Coordinating and planning for human sexuality education.

Area of Science:

• Health Education
• Educational Psychology

Background:

• Implementing comprehensive sexuality education programs in schools presents multifaceted challenges.
• These challenges include resistance from stakeholders, value conflicts among staff, and issues related to student and teacher turnover.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the role and impact of a dedicated coordinator in facilitating the successful initiation and implementation of school-based sexuality programs.
• To identify key factors influencing program success and challenges encountered.

Main Methods:

• The study focuses on the functions of a program coordinator, including parent education, staff training, team-teaching, student counseling, and community outreach.
• Analysis of program implementation within the context of the Pomona program, noting persistent issues despite advances.

Main Results:

• A coordinator's role is crucial for addressing diverse needs, teacher readiness, and program types.
• Despite program successes, challenges such as resistance, value conflicts, and personnel turnover persist.

Conclusions:

• A program coordinator is an essential element for overcoming implementation barriers in school sexuality education.
• This role offers a structured approach to enhance the success rate of initiating and executing these vital programs.