Rigorous Evaluation of High School FLASH

High School FLASH is a 15-session comprehensive sexual health curriculum designed for classroom settings in grades 9 to 12. The basis of High School FLASH is a public health approach to behavior change. The primary strategy used in the FLASH curriculum for preventing teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and sexual violence is to address student behaviors and attitudes. To this end, FLASH uses a harm reduction and behavior change framework, implements best practices as outlined in the research on effective programs, addresses risk and protective factors for program goals, and rests on the theory of planned behavior. The instructional approach of High School FLASH employs key concepts in every lesson, which enables teachers to hone in on the risk and protective factors outlined in the curriculum logic model.

Sexual Health Education for Adolescents is a five-session knowledge-based sexual health curriculum designed for classroom settings. The lessons cover the reproductive system, pregnancy, birth control, abstinence, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and healthy relationships. The goal of the curriculum is to increase student knowledge in all content areas. The primary strategy employed by Sexual Health Education for Adolescents is to address the cognitive learning domain. The curriculum aligns to national health education standards and is intended to be implemented by classroom teachers. The lessons can be delivered according to the schedule that works best for schools (e.g., twice a week, once a week, every days) within a school semester.