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.