The Case for Sexual Health Programming in Middle School

Parents and caregivers want to be sure their students are receiving age-appropriate instruction in school. Both Draw the Line, Respect the Line and Teen Outreach Program© are specifically designed for middle school students. The main goal of Draw the Line is prevention: the program encourages students to set limits, teaches them how to stick to those limits, shows them how to respect the limits of other people, and explains the health risks associated with sexual activity. Teaching these concepts before students enter into romantic relationships is key. Research demonstrates that students who understand how unplanned pregnancy and STDs occur have fewer sexual partners over the course of their lives, are more likely to wait to have sex, and are less likely to be victimized. When they do choose to begin a sexual relationship, they do so armed with knowledge on how to protect themselves and their partner.

Teen Outreach Program© contains some lessons on sexual health but also includes valuable information about their friendships, family relationships, values, self esteem, career goals, social media, brain development, community, empathy, communication, emotion management, decision making, problem solving, and more. The program uses a “whole child” approach using a 9-month club format. Students can participate in the program year after year, often with the same facilitator. Students report that, over time, they come to see their TOP© facilitator as a mentor and trusted adult.

Here are a few examples of what the Draw the Line and TOP© programs look like. Preview the Draw the Line program on ETR’s website, or you may request to view printed materials in full from the school or agency facilitating it. 

*Please note, some schools may have specific program adaptations or elect to omit the condom demonstration from the 8th grade Draw the Line curriculum. Contact your child’s school if you have questions.