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“The material is so good.”
GPA Club Director George Snell recently delivered 1,000 curriculum books to the Algiers Charter School System in New Orleans. The delivery is part of an ongoing effort to educate the students of the charter schools in the positive messages of abstinence.
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The experience brought healing and hope to our own lives.
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Minden Certification Training
“…truly an awesome experience.”
Six educators were recently certified to teach the GPA Abstinence Curriculum at a training held in Minden. (v7,i38)
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Certification Training held in Maurice
Opened my eyes—I thought I was more informed.
Congratulations to nine newly certified GPA Curriculum volunteer teachers! The group recently underwent GPA’s training certification in Maurice. (more,v7i31)
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Poland’s National School Program to Model Louisiana Abstinence Program
Success for Polish grassroots!
Poland’s Secretary of Education has accepted the Sexual Abstinence Program, endorsed by the Governor’s Program on Abstinence, Friends 4 Teens, the Abstinence International Community, and the California Hispanic Commission on Alcohol and Drugs. (more, v7i28)
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Certification Training…Outstanding!
Prior to Katrina, over forty-three percent of New Orleans children lived in single parent households. Orleans Parish had the highest pre-Katrina rate of new STD cases in the State.
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Teacher Certification Training held in Tallulah
Enriching!
Thirteen volunteers were certified to teach the GPA Curriculum in Tallulah last month. Participants were asked to answer an exit survey. Here are some of their comments: More,v7i25
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GPA Certification Training Update
“I’m looking forward to using this well-thought-out, easy-to-use program.”
A year ago, the GPA Certification Training Program was only a pilot program. Since then, 192 volunteers have been certified to teach the GPA Curriculum and the program is no longer considered a “trial,” but a proven success.
In fact, the GPA is now getting more requests for training than it can accommodate at its current pace. Those requests are coming from within Louisiana, as well as, from other states and other countries. “This is a good problem to have,” said GPA State Coordinator/Director Gail Dignam. “We are expanding our trainer base in order to adapt to the increasing demand.” More,v7i20
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Baton Rouge Certification Training
“It was really fun and well worth the time…”
Seven more volunteers were certified to teach the GPA Curriculum on November 27th and 28th in Baton Rouge. More, v7i06
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Eleven Certified the GPA Way
GPA brings the certification circuit to Ruston.
Eleven volunteers were certified to teach the GPA Curriculum in Ruston, La. last week. Held at the Lincoln Parish Library on September 29-30, the training was the latest on the certification circuit making its way around the state. More,v6i50
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Grass Roots Effort to Rescue the Next Generation
GPA bringing abstinence message to adults across Louisiana.
Known for bringing the abstinence message to Louisiana youth through curriculum and clubs, the GPA is piloting a program to reach adults and parents.
Protect Children’s Health through Abstinence Education is the name of the program being presented at libraries across the state and upon request, to civic groups. The goal of the initiative is to build statewide grass roots support of abstinence-until-marriage in order to influence the behavior of Louisiana youth. More, v6,i49
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GPA Tag Teams
Team approach opens doors.
The job of GPA Curriculum Coordinators (CCs) is to establish the GPA curriculum in schools, and that of GPA Regional Directors (RDs) is to establish GPA Clubs. Historically, CCs and RDs have worked independently of one another within their regions.
But in November of 2005, GPA Director/State Coordinator, Gail Dignam, called together the CCs and RDs of the most populated of Louisiana’s GPA regions. She instructed them to pilot a team approach in order to bring GPA clubs and curriculum to every school. More, v6i48
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More Volunteers GPA-Certified to Teach Abstinence Education
“This program is so powerful.”
The Governor’s Program on Abstinence congratulates yet another group of graduates from its teacher certification training. Eight volunteers successfully completed the 2-day training held September 8-9 at the LSU Ag-Extension Center in Lake Charles, LA. More, v6,i46
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On the Road with GPA Congressional Field Rep., Yogi Sittig
“On the road, there are so many surprises!”
GPA Congressional Field Representative, Yogi Sittig, has been hitting the road hard all year bringing the GPA to schools in southern Louisiana. In addition to sponsoring the GPA Club at Eunice High School (right), Yogi has found new sponsors at Abbeville High, Crowley High, and Opelousas High. Other schools that Yogi has visited are Mount Carmel Elementary-Abbeville, Vermillion Catholic-Abbeville, Cecilia Junior and Senior High Schools, and Breaux Bridge High School. Yogi gives us some highlights from her travels: More v6,i44
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Thirteen Certified to Teach GPA Curriculum
“Every word of every chapter has meaning and effect.”
Thirteen new volunteers were certified to teach the GPA Curriculum after participating in a two-day training workshop held on July 18 and 19 at the Baton Rouge Community College.
Most of the certification graduates are school teachers or youth mentors. Many are from East Baton Rouge Parish; with a few from Shreveport, Slidell, and Eunice, La.
“They were all pretty excited about the abstinence message coming in, but after GPA Director, Gail Dignam’s presentation on the first day, they were really fired up!” said GPA Curriculum Facilitator, David Dawson. More, v6,i39
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AmeriCorps Vista Members among Those Completing GPA Certification Training
Abstinence education factor in reducing poverty
Ten more volunteer teachers were certified in the GPA Curriculum on May 19th and 20th at Southern University in Baton Rouge.
The group consisted mostly of AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) members, as well as, two Southern University professors. VISTA places individuals with community-based agencies to help find long-term solutions to the problems caused by urban and rural poverty. Lesson Six, Dreams and Goals and Unwed Parents, found on page 54 of the GPA Curriculum, speaks to the heart of VISTA’s mission. “The poverty rate for children in single-parent families is four times higher than for those in married-couple families,” said GPA’s Gail Dignam. “Not only is abstinence-education key to healthy living, but also to the economic security of our children.” More
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Pleasant Hