Grades 6-8

There are many options for sex education curricula; it can be overwhelming. Participants will discuss district wants and needs and various curriculum options to decide which curriculum is a good fit.

What is comprehensive sex education (CSE)? Join us to learn the components of CSE, why it’s important, and how it can benefit your students and your school. We will also discuss the process for getting approval from your school board and how GCAPP staff can support you.

Coping skills are strategies we use to manage unpleasant emotions, decrease stress, and establish order in our lives. They can be used in the classroom both by students and teachers. Participants will not only learn practical skills to use in their daily lives but also how to teach these skills to their students.

Each of us has experienced some type of trauma, whether it is collective trauma- like a natural disaster- or a personal trauma- like sexual abuse. In the classroom, trauma can show up in ways that look like behavior issues and actions that require discipline. Participants will learn small changes that can make a big difference in the classroom for students who have experienced trauma.

Self-care is more than just bubble baths and facials; it is vital to our mental health and can include everyday activities, like walking and breathing. School staff can model healthy self-care and pass it along to their students. We will discuss what self-care can look like in your classroom both virtually and in-person.

Transitioning our work and school to a virtual setting has led to less engagement, but virtual spaces can promote connection as well. The human brain is wired for connection, and many are feeling disconnected from their jobs, school, and peers. Join us to discuss tips for preventing burnout and creating and promoting safety during screen time.

Engaging with young people in a meaningful way is vital to the success of schools and programs. Join us to learn practical tips and tricks to increase your engagement both in the classroom and virtually.

Many students in our schools identify as a gender or sexual minority. A 2020 survey found that 40% of LGBTQ respondents seriously considered attempting suicide in the past twelve months, with more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth having seriously considered suicide (Trevor Project, 2020). Participants will identify ways to support gender and sexual minorities in their schools and learn skills for being a more inclusive educator.

Participants will be able to describe the rights of minors in Georgia as related to confidentiality, informed consent, contraceptive care and counseling, abortion, STI testing, HIV/AIDS testing, substance abuse, and emergency care. We will provide youth-friendly resources for accessing reproductive health needs.  

This training is a brief overview of various forms of sexual violence, including rape, sexual harassment, and stalking, in addition to the importance of consent. We will discuss SB401 and look at how that has impacted sexual violence prevention education in schools. We will review curriculum options and programs for addressing this mandate.