Amid some snickers and lots of grimaces, the teenagers tear into condom packages and slide the red rubbers onto pens.
They’re careful not to rip the condoms as they open them and learn how to roll and remove them.
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Alternative sex ed
The Utah Department of Health receives federal funds to promote abstinence-only and comprehensive sex education. Here’s where the money went this fiscal year:
» Abstinence Education Program ($344,000 plus $288,000 in matching funds)
National Tongan American Society
Planned Parenthood Association of Utah
Pregnancy Resource Center of Salt Lake
Tooele County Health Department, Weber-Morgan Health Department
» Personal Responsibility Education Program ($484,000)
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salt Lake
Club Red Teen Center, Moab
Centro Hispano, Utah County
Weber-Morgan Health Department
Bear River Health Department
Teen Mother and Child Program, University of Utah
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It was the first time some of them had handled a condom, and they weren’t sure they liked it.
Fisi, 18, described it as "scary" because it was out of his comfort zone. But he said he was glad to get the practice in a classroom instead of in the moment — though he plans to delay that moment until he’s married.
No, not all education in so-called "abstinence-only" Utah forgoes frank talk about sex.
But the talk isn’t happening in public schools, where showing how to put on a condom is forbidden.
It’s taking place in a Boys & Girls Club in a Salt Lake City west side neighborhood with the state’s highest rate of teen births. The courses are part of a new effort by the Utah Department of Health to offer comprehensive sex education to teens. That means instructors promote abstinence first, as well as ways to be safe if teens choose not to wait.
"[Some] kids are telling us they may be possibly engaged in this behavior or they’re seriously thinking about it," said Allison Barclay, vice president of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salt Lake. "They need to have the knowledge that’s going to best protect them."
In the past, the health department has only had money to exclusively promote abstinence education. But the Affordable Care Act provided money to states — including $484,000 a year through 2015 to Utah — to expand their work to reduce teen pregnancy and STDs.
The new program focuses on teens at highest risk of becoming pregnant, including those living in areas with high teen birth rates.
The effort comes as sex education is back in the spotlight. A state lawmaker is proposing to make sex education classes in school optional. Current law forbids school teachers from advocating contraception. HB363 is awaiting discussion by the full House.
The health department’s program is provided to teens who chose to take the classes outside school and have parental permission.
Six community organizations from Brigham City to Moab applied and will receive the Personal Responsibility Education Program money, which requires grantees to choose from evidence-based programs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say there is insufficient evidence that abstinence education prevents teen pregnancy or STDs.
The Boys & Girls’ annual $100,000 grant will teach 500 teens in the Lied Club, Capitol West in Salt Lake City and in Tooele.
Just two of the 10 in the Lied Club class reported on a pre-course survey that they had had sex. Nevertheless, they said living in a neighborhood with a high teen birth rate takes a toll. They know friends or family members affected. The Salt Lake Tribune chose to not use the teens’ last names.
There’s a lot of girls getting pregnant nowadays," said Lotomoua, 17, who estimates she knows 10 classmates who are pregnant. "I just don’t want to end up that way."
John, a 17-year-old, said classmates from his freshman year disappeared from school. "She had to drop out of school to provide for her child."
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