraceptives, and referrals to other health services.
There are currently eight SBHCs in Rhode Island.
- Implement a standard or universal precautions policy, a confidentiality of HIV status policy. and a non-discrimination policy that protects HIV infected and affected students and staff in all of the following ways:
- Provide visible signage
- Distribute the written policy to staff
- Ensure that staff receives professional development on how to implement the written policy.
- Designate and individual responsible for endorsing the policy.
- Communicate a procedure for addressing policy violations.
- Implement corrective actions for violations of the policy.
- Deliver HIV, STD and pregnancy prevention programs (including after school or supplemental programs) that are tailored to meet the needs of ethnic/racial minority youth at high risk.
- Deliver HIV, STD and pregnancy prevention programs that are tailored to meet the needs of young men who have sex with men.
- Deliver HIV, STD and pregnancy prevention in drop-out prevention, alternative education or GED program.
- Implement a required health education course during grades 6, 7, or 8 that includes all of the following:
- Emphasis on the fact that abstinence is the most effective method to avoid pregnancy, HIV and other STDs.
- Information about the difference between HIV/AIDS,
- How HIV and STD are transmitted, the health consequences of HIV, STD and pregnancy and
- How to prevent HIV STD infection. The course should also include
- Communication and negotiation skills,
- Compassion for persons living with HIV/AIDS and
- Goal setting and decision making skills relating to reducing risk of HIV, STD and pregnancy as well as
- The benefits of being sexually abstinent.
- Implement all of the following in a required health education course taught during grades 9,10, 11, or 12 that includes all of the following:
- Emphasis on the fact that abstinence is the most effective method to avoid pregnancy, HIV and other STDs.
- The relationship between STD, pregnancy, HIV infection risk and sexual abstinence.
- The relationship between alcohol and drug use and risk for HIV, other STD and pregnancy.
- How to:
- Find medically accurate information or services related to HIF or HIV counseling and testing.
- Find medically accurate information or services to prevent pregnancy.
- Prevent HIV and other STD infection.
- The influences of media, family and social and cultural norms on sexual behavior
- Communication and negotiation skills related to reducing risk for HIV, other STD and pregnancy.
- Goal setting and decision making skills related to reducing risk for HIV, other STD, and pregnancy.
- Condom efficacy, how well condoms work and do not work
- How to use condoms consistently and correctly
- How to obtain condoms
- Teach negotiation skills- strategies that enable students to recognize disagreement, attempt to resolve disagreement, and to act to make health decisions. Such decisions and actions include repeatedly refusing to have sexual intercourse or insistence on consistently and correctly using condoms and other contraception.
- Allocate funds and release time to support annual professional development on HIV/AIDS/STDs for teachers of health that includes:
- Describing the number of people affected by HIV.AIDS and other STD and the consequence caused by these infections.
- Understanding the modes of transmission of effective prevention strategies for HIV and other STDs.
- Identifying youth who are at high risk of being infected with HIV and other STDs.
- Implementing health education strategies with prevention messages that are likely to be effective in reaching youth.
- Provide both of the following health services to student in grades 9-12 through direct service or arrangements with providers no on school property:
- HIV counseling, testing and referral for treatment and care.
- Screening and treatment for other STDs.
- Provide health services to students in grades 9-12 through direct service or arrangement with providers not on school property for HIV counseling, testing and referral and screening and treatment for other STDs.
| 17 Characteristics of Effective Sexuality and HIV Education Programs
The most effective sex and HIV education programs decrease sexual activity and increase teens’ use of condoms. These programs share the following seventeen characteristics:
- Involve multiple people with different backgrounds in theory, research and sex and STD/HIV education to develop the curriculum.
- Assess relevant needs and assets of target group.
- Use a logic model approach to develop the curriculum that specifies the health goals, the behaviors affecting those health goals, the risk and protective factors affecting those behaviors, and the activities addressing those risk and protective factors.
- Design activities consistent with community values and available resources.
- Pilot-test the program.
- Focus on clear health goals - the prevention of STD, HIV and/or pregnancy.
- Focus narrowly on specific behaviors leading to these health goals (e.g. abstaining from sex or using condoms or other contraceptives), give clear messages about these behaviors, and address situations that might lead to them and how to avoid them.
- Address multiple sexual psychosocial risk and protective factors affecting sexual behaviors (e.g., knowledge, perceived risks, values, attitudes, perceived norms and self-efficacy).
- Create a safe social environment for youth to participate.
- Include multiple activities to change each of the targeted risk and protective factors.
- Employ instructionally sound teaching methods that actively involve the participants, that help participants personalize the information, and that are designed to change each group of risk and protective factors.
- Employ activities, instructional methods and behavioral messages that were appropriate to the youths' culture, developmental age and sexual experience.
- Cover topics in a logical sequence,.
- Secure at least minimal support from appropriate authorities such as ministries of health, school districts or community organizations.
- Select educators with desired characteristics (whenever possible), train them and provde monitoring, supervision and support.
