At the January 9th professional development meeting, Rick Zimmerman, PhD, University of Missouri St. Louis, presented the findings of a Deaconess Foundation funded survey that was conducted in 2014 with Greater St. Louis area parents to gather their opinions on when and if key sexual health topics should be taught. The survey found that almost all parents wanted their children to be taught about reproductive anatomy, healthy relationships, STI (sexually transmitted infection) transmission and prevention, effectiveness of birth control methods, and pregnancy prevention; and most wanted these lessons taught in elementary and middle school. The sexual health topics that the largest percentage of parents did not want taught included when and how to use birth control methods (5.3%) and abstinence (14%).  

To view the report, click here.

To view the presentation given on January 9th, click here.