Frequently Asked Questions
How many kids do you see?
AWARE reaches about 15,000 kids per year through classroom presentations and assemblies. Requests for the AWARE program continue to increase based on referrals from teachers, school administrators and other youth-serving organizations.
How do aware programs tie in with current sex education in local schools?
AWARE’s focus is on helping teens build healthy relationships. AWARE speakers make it very clear that choosing to become sexually active is their personal choice; however if they make the decision to get sexually involved, teens are strongly encouraged in each presentation to see a medical professional for sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and to discuss risk reduction methods that include contraceptive education. Contraceptives are also discussed in other curriculum’s outside of the AWARE Program. AWARE wants teens to be free from the worry and concerns associated with any sexual activity so they can focus on their dreams and goals.
How does your program ensure that it addresses the needs of all students?
AWARE discusses the benefits of starting over if a teen has been sexually involved but does not use the term “born-again virgin” in its presentations. AWARE empowers students to make a new decision to save sex for marriage or a life-long mutually monogamous relationship—-to put their health and their goals as priorities.
Are you a faith-based organization?
AWARE is a faith-based organization but its presentations have no religious message nor are the presentations made to shame or alienate students if they do not agree with the message. The focus is on building healthy relationships which targets working on the emotional component of a relationship, building character, exercising self-control, establishing healthy boundaries, and developing refusal skills during these formative years.
What are parents saying about the Parent Workshops?
After attending a Parent Workshop, 98% of adults responded by indicating they were more knowledgeable, better equipped and encouraged to talk with their kids about sex and relationships.
Why does AWARE address pornography? Isn’t it a form of harmless entertainment that is a personal choice?
The average age for first time exposure is 11 years old (some report as young as 8 years old). Studies demonstrate that those with the highest level of exposure to porn are more likely to act out sexually within the following 12 months than those with the least exposure. Porn can break down intimacy in a relationship, it can be progressive, and it can destroy marriages, families, and careers. Sexual addiction is a potential risk for some individuals and teens need to be aware of these risks.