School Health Connection Comprehensive Sexual Health Education Request for Application 2014 Release Date: August 13, 2014 Due Date: September 3, 2014 1515 Poydras Street, Suite 1200, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112 www.schoolhealthconnection.org
Comprehensive Sexual Health Education Request for Application 2014 Information To submit your school s application, complete the attached application and submit it as a PDF via email to: schoolhealth@lphi.org Subject Line: Comprehensive Sexual Health Education RFA Please direct all questions related to this application to: Kendra LeSar, MPH, CHES School Wellness Program Coordinator klesar@lphi.org 504-609-3933 Applications are due September 3, 2014 by 5pm. 2
Table of Contents I. Overview of Funding Opportunity... 4 a. Purpose of Funding... 4 b. Award Information... 4 c. Eligibility Criteria... 4 d. Timeline... 4 II. Program Description... 5 a. About School Health Connection... 5 b. Program Background... 5 c. Program Roadmap... 6 d. Louisiana Sex Education Law... 8 e. Services Provided... 9 III. Funding Responsibilities... 9 a. Your School s Commitment... 9 b. Suggested Timeline... 10 IV. Reporting Responsibilities... 10 V. Application Review... 11 a. Review Process... 11 b. Right to Reject Applications... 11 c. Award Notification... 11 VI. Administrative Information... 11 a. Technical Assistance and Support Services... 11 b. Grant Monitoring and Reporting... 11 3
I. Overview of Funding Opportunity a. Purpose of Funding School Health Connection s (SHC) School Wellness Program aims to improve the health and wellbeing of Orleans Parish students and their families through coordinated health promotion activities for students, staff and families. One component of coordinated school health is health education, and a key part of health education for adolescents is comprehensive sexual health education. School Health Connection aims to enhance health education by providing technical assistance to aid schools in creating lasting and sustainable comprehensive sexual health education programs. In line with this aim, SHC seeks to facilitate the implementation of comprehensive sexual health education in selected schools (eligibility listed below) through a 16 month funding opportunity. b. Award Information Grant Program: School Health Connection Estimated Number of Awards: 4 Estimated Amount of Awards: Up to $5,000 per award Program Period: September 2014 to December 2015 c. Eligibility Criteria To be eligible to apply for this funding opportunity to bring comprehensive sexual health education at your school, you must: Submit a completed application by 5pm on September 3, 2014. Provide letters of support from the school leadership (see details in application.) Be located within Orleans Parish. Have a minimum total enrollment of 150 students in grade 7 and above. Willingness to participate in program evaluation activities. d. Timeline Date Wednesday, August 13, 2014 Wednesday, September 3, 2014 Wednesday, September 17, 2014 Benchmark RFA Release Date Submission Deadline Award Notification 4
II. Program Description a. About School Health Connection School Health Connection (SHC) was established in 2006 by the Louisiana Public Health Institute in partnership with school health service providers. The goal of SHC is to improve the overall health of students and school communities. SHC works with schools to develop comprehensive school wellness programs. In addition, SHC provides support and technical assistance to school-based health centers in the greater New Orleans area. b. Program Background In 2006, SHC received funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to support the construction of school-based health centers and to enhance physical and behavioral health services with the goal of improving overall health of students and school communities. In 2009, the SHC School Wellness Program was created to improve the health and wellbeing of students through improving the coordination, effectiveness, and evaluation of school health and wellness programs. To reduce sexual risk behaviors and related health problems among youth, schools can help young people adopt lifelong attitudes and behaviors that support their health and wellbeing including behaviors that reduce their risk for unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. A key component of improving student health and wellbeing is providing students with opportunities to acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary for making health-promoting decisions and adopting health-enhancing behaviors. Comprehensive sexual health education that provides accurate, complete, and developmentally appropriate information on human sexuality, including risk-reduction strategies and contraception, helps young people take steps to protect their health, including delaying sex, using condoms or contraception, and avoiding other high risk sexual behaviors. School Health Connection began focusing on comprehensive sexual health education in 2011. This work initially focused on clarifying the state law around sex education. SHC met extensively with representatives from the Louisiana Department of Education (DOE) to determine what was and was not permitted under state law. Once this was clear, we continued working with DOE staff to develop a model comprehensive sexual health education policy for schools and charter management organizations. We have since worked with several charter organizations to create an environment in which comprehensive sexual health education can be implemented successfully. 5
c. Program Roadmap School Health Connection has developed a Roadmap for Successful Implementation of Comprehensive Sexual Health Education in Schools. This Roadmap was developed through our work with the Louisiana Department of Education and identifies the steps necessary to integrate comprehensive sexual health education into your school. Roadmap for Successful Implementation of Comprehensive Sexual Health Education in Schools 1. Identify and clarify state and local policies surrounding sexual health education in schools 2. Assess school/charter/district readiness 3. Develop school/charter/district policy that reflects community values and expectations 4. Adoption of policy by governing board 5. Identify person(s) responsible for teaching sexual health education 6. Select curriculum 7. Obtain curriculum approval by governing board and parent committee 8. Train teachers on comprehensive sexual health education and approved curriculum 9. Implement curriculum in classroom 10. Monitor implementation and evaluate program success 11. Quality improvement and continued implementation, monitoring, and evaluation 6
