Program Background

MyChoice2Wait is an abstinence-only education program that was developed by Centerstone, a non-profit organization that helps children, adolescents, adults, seniors and their families who suffer from a myriad of behavioral health challenges. Many people may wonder why a behavioral or mental health organization pursued an abstinence grant. The reason is that teens’ sexual experience plays a vital role in their overall health (social, emotional, and physical) and development as they become adults. All in all, an abstinence-until-marriage message promotes good mental health.

In 2004, Centerstone received a three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to implement an abstinence-only sex education program for middle and high school students in rural counties throughout Middle Tennessee.

Students receive instruction through MyChoice2Wait, which stresses the following three concepts:

:: Avoiding sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs)
:: Developing healthy non-sexual relationships
:: Encouraging emotional and physical health by choosing abstinence

During the years of the grant, students in grades 7 through 12 took part in the program during their regular school day. The MyChoice2Wait component for middle school students was designed to be appropriate for younger adolescents. The high school component encouraged adolescents to make responsible sexual choices and educates them regarding the benefits of abstaining from sex until marriage. Ultimately, our goal is to empower youth to make their own choices and avoid risky behaviors.

Simultaneously, Centerstone worked to raise awareness throughout the communities served about the dangers of STDs and the importance of supporting youth who choose abstinence. This program has also worked with parents of teens, developing an advisory board of adults and teens to determine the curriculum’s effectiveness, distributing educational materials and implementing a media campaign.

MyChoice2Wait hopes to help the citizens of rural counties throughout Middle Tennessee counter the higher incidents of premarital births, sexually-transmitted diseases and abortions, and ultimately enhance the quality of life for the entire community.

The overall purpose of Centerstone’s MyChoice2Wait program is to establish a long-term, community-based, age-appropriate program serving students age 12-18, educators, and other adults in Middle Tennessee. The grant funding ended in 2007, but we expect the project to continue indefinitely through the various educators and community groups who we expect will see the value of the program and adopt it as their own. Centerstone will evaluate the success of My Choice in Middle Tennessee in order to contribute to the body of research regarding teenage sexual abstinence.