Abstinence seminars open to students, parents and educators

International abstinence educator Pam Stenzel of Enlighten Communications will visit Corpus Christi on Aug. 16-17 to deliver her straightforward message to more than 1,000 young people, teachers and parents. Stenzel travels worldwide speaking in person to 500,000 young people every year.
 
“She challenges and inspires youth to understand the values of personal responsibility, self discipline and character. Pam tackles today’s tough issues of sex with candor, insight and humor,” Kristie Rutledge, a local organizer of Stenzel’s visit, said. 
 
Stenzel's “Sex Has a Price Tag - The Original” video is distributed worldwide.  Her videos have been translated into 11 different languages and viewed by millions.  Stenzel is the author of several books for teens, including "Sex Has a Price Tag,” “Nobody Told Me” and “Who's in Your Social Network.”
 
She has produced multiple DVDs and curriculum sets addressing the importance of abstinence, such as “High Cost of Free Love,” “Take a Look in the Mirror,” “Love Lessons,” “Sex Has a Price Tag,” “Sex Ed' (No Screwin' Around)” and “Parents Matter.”
 
“Because overwhelming scientific and statistical evidence points to the tremendous effectiveness of abstinence education in reducing teen pregnancies and STD's, protecting student's physical and psychological health, and improved academic achievement, there is a community-wide effort to ensure that educational resources are available to help students in the Coastal Bend understand the value and importance of choosing abstinence,” Rutledge said.
 
The Texas Department of State Health Services 2010 report “STD Surveillance Report” places Nueces County at the number three spot on the top 25 list of counties with the highest rate of chlamydia.  Nueces County has an epidemic rate of 738 cases per 100,000 in population, compared to the state average rate of 467.3. 
 
Despite the resources that have been poured into marketing so-called "safe sex" in Nueces County, there has been a catastrophic increase in the rate of chlamydia over the past 10 years from 464.1 in 2001 to 738.2 in 2010, per 100,000 in population.  Chlamydia rates in Nueces County have continued to climb far above state averages in the last 10 years, from a 41% higher rate than the state average in 2001 to a 58% higher rate in 2010.
 
Nueces County came in at ninth on the top 25 list of counties in the state with the highest number of cases of both chlamydia and gonorrhea and thirteenth with the highest number of syphilis. 
 
Stenzel's DVD presentations are approved by 11 coastal bend area school districts, including Corpus Christi ISD and are under review at four school districts in Aransas and San Patricio Counties. 
 
Refuge of Hope, a pregnancy resource center, delivers presentations of Stenzel's abstinence DVDs in many area schools.  Corpus Christi Pregnancy Center Counselors rely on information from Stenzel's DVDs to help their clients understand the risks of casual sex.  Both pregnancy centers have been instrumental in encouraging area public schools to incorporate abstinence curriculum resources as well as offering tremendous assistance in promoting Stenzel's speaking events on Aug. 16-17.
 
Stenzel's public events while in Corpus Christi include:      
Stenzel’s abstinence curriculum DVDs—“Sex Has a Price Tag” and “Sex Ed-No Screwin' Around”—were recommended by the Student Health Advisory Council and approved by the Corpus Christi ISD board of trustees in August 2011.
 
Fees for Stenzel’s speaking and educational services along with the costs of abstinence curriculum resources for Corpus Christi ISD schools have been underwritten by local benefactors that are passionate about providing programs to encourage and empower students to maintain virtue, self discipline and a personal commitment to embrace chastity until marriage, Rutledge said.
 
Stenzel’s seminars provide the professional development necessary for the implementation of the abstinence programs required by 18 Corpus Christi ISD middle and high schools.  This three-hour professional development seminar will take place on Friday, Aug. 17 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. at Solomon Coles High School and Education Center.
 
Stenzel will detail compelling scientific and statistical evidence of the benefits of abstinence and provide an in-depth look at all the consequences of casual sex, including the emotional and psychological risks, and the health crisis facing teens in today's "hook up" culture.  Educators will be trained in proven strategies for empowering students to avoid high-risk sex.    
 
All Corpus Christi ISD high and middle school health and biology teachers, P.E. coaches, parent facilitators and all other teachers that provide a curriculum that incorporate human sexuality are encouraged to attend the training seminar.  These employees can register through the district's professional development exchange program.
 
All school districts in the Coastal Bend area are invited to take advantage of this one-time offer to learn from a leading specialist in abstinence education.  Attendance is free.  Registration is required.  Educators from school districts other than Corpus Christi ISD can register by sending their name, school name and phone number to [email protected]
 
For more information on these events, email [email protected] or call Rutledge at (361) 463-8182.