“We have study after study that confirms that abstinence education is working,” said Sibyl Spahn of Norfolk, the organization’s project director.
Despite its success, the work of the coalition is in jeopardy because of President Barack Obama’s plans to no longer provide federal funding for abstinence-focused programs like CCDC.
Staff members are hoping someone will carry on the campaign that started when organizers — including Spahn and Shelley Davy of Norfolk — applied for a Title V grant funded by the federal government under a previous presidential administration and administered by the state of Nebraska.
Since then, the grass-roots effort has grown into a into multi-dimensional organization with five full-time paid staff members, around 25 part-time staff and another 80 or more youth who send the CCDC message in a variety of ways to junior high school, middle school and high school students.
One of the successful delivery methods involves the 80 “youth mentors” who, along with adult staff members, give three programs a year to around 13,000 students in 72 area schools.
The programs, Spahn said, focus on building and maintaining healthy relationships and avoiding drugs and alcohol.
In addition to the school assemblies, seventh- through ninth-grade students can participate in “The Zone,” the CCDC’s after-school program, which operates Monday through Thursday from 3:30 to 6 p.m. in the lower level of the Kensington building in downtown Norfolk.
There, students have snacks, play games, do their homework and participate in a lesson about making good decisions, said Laura Kastl, the after-school program coordinator.
While the program is open to all students, Spahn said school guidance counselors often suggest students who might especially benefit from the program.
The CCDC also conducts a summer “Discovery” program for girls, some of whom have have participated in the after-school program or who live in a group home.
The girls gather three days a week to work on a craft, have a lesson and, most importantly, build relationships with the staff.
The CCDC staff also conduct classes on healthy living for girls residing in a group home and hosts a program for youth who are on probation or in a court-ordered diversion plan.
While some people might wonder why an abstinence education initiative offers programs for youth involved in the juvenile justice system, Spahn explained that CCDC’s purpose is to not only help youth understand how to establish and maintain healthy relationships, but also how to set boundaries, the importance of good character and more.
“We want to be purposeful . . . and to engage kids in these issues,” she said.
Spahn also hosts a parents’ night at 10 area middle schools with a goal of encouraging parents to talk to their children about the tough issues they face.
While there are naysayers out there who believe children can’t be influenced when it comes to their behavior, Spahn said their research has shown that their program is effective. The analysis is based on periodic surveys of students who have heard the CCDC message.
Recent data published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine affirms CCDC’s belief.
The study showed that, two years after participating in abstinence-only education, one-third of students had engaged in sex as opposed to one-half of the students in the control group.
The results have not been lost school administrators from the area.
“Can I put hard data on it? No,” said Mark Brahmer, principal at Pierce High School. “But I can guarantee the message has an impact on the students.”
While Brahmer recognizes the role the adult staff play in the success of the program, in his opinion it’s the youth mentors who make the biggest difference.
“That’s an effective method,” he added.
Todd Strom agrees that youth are listening to the CCDC message.
The principal at Crofton High School cites the results of the CCDC surveys as proof that the program is having an impact.
“We look at the results, and we can see that the kids are making better choices,” he said.
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Coming tomorrow: A plea goes out to find a way for the CCDC programs to continue.
