Developing Community Support for School-based AIDS Education (From AIDS Challenge: Prevention Education for Young People, P 93-103, 1988, Marcia Quackenbush, et al, eds. -- See NCJ-117621)

• NCJ Number: 117623
• Author(s): D W Haffner
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 11 pages
• Sale Source: Network Publications
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Efforts to foster community support for AIDS prevention programs for teenagers should follow 10 principles, starting with a variety of activities to educate the community about the virus and about why some teenagers are potentially at risk.

Abstract

Additional steps should include developing a community task force or advisory committee, meeting with community groups that are potential supporters, and resolving such questions as the subjects to be included in AIDS education and the role of parents in the program. Further steps should include parents in all aspects of the program, involve teenagers, develop reasonable expectations for the program, and state the values that underlie the program. The final steps should be to recognize that AIDS education has political dimensions, to address this dimension by lobbying and advocating on the issues, and to make a long-term commitment to AIDS prevention. Developing community support and dealing with the small but vocal opposition is crucial to saving children's lives. 13 references.