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d. Louisiana Sex Education Law There are many common misconceptions around the state law concerning sex education. Understanding the legal environment around sex education is the first step in preparing to implement comprehensive sexual health education. Louisiana Revised Statute 17:281 defines sex education as: the dissemination of factual biological or pathological information that is related to the human reproduction system and may include the study of sexually transmitted disease, pregnancy, childbirth, puberty, menstruation, and menopause, as well as parental responsibilities. Louisiana does not require instruction in sexual health education at any grade level, but does allow sexual health education to be taught in grades 7 12. Sexual health education must emphasize abstinence, but can also include other risk reduction methods, such as contraception and condoms. The emphasis of sexual health education instruction shall be to encourage sexual abstinence between unmarried persons, including the following aspects: Abstinence from sexual activity outside of marriage is the expected standard for all school-age children. Abstinence from sexual activity is a way to avoid unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, and other associated health problems. Each student has the power to control personal behavior, and sexual health education instruction should encourage students to base action on reasoning, selfesteem, and respect for others. Sexual health education cannot: Include religious beliefs, practices in human sexuality, nor the subjective moral and ethical judgments of the instructor or other persons. Test, quiz, or survey students about their personal or family beliefs or practices in sex, morality, or religion. Distribute any contraceptive or abortifacient drug, device, or other similar product at any public school. Utilize any sexually explicit materials depicting male or female homosexual activity. In any way counsel or advocate abortion. The full text of RS 17:281 can be found at http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/law.aspx?d=80423. 8
e. Services Provided The SHC team will provide an ongoing continuum of technical assistance and support services to selected applicants through one-on-one coaching and ongoing learning community workshops. This can include, but is not limited to: Providing schools with sample policies and assistance in customization Helping present policies to charter boards, parents groups, and other stakeholders Engaging students and student groups into the planning process Training for school staff on legal issues surrounding sex education Curriculum selection and adaptation Providing teacher training Evaluation and assessment feedback and support Assessment tool development This technical assistance will focus on strengthening school capacity for institutionalizing comprehensive sexual health education. III. Funding Responsibilities a. Your School s Commitment Selected schools will have the opportunity to receive up to $5,000 for the completion of the following items. Funds are intended to support comprehensive sexual health education. Develop, adopt, and implement a comprehensive sexual health $1,000 education policy adhering to state and local guidelines Sample measures of success: Copy of policy and proof of dissemination (website, handbooks, meeting agendas, etc.) Offer a comprehensive sexual health education training, facilitated by $500 School Health Connection Sample measures of success: Training sign-in sheets Select and obtain a comprehensive sexual health education curriculum $1,500 Sample measures of success: Minutes from parent review committee indicating approval of curriculum, proof of purchase of curriculum (if applicable) Ensure that responsible teachers are appropriately trained in the $1,000 delivery of this curriculum Sample measures of success: Training sign-in sheets and/or travel receipts Deliver comprehensive sexual health education to designated students $1,000 Sample measures of success: Pre- and post-test results given to students, fidelity monitoring 9
b. Suggested Timeline September 2014 September December 2014 September December 2014 September December 2014 January May 2015 January May 2015 January May 2015 January July 2015 August December 2015 Ongoing Complete contractual arrangements with LPHI. Develop a comprehensive sexual health education policy that reflects community values and expectations. Adoption of policy. Ideally the policy will be adopted at the charter or district level. Identify the teacher(s) who will be responsible for implementing comprehensive sexual health education Offer a comprehensive sexual health education training, facilitated by School Health Connection, to all faculty Select a comprehensive sexual health education curriculum that is appropriate for your school. Obtain curriculum approval by governing board (charter or district) and a parent review committee. Teacher(s) trained on comprehensive sexual health education and approved curriculum. Trained teachers implement the curriculum with appropriate students. Submit quarterly progress reports, which indicate program participation levels. IV. Reporting Responsibilities Selected schools will be required to submit quarterly (October 2014, January 2015, April 2015, July 2015, October 2015, and December 2015) progress reports identifying completed activities and requesting payment. School Health Connection will provide report templates at the initiation of the program period. Supporting documentation, as outlined above as measures of success, will be required for funds disbursement. 10
V. Application Review a. Review Process The SHC team will convene to review the applications. The review panel will consist of persons who have no conflict of interest with any of the applications. An application will be evaluated independently in terms of its responsiveness to the eligibility criteria and questions. It is critical for applicants to provide complete, clear responses for each item in the application. Information provided in the application is subject to additional follow-up and verification prior to approval or rejection of the application. b. Right to Reject Applications School Health Connection has the right to: 1.) Reject, in whole or in part, any or all applications. 2.) Advertise for new applications. 3.) Abandon the need for such services. 4.) Cancel this RFA if it is in the best interest of School Health Connection. c. Award Notification All SHC RFA applicants will receive a letter via email from LPHI indicating the award decision by September 17, 2014. VI. Administrative Information a. Technical Assistance and Support Services The SHC team will provide an ongoing continuum of technical assistance and support services to selected applicants through one-on-one coaching and ongoing learning community workshops. This technical assistance will focus on strengthening school capacity for institutionalizing comprehensive sexual health education. b. Grant Monitoring and Reporting LPHI s SHC will work collaboratively with grantees throughout the duration of the grant period, as detailed in the award agreement, in the capacity of grant monitoring and reporting. An award agreement will be used to outline the terms of this partnership in accordance with the approved application, budget, and terms and conditions of the award. As a part of the award agreement, recipients will be required to submit programmatic and financial reports in a designated format. LPHI will provide a reporting template to the grant recipients during the award agreement negotiation process. 11