BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: Nationally-Known WAIT Speaker Returns for Special Parent Presentation

Parents & Other Community Adults Encouraged to Attend June 19 Event

May 15, 2008

PARENTS
You asked and we listened!!
DON'T MISS THIS ONE!

Concerned parents along with many community supporters are bringing in Shelly Donahue to share an important message with our schools and community.

Shelly is a nationally known speaker and trainer with the WAIT Training program. She has traveled throughout the U.S. helping schools and communities develop a healthy abstinence program through education and awareness. Shelly’s message includes:

* The effects of drugs and alcohol on teen decision making
* Teen character development and healthy relationships
* How to start over
* Assertiveness skills
* Why abstinence is the healthy choice

Shelly spoke to teens in the Wahoo and Ft. Calhoun Public Schools in April of this year. An adult presentation was also offered within those communities during that time. Shelly received an overwhelming amount of support at both locations with a request to "Bring her back!" So, if you missed her adult presentation in April or would like to hear her again, please plan to attend.. Parents, grandparents, youth workers, medical professionals, business leaders, educators, pastors and concerned citizens should take advantage of this opportunity to hear Shelly’s message!

THURSDAY, June 19, 2008 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Wahoo Middle/High School
Little Theatre

Light Refreshments Served

Sponsored by Three Rivers Public Health Department

About WAIT Training (from www.waittraining.com):

Joneen Mackenzie RN, BSN was a stay-at-home mother of four in Evergreen, CO when her 12-year-old son brought home a permission slip for science class. Curious as to why permission was needed, she spoke with the teacher and sat in on the class to review the curricula. Joneen was concerned that the “human reproduction” unit being taught began with an anatomy lesson but then proceeded immediately to teaching about condoms and contraceptives.

Students received no information outside of the physical aspects and implications of sexual activity. As a registered nurse for more than a decade prior to starting a family, she knew the broad health issues at stake and strongly felt that the kids deserved far more than they were getting. This was the spark that ignited her passion to develop a better, more complete approach for young people.

Within weeks she had assembled a group of students in her home to learn more about the questions they had about sex. To her surprise, the students were far more curious about relationships than sex. The questions on their minds were things like, “Can marriage last?” and “How do I know when I’m in love?” They wanted and needed help with how to develop and sustain healthy relationships—not the specifics of proper condom usage.

The quest had begun. A fresh approach to curriculum was needed—one that answered the real questions of today’s teens. One that taught towards the positive, rather than away from the negative. One that gave kids high goals and equipped them to reach them. And one that was remarkably relevant and helpful to every student in class—both those who have and have not been sexually active.

Within months, she had developed a 10-page lesson and secured permission to teach relationship education in the science class. The classes she taught were packed with teens and parents. Within a year, she was teaching her program in communities throughout Colorado.

A Curriculum focuses on more than abstinence education
With the input from professionals across the United States, the WAIT Training curriculum has grown from a modest 10-page outline into a 330-page collection of public school lessons and resources that give teachers the tools they need to make a lasting, positive impact on students.

WAIT Training is fun, interactive and insightful, and it has been reviewed and approved by thousands of teachers, trainers and students. Based on the positive reactions to the WAIT Training curriculum, additional products have been developed to address the health-related needs of a diverse group of young people. To view the curriculum visit www.why-abstinence.org.