Comprehensive Human Sexuality Education Program
National Standards for Sexuality Education
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Supporting Health
As part of the Lawrence Public Schools' comprehensive sexuality education program, the Lawrence Board of Education has partnered with Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health (LDCPH) to make condoms available to students in the high school health offices.
Why give high school students access to condoms at school?
Almost half of high school students report engaging in sexual activity. Consistent and correct condom use helps decrease risks of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. The Institute of Medicine, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Medical Association have all adopted policies recommending that condoms be made available to adolescents as part of comprehensive school health programs.
Won’t making condoms available at school encourage sexual activity among teens?
Improving access to condoms increases condom use. Multiple studies show it does not increase sexual activity.
Doesn’t making condoms available at school send a mixed message to teens?
It’s important for families to communicate with their teens about their own values and expectations about abstinence and sexuality. Talking about these topics helps your teen make healthy decisions. Many teens choose to be sexually active, and having access to condoms helps mitigate some of the health risks.
Won’t condom accessibility at school signal teens that sex isn’t risky?
No. In fact, when condom access is part of a comprehensive sexuality education program, studies have shown that rates of sexual activity tend to decrease as teens more critically contemplate sexual decisions.
Won’t teens just make balloons out of the condoms?
Increased familiarity with condoms increases the likelihood teens will use them when engaging in sexual activity.
Please visit www.ldchealth.org or contact the health department at 785/843-3060 for more information about family planning and the use of condoms to prevent STDs/HIV and unintended pregnancies. If you have questions about this partnership for adolescent health, please contact Lawrence school board members.