History

To begin addressing sexual health issues, a Sexual Health Education Program was initiated in the fall of 1987 for undergraduate students at the University of Colorado at Boulder. The primary purpose of the program is to promote healthy sexuality in CU students through a variety of educational approaches. Because research supports “peer models” as being especially effective for influencing positive values and behavior norms, undergraduate volunteer educators are trained to be the primary educators for their peers.

Program Topics and Issues

Factual Information
Because information about sexuality changes rapidly over time, sexual health educators are trained to provide current information and materials on the following topics:

• abstinence
• condoms, latex barriers, and safer sex practices
• HIV/AIDS
• relationship between alcohol, other drugs and sexual behavior
• resources
• sexually transmitted infection prevention: including HIV, hepatitis, chlamydia, herpes, syphilis, genital warts, and others
• prevention of unintended pregnancies

Skill-building
Exercises, role-plays, and interactive discussions (both one-on-one and in small groups) allow participants to practice skills, observe modeling and critically think about the following:

• planning ahead: defining what they do and do not want sexually
• determining what supplies and skills they need in order to be safe
• purchasing: condoms, lubricants, and latex barriers
• correct use of male and internal condoms, latex barriers and lubricants
• using "safer" sex practices

Areas of Involvement
Volunteers work in the following areas:

• contribute to educational content of weekly meetings
• staff Wardenburg-sponsored, free HIV-testing clinic check-in table
• staff information tables and Health Fairs
• make “safer sex kits” and distribute on campus and through condom “zaps” at local bars
• make condom “egg” kits and stock vending machines located in the UMC and recreational center locker rooms
• distribute flyers about special events, resources and information
• plan, organize and conduct special educational events such as AIDS Awareness Month, World AIDS Day, National Condom Week, and Safer Spring Break Week
• facilitate sexual health presentations to campus groups (not required)
• office work
• marketing