- If needed, implement activities to recruit and retain youth and overcome barriers to their involvement (e.g.,publicize the program, offer food or obtain consent).
- Implemet virtually all activities with reasonable fidelity.
Kirby, D., B.A. Laris & L. Rolleri. 2006. Sex and HIV Education Programs for Youth: Their Impact and Important Characteristics. ETR Associates: Scotts Valley, CA. |
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What data are available about HIV/AIDS and Sexuality in Rhode Island?
Quick Facts
- According to Healthy People 2010, the leading health indicators for responsible sexual behavior indicate the following:
- About one-half of all new HIV infections are among people under age 25 years, and the majority are infected through sexual behavior.
- Almost 4 million of the new cases of STDs each year occur in adolescents.
- In the U.S. approximately 1 million teens have unintended pregnancies.
- Additionally, research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has shown that sexual behaviors that result in HIV, STDs, and unintended pregnancy is one of the six health-related risk behaviors about which students need to be more knowledgeable.
- According to RI Department of Health STD data , in Rhode Island, 68% of STDs occur in the 15-24 age group. 31% of STDs occur among adolescents, 15-19 years of age.
- There were 1,922 births to teens 15-17 years of age between 2001 and 2005 in Rhode Island (Rhode Island KIDS COUNT).
- According to Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, poor academic achievement is a key predictor of teen pregnancy. Moreover, more than half of teen mothers do not finish high school.
More Data
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I’m a parent... Where do I go for parent information and resources about HIV/AIDS and Sexuality?
www.ParentLinkRI.org
ParentLinkRI.org connects Rhode Island parents of pre-teens and teens with classes, workshops, activities, and services in their area.
Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS)
SIECUS provides parents and educators with the information they need on important issues such as sexuality education, youth development, sexual and reproductive health, puberty, abstinence, relationships, sexual orientation, body image, self-esteem, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, unintended pregnancy, and more.
Can We Talk? / ¿Conversamos?
A parent education program developed to help parents communicate with their children around difficult topics related to sexuality and health. Also, visit the Can We Talk RI website.
Ten Tips For Parents To Help Their Children Avoid Teen Pregnancy
Provides lessons on topics such as the importance of maintaining strong, close relationships with children and teens, setting clear expectations for them, and communicating honestly and often with them about important matters.
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG) is a national non-profit organization with over 200,000 members and supporters and over 500 affiliates in the United States. There are several PFLAG groups in Rhode Island.
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I’m a teacher... What resources are available on HIV/AIDS and Sexuality?
Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
Health Literacy for All Students: The Rhode Island Health Education Framework
The Framework outlines the seven RI Health Education Standards, which describe what students should know and be able to do, as a result of K-12 health education instruction.
Comprehensive Health Instructional Outcomes
This document is designed to complement the RI Health Education Framework and it provides a resource to help develop, evaluate, and revise K-12 health education curricula. It
provides performance descriptions for each of standards, broken out by health content area, for different grade spans. "Sexuality & Family Life" and "Disease Prevention & Control" are two of the health content areas.
SexEd Library
This site
from the
Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States
(SIECUS) is a comprehensive online resource for sex educators. It provides up-to-date lesson plans on human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behavior, and more, as well as detailed information and research on key issues.
National Coalition to Support Sexuality Education – Curricula and Resources
This links to a webpage that provides comprehensive information on a variety of aspects of sexuality education including bibliographies and curricula.
ReCAPP's Evidence-Based Programs
ETR Associates' Resource Center for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention point to curricula that have shown evidence of changing adolescent sexual risk-taking behavior.
Michigan Model for Health
This curriculum facilitates interdisciplinary learning through lessons that integrate health education into other curricula.
The Red Book: Exposure to Blood on the Job: What School Employees Need to Know
This booklet from the National Education Association's Health Information Network contains the basic
information that
school employees need to
know about the hazards of contact
with blood and body fluids on the job.
What are school employees' risks, responsibilities and rights? How can they
limit exposure to infections? This booklet
is available in English and Spanish.
Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) - Using Universal Precautions in the School Setting (Video – high speed, 56K, and/or caption)
Universal Precautions is the term given to specific measures that are used to minimize the likelihood of contact with the blood and body fluids of any person. This program outlines the universal precautions that are to be used on school buses and school property when exposure to blood or body fluids occur.
For RI Teacher Professional Development
thrive e-Academy
thrive offers two, free, 5-week/30-contact hour online professional development programs for RI Teachers of Health on
RITOH - Rhode Island Teachers of Health “Yahoo Group” (listserv)
This listserv is an open forum for RI K-12 teachers who teach health (HE, HE/PE, School Nurse Teachers, elementary classroom teachers, etc.) to:
- Share information, news, trainings, legislative updates, and other resources;
- Ask and respond to each other’s questions;
- Confer about curricula, lessons, and teaching strategies;
- Discuss issues and challenges in schools, and more.
To subscribe, email RITOH-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Project REACH
REACH stands for Relating, Exchanging and Capacity Building for HIV Prevention. Project REACH is managed by DATA of Rhode Island. Project REACH trainings are designed to meet the diverse needs of the prevention community, treatment providers, and supervisors and managers in the field of HIV prevention and beyond. Many of the course offerings are appropriate for school personnel.
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I’m a school administrator... What tools for schools are available on HIV/AIDS and Sexuality?
Rhode Island Departments of Education and Health 2006 Policy Guidelines Relating to HIV/Hepatitis 
Sec. 2.2.1 of the Rules and Regulations for School Health Programs (R16-21-SCHO)
requires each school district and non-public school to maintain a manual of procedures and policy on potentially or confirmed HIV/Hepatitis infected students and employees. These guidelines will assist districts/schools to establish health policies related to these pathogens.
Bandaids Don't Cut It: A Statewide Plan to Address the Needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning (LGBTQQ) Youth in Rhode Island
This statewide plan includes recommendations relating to LGBTQQ youth in the areas of education, health and social services, mental health, child welfare and data collection.
Someone at School has AIDS: A Complete Guide to Education Policies Concerning HIV Infection
This is a comprehensive guide from the National Association of State Boards of Education.
Sample School HIV/AIDS Policy Tool Kit
This document from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction provides background information on HIV/AIDS, tools for districts to assess current policies and procedures, and guidance for school districts to develop or enhance policies and procedures related to HIV/AIDS.
Guidelines for Effective School Health Education to Prevent the Spread of AIDS
These guidelines were developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help school personnel and others plan, implement, and evaluate educational efforts to prevent HIV infection.
The Handbook for Evaluating HIV Education
This handbook from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is comprised of nine interrelated yet separate booklets, each addressing a particular evaluation need.
A Silent Crisis: Creating Safe Schools for Sexual Minority Youth
The Safe Schools for SMY Workgroup has developed this a resource guide to policy and procedures around anti-violence and anti-bullying, and corresponding posters for schools. The development of the resource guide involved technical assistance from the National Network for Youth and the American Psychological Association.
Dealing with Legal Matters Surrounding Students’ Sexual Orientation
This is a detailed report on harassment or discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
School Health Index (SHI)
The SHI is a self-assessment and planning tool that schools can use to improve their health and safety policies and programs. It can be done on paper or online and can also be customized to assess only specific topics.
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Where can I learn more?
Rhode Island Department of Health - Office of HIV/AIDS and Viral Hepititis
This link provides access to a description of all programs, services and statistics to Health Department activities.
CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH)
Links directly to the specific program of Adolescent and School Health, within the CDC’s website.
CDC's Elements of Successful HIV/AIDS Prevention Programs
National Prevention Information Network review of the 11 elements of successful HIV prevention programs, explanation of the ideal continuum of prevention and treatment successful prevention programs can strive toward, and provides links to more information about HIV/AIDS prevention.
CDC's HIV Prevention Interventions with Evidence of Effectiveness
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Compendium of HIV Prevention Interventions with Evidence of Effectiveness in response to prevention service providers, planners, and others who request science-based interventions that work to prevent HIV transmission.
CDC's Unintended and Teen Pregnancy Prevention
Links directly to CDC’s web page on Unintended and Teen pregnancy. Provides information on prevention, statistics and reports.
CDC's STDs Facts and Information
Links directly to CDC’s STD web page. Provides information and reports on STDs, symptoms, prevention, and treatment.
CDC’s Viral Hepatitis Website
Links directly to information on Viral Hepatitis through CDC’s website. Provides information, resources, and national statistics on prevention and treatment.
CDC’s Viral Hepatitis C Website
Provides specific information and reports on Hepatitis C symptoms and prevention.
AIDS Info – A service of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
AIDSinfo is a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) project that offers the latest federally approved information on HIV/AIDS clinical research, treatment and prevention, and medical practice guidelines for people living with HIV/AIDS, their families and friends, health care providers, scientists, and researchers. It includes the Glossary of HIV/AIDS-Related Terms (English) / El Glosario del VIH/SIDA está disponible en español (Spanish) which helps clarify terms used in prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.
Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS)
This non-profit agency provides information and resources on sexuality, including information on public policy, media, and education.
SIECUS Sexuality Education Curricula Bibliography
This bibliography contains information on commercially available curricula that represent effective approaches to teaching about sexuality-related topics
Advocates for Youth
This organization provides information to help young people make informed and responsible decisions about their reproductive and sexual health.
National Campaign to Prevent Teen & Unplanned Pregnancy
This website that provides national and state resources and information on reducing teen pregnancy.
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Whom do I contact for more information?
Anne Marie Silvia
HIV/AIDS Sexuality Specialist
Rhode Island Department of Education
401-222-8951
AnneMarie.Silvia@ride.ri.gov
Jan Shedd
Chief, Office of Family, Youth and School Success
Rhode Island Department of Health
401-222-5927
Jan.Shedd@health.ri.gov
Lucille Minuto
Assistant Administrator, Office of HIV/AIDS
RI Department of Health
401-222-7549
Lucille.Minuto@health.ri.gov
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