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HIV and AIDS information (National Conference of State Legislatures, NCSL, 2016).
Furthermore, the information availed should be scientifically true and accurate. Prior studies
have shown that young individuals who are aged between 12-24 years old account for over half
of the new sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Moreover, about 1 in 4 adolescent girls who are
sexually active have an STD. This is a staggering rate, and they suffer from a variety of diseases
such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and chlamydia (Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 2016). The CDC also details that parents should be involved in sex education to deal
with the rising cases of STDs among teens. This will prove beneficial in discouraging teens and
children from engaging in risky and unhealthy behaviors that can expose them to diseases. These
include sexually risky activities and alcohol, tobacco, and drug abuse. The goal of this paper is to
develop a health advocacy campaign. This is achieved by persuading legislation to change the
current sex education policy that is in place in public schools, and to encourage more
participation by parents.
come up with new legislation. Presently, the State of Texas allows parents to provide permission
to allow their children to be educated on sex (Texas Education Agency, 2016). If they do not do
so, then the child is not authorized to take part in sex education classes. However, parents should
not be allowed the final say as to whether the children can access sex education. It should be
compulsory as it would lead to more benefits for children and the state. Moreover, if both the
parent and child attend sex education classes, it will act as a learning experience for both parties.
It is a fact that parents are suspicious and afraid of what their children will learn in these sex
education classes. Current policy requirement state that the information taught in these classes
should be scientifically true and accurate (NCSL, 2016). Since this has been achieved, the
parents would not be concerned about the elements of the curriculum as they would in regards to
what the children are taught about the Second World War.
The NCSL details that about 38 states and the District of Columbia have given
permission that parents should participate in sex education programs. This allows the parents to
make inputs in the curriculum in place and will also enable them to sit in the health education
boards. For instance, the Ohio Senate Bill 311 details that the Ohio Board of Education should
make it compulsory that all schools in the district must allow parents to be directly involved in
the sex education programs. Greater involvement will allow parents to learn and also provide
inputs to make changes in the programs. Furthermore, it will improve interactions between
parents and teachers who are involved with their children (The Parent Involvement Policy. Ohio
Department of Education, 2007). Moreover, the parents will gain an understanding of their role
in their childrens education and will understand the elements of the program. Furthermore, it
can affect the accomplishment of the childs sex education. In this regard, the parents opinions
can be implemented into the education, leading to improvements (The Parent Involvement
An effective strategy to encourage policy makers to change the policy on sex education is
by providing them with statistics on teen pregnancy and adolescent STD infection rates. A
survey carried out by the CDC shows that over 47 percent of high school students have been
involved in some form of sexual activity. This is a large number, and about half of them are
exposed to dangerous diseases. Moreover, about 15 percent of the respondents said that they
have over four sexual partners, increasing the risk of spreading dangerous diseases and
pregnancy. The NCSL also stated that about one in four girls will be pregnant before they reach
their twenties. The teenage mothers experience more issues as they will have to drop out of
school to take care of their children (NCSL, 2016). They are also less likely to graduate as
having a child as a teenager can lead to harassment when they go back to school. Indeed, such
girls will have to rely on the government and social services for support as the childs father are
also young and jobless, and they cannot take care of the child. These young mothers will also
have poorer health. STDs are quite costly to the economy. The United healthcare system spends
about 16 billion per year to treat STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Office of the Disease
Prevention and Health Promotion. 2016). Once the information has been presented to the policy
makers, they will be aware that changes in the sexual education program will directly benefit the
healthcare system. This will ensure that many of the emerging issues are avoided, and healthcare
of the professional organization such as the American Nurses Association (ANA) (Milstead,
2013). According to Mislead, ANA spent about $1,197,342 for lobbying purposes. Indeed,
linking with such an organization would prove benefit as an effective lobbying strategy. This
comprises the three-legged stool that guides lobbying. The first and second lobbying entail the
use of the lobbyist. Policy makers tend to lack time to make decisions on contentious issues, and
will often rely on the expertise of the lobbyists to aid in understanding what they are supporting
or denouncing (Milstead, 2013). The third leg is the funding aspect of lobbying. In this regard,
the linkages with the professional organizations will avoid the burden of funding the lobbyist
through personal finances. The organization is involved in employed the required personnel.
Essentially the lobbyist is essential in policy modifications, and they are quite effective in
encouraging a policy change. Furthermore, they are skilled and knowledgeable on the issue
being petitioned.
An important issue that arises in the legislative process is religion. A large number of
religious groups are not in support of sex education in schools. Furthermore, many of these
groups do not support the use of contraception or even talking about premarital sex. The best
way to avoid this challenge is by reminding the policy makers about the US First Amendment of
the Constitution. This details the link between religion and the government. Essentially, religious
activities and expression are free from government influence, and vice versa (U.S. Department of
Education, 2003). Some parents could argue that teaching students about sex, use of
contraception and STD prevention could encourage an increase in sexual activity. However, this
is not the case. It will allow the students to change their perspective about sex, especially when
they are aware of the data in regards to the risks of sexual intercourse. The parents will also be
inclined to teach their children about sex once they know the dangers that arise due to the current
STD are easily transmitted as that can pass from person to person through a variety of
means. These includes semen, blood, bodily and vaginal fluids. Moreover, they can spread
through non-sexual means such as during childbirth or pregnancy, blood transfusions or sharing
among teenagers (Lederman and Mian, 2003). This is achieved through closer ties among
families and consistency between parent and teen values. Parental beliefs, family structure and
involvement, parent-child communication and parental supervision can influence life choices
among teens. They are vital to prevent high pregnancy rates among teens.
Safer choices initiative
A strategy to deal with the high rates of teen pregnancy, and reduce sexual intercourse
among teens, is by expanding and assessment of the effectiveness of the school-based programs.
