You're+Not+in+it+Alone



YOU'RE NOT IN IT ALONE- WorkShop

** By: Joanne Marie Wicks ** **Introduction:** Sexuality in general is not an easy concept. Sexual health will and always has been an issue when it comes to youths. The reasoning behind this is very diverse, ranging from lack of information, experience and understandings. When educating youths about sexual health there is more involved then just ‘bodies and babies‘. Sexual education is helping them to feel comfortable and feel positive about sex. Other topics that are included in learning about sexual health are:

 ·  Hormones  ·  Physical changes  ·  Contraception’s  ·  STI’s  ·  Reproductive system  ·  Periods  ·  How to express closeness  ·  Ways to prevent and reduce harm  ·  Body image  ·  Love  ·  Confidence  ·  Good decision making

Problems that youths face consist of stigma around sex, sexual health and sexuality, lack of resources and lack of support and encouragement. Sexuality whether it is between men, woman, heterosexuality, homosexuality or bisexuality holistically holds influences that contribute to the confusions and expectations of society. Influences such as cultural indifferences, social contradictions, economic factors, disabilities, emotions, desires, needs, risks and relationships. Sexual context in westernised living is exposed to people at an early age. ‘About one in four Year 10 students and half of all Year 12 students have had vaginal intercourse’. Since the cloak of silence was removed in the 1960’s during the ‘sexual revolution’ sex is apprehended in daily routine. But yet to add more confusion in youths already fuzzy lives, some parents and older siblings chose not to openly discuss issues and concerns with sexual health. The encouragement of communication when it comes to sexual context is suppressed within society’s social normalities, and seen if discussed in public it is encouraging reckless behaviour. Just one example of the double standards that control our confusions. With having that said, it is changing. Awareness of sex and sexuality is becoming less of a ‘awkward’ issue and more of an everyday issue. Sexual contexts seen on TV and in teen magazines is usually negatively looked upon (by critics) as ‘promoting sexual behaviour’ and that it should be avoided. Scanning through four popular teen magazines ‘Girlfriend‘, ‘Dolly‘, ‘Cosmopolitan’ and ‘Cleo’ all showed me on the contrary. Articles reading ‘I used a condom and still got HIV’ and ‘abortion outrage’ are just a few of the real life stories that are issued in these magazines. They have issues dedicated to safer sex practices and how to put condoms on correctly. Clearly positively promoting safe sex. These magazines help to educate youths on the reality of sex and its consequences whist instructing that it’s a nature things and should be done safely. ‘Young people are the most common users of the morning after pill in Australia Family Planning clinics.’

I wanted to come up with something that will promote safe sex and educate appropriate and relevant information surrounding sexual health. A few ideas were thrown around. For example a magazine, an awareness day, a pamphlet etc. But I didn’t think that any of those ideas would be sufficient. So I thought of doing a 6 week workshop. I thought about how I’d break the ice, get people involved, build momentum and sustain it. I also figured that I might as well use this assessment to my advantage and pull my networking skills in to action. So my attack plan consist of visiting a ‘Family Planning Clinic’ and ‘Clinic 34’. I also found conveniently at my finger tips, teen magazines (Cleo, Dolly etc…). Whist using the internet to my advantage I collaborated my sources effectively. Although I did find visiting the Family Planning centre to be most constructive. I ended up talking to one of the nurse's who took my through the Family Planning Centre and gave me numerous pamphlets and books to help with my studies. She also insisted that if I ever decided to go forth with my workshop and that I have her full support. Once I collected the all information I thought I would need, I then decided on how to address these issues. Being a teen myself, I was fully aware of issues that teens faced when sexual health is the subject. But I did need the support of ‘professionals’ to help support my workshop. I asked hypothetically if a few nurses would come help lend a hand at my workshop, they agreed. And better yet, free of charge. ‘A workshop that encourages sexual health information and advise to much needed teens is worth my time’. I then started thinking about how many teens I would expect. And then I got to thinking, where would I find these ‘much needed teens’? So back to my ever so helpful nurse at Family Planning, again my questions were thoroughly answered. I would recruit a few of my teens from recommendation that were giving from Family Planning, and then I would recruit the rest from word of mouth. I am also designating a few popular ‘teen hangout’ places to post a few pamphlets on my workshop. By popular ‘teen hangout’ places I refer to Baskins & Robins, The SHAK, The Planet and of course Birch Carroll and Coyle. I have spoken to management at Baskins & Robins and the Planet they all gave consent. I have yet to speak with management from the cinemas and the SHAK.
 * The Planning:**

I expect around 20 to 25 participants. Because of the diversity that naturally comes with sexual health I hope to get people ranging from 13 to 19 years of ages. I also hope to get a good mix of males and females that have varied sexual preference i.e.
 * The Event:**

 ·  Heterosexual  ·  Homosexual  ·  Bisexual

Variation is a key factor when it comes to the workshop. This is because I believe strongly in learning from people that are around us, and if its possible to raise ‘real’ issues within the workshop I consider it easy learning. I found through past experiences that when things are learnt from experiencing them first hand, the meanings that conclude the situation are less likely to be forgotten. Now that I have possible participants and adequate information, I was next to find a location. This puzzled me for sometime, where could I find somewhere that would hold approximately 25 people and noise wouldn’t be a problem (not that I was expecting to have a lot of noise, but I just didn’t want it to be an issue). I would need the space once a week for 6 weeks and I would need it for 2 and half hours. I am inquiring about this at local schools, to borrow a class room for a few hours on a Wednesday. For convenience it would be held during after school hours. I think a middle/high school would show promise because it is associated with students. Also, if held at a middle/high school recommendation could also bring in a few participants and having it at the school adds to convenience. Now that I have support, participants and a rough location for the workshop, I needed at program. My draft program is: Week one (aka initial week): Hosted by Joanne. Because this week would be one of the most important I figured activities that had a lot of consultation was the way to go. The workshops main purpose was to educate sexual health, and support people when making decisions about sex. To maximise the workshop I needed to know exactly what the participants want to get out of it, seeing as this is their workshop. For evaluation purposes note books and pens will be supplied (thanks to family planning). All notes will be taken in this book- this book is for them to keep. Also a requirement would be that after each workshop a short brief journal will be filled out. This is done so feed back can be provided whilst maintaining a controlled evaluation. Through my experience I have found that evaluation is most effective when it is in conjunction with, rather than after the workshop. That way you are constantly moulding around the desires of the directed participants. Plus all journals will be kept under confidentiality. A few other things they can write in their journals are highlights and questions etc…

This will structure the consisting 5 other sessions. The information collected from the [|fundamental] session will help build a better understanding in what the participants want- making them get exactly what they need out of it. This will be done by some open ended questions. ‘The things I worry about most are….?’, ‘I am most proud of…?’, ‘When it comes to sex I am confused about…?’, ‘Things I would like to know more about…?’ etc… and so on.
 * Idea Gathering & Workshop Out Line:**
 * 1) The first session will consist of a lot of idea gathering and initial planning. **


 * 2) The next 5 sessions will all have a few fun activities in them. A few of these activities are listed below: **

<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol"> ·  Feelings cards, <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol"> ·  Value walk- 3 different spots in the room and when asked a question you are expected to go stand at agree, not sure, disagree, <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol"> ·  brainstorming what safe sex is- done on butchers paper then collaborate as group, <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol"> ·  sexual values questions <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol"> ·  how to put condoms on correctly.

In sessions 3 and 4 I would also hope to get the Nurse from family planning involved. I would get her to assist me in the detail of STI’s and pregnancy stats. Prior to her visit I will find out what questions the participants will ask and get them to organise any important queries that they want elaborated.

My evaluation process won’t be as complicated as I originally thought. Because of having the journals frequent feedback and evaluation will be provided. I will also be handing out feedback assessment/question sheets on the 6 weeks workshop. The feedback sheet will ask questions on how they would rate the teaching methods, information provided and convenience on location and times etc.
 * Evaluation:**

<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol"> ·  What can my participants do, that they could not do previously? <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol"> ·  What do my participants know, that they did not know previously? <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol"> ·  What perception or understanding have my participants gained, that they did not have previously?

**References:** Safe Sex Training Guide- Family Planning (Folder.) Family Planning NT

Better Health Victoria http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/

Family Planning Western Australia [|http://www.fpwa.org.au/enewsletter/hswaug06///] Shine SA [|//http://www.shinesa.org.au///] Queensland Health [|//http://www.health.qld.gov.au/istaysafe///]

**Image References:** [|//www.msnbc.msn.com\//] [|//www.rand.org//] [|http://www.umdhu.org]

YOU'RE NOT IN IT ALONE- Evaluation Sheet. We a re v er y in t eres t ed in y o ur eva lu at ion of this Workshop; You’re Not in it alone. We wo uld app r eciat e you ta ki n g a moment to com pl ete t h e fo r m be lo w an d ret urn it to t he front when finished. Thank you.

Please tick the most appropriate answer: Good || Excellent || Average || Fair || Poor || N/A || Qual i t y o f ove rall workshop || || || || || || || S t ructure o f each session || || || || || || || O pp o rtuniti es to net wo rk & s har e || || || || || || || quality of the information || || || || || || || Relevance of information || || || || || || || Location/time || || || || || || || S t ru c ture of w orkshop s || || || || || || || Workshops speakers || || || || || || ||

H ow were y our e x pec ta tion s me t or not met ? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

What were the topics that most interested you? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

What topics would you like to hear about in the future, if you were to attend another workshop? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Any other suggestions? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________


 * Thank you for taking time to do this evaluation form**