These involve strategies to encourage more conservative practices to curb the spread of HIV,
STDs and rise of pregnancy cases among students. It also entails minimization of unsafe
practices among students. The program entails five main components. These involve staff and
educational involvement, school organization, school setting and peer influence, school
community relationships and parent teaching. Indeed, the ultimate goal of the program is to
minimize the number if pupils who engage in unsafe sex by reducing the number of students who
want to have sex during their early years of school. Furthermore, the program intends to
encourage the use of protection among the students who are already having sex.
The next goal is to reduce the number of teenagers who have several sexual partners or
are involved in drug abuse using intravenous means. This will encourage the teenagers to
minimize the number of sexual partners to one, and avoid the use of dangerous drugs that
exposes them to more risks. Moreover, the goal to encourage more students to undergo HIV/STD
testing. Indeed, this is the first stage to reduce the number of infections, and treat those who have
STDs but have not been keen to access medical care. The school-based programs that discourage
risky sexual practices are essential since the can reach a large number of teenagers who are in
school. Furthermore, many teenagers are in high school, and these relationships often occur in
the context of school. This would ensure that the initiative is effective as the students will begin
to understand the risks that arise, and the need to make better choices regarding their sexual
health. Despite this, such strategies have been unsuccessful the past. These programs were not
effective in decreasing rates of teenage pregnancy, reducing STD and HIV infection (Journal of
Both strategies have different techniques even though the goal is to reduce teenage
pregnancy and STDs. The first strategy entails the participation of parents to ensure that their
children avoid the issues outlines. In this context, the children are much younger, and parental
involvement is effective in ensuring that they are knowledgeable and increases awareness. The
second strategy involves a school-based program. The approach that relies on parents is more
effective as they are in a good position to ensure that the children avoid risky sexual practices.
The children are also closer to their families, and they feel safer if their parents warn them
The best efforts for the advocacy campaign would entail a combination of the parental
involvement approach and the school-based approach. The parents should be included in the
school-based programs that seen to reduce pregnancy rates among teens and minimize the spread
of STDs. Indeed, the overall purpose will involve encouraging the children to practice safer sex.
It should not lead on abstinence as this has not been effective in the past. After all, children are
very curious, and it can be very difficult to encourage abstinence. Furthermore, due to peer
pressure, many children will not refrain from sex. A significant number of teens are already
engaging in premarital sex, and it is much better to encourage them to use protection and follow
safe sex practices like testing and maintain aa single sexual partner.
The US government has used over a billion dollar to support programs that encourage
However, if the parents participant in the process, they give the children a feeling of
preservation. It encourages the children to be aware that they have not been forgotten. Prior
research has shown that if the parents take part in the process, then this would result in higher
academic performance. After all, the parents know their children better, and are often in control
of the activities that the children engage in after school and during weekends. This close links
will discourage children from engaging in sexual risk behavior as they are aware that the wishes
of their parents are for their safety and wellbeing. Active parent participation has also linked to
better academic performance in school, improved student performance and increased social
ability (CDC, 2016). Teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases can have a devastating
effect on the mental state of the student. This can be quite destructive, and the children will not
perform well in class. In many cases, they will feel insecure about their current state, and such
children can be characterized with suicidal feelings and will become antisocial. The parents can
prove effective in providing additional support for the children. This will minimize the chance
that the child will drop out of school due to pregnancies. This will also prevent the development
of negative feelings about their condition. The school-based programs can provide additional
support services. This will ensure that the student interacts with fellow learners and that the
entire school community respects the current condition of the student. This will mean that other
students would not mentally torture the pregnant teen, and she will feel accepted.
Ethical dilemma
An ethical dilemma arises from whether it is moral for parents to teach their children
about sex an easy age or it is a derivative of the teachers. It can be awkward for some parents,
especially staunch Catholics, to teach their children about sex, especially about protection. This
can be seen as encouraging them to have sex. On the other hand, a moral issue arises as to
whether the children can be engaged in risky sexual behaviors is they are not informed early.
Due to closer links between teachers and parents in implementing the strategy, the child will
begin to understand that the school is a safe place to reveal any misconceptions and also ask for
assistance in case of any issue. This will encourage them to ask questions about STD or even
pregnancy test if they feel that they have been affected. The Department of Health and Human
series has detailed that teen who lacks parental controls are two times more likely to become
pregnant. However, those with parental reciprocity will influence them to use condoms, and this
will remain the case later in life. Based on the advocacy campaign, encouraging parents to take
Many ethical challenges apply to the target population. This entail talking about sex to
children who are young. Essentially, it can be difficult to talk about protection when the children
are quite young, and some do not even know what sex is. It would be difficult to ensure that they
understand the importance of protection, and why they should avoid sexual intercourse until they
are old enough. Teenagers are often involved in risky behavior It is a time when teenagers often
avoid listening to the advice of adults, and they can easily engage in sexual acts even if they are
advised against doing so. However, constant interactions between the teachers, parents and
students will be quite influential to ensure that they understand the importance of avoiding sexual
intercourse ta a young age, and using protection if they have already begun. It is an ethical
challenge to encourage teenagers to use protections this would be seen as a sign that thy should
have sex as long as they have protection. Essentially, it encourages sexual behavior at a young
In conclusion, the health advocacy campaign entails the use of school-based initiatives
and a parent-centered approach. The use of both methods will ensure that the rates of HIV/AIDS
infection and teenage pregnancy has been minimized. The campaign will be effective through the
use of lobbying groups. This will minimize the use financial resources and will guarantee the
effectiveness of the advocacy efforts. Some ethical issues also arise in coming up with a health
advocacy campaign. However, they can be dealt with by considering the needs of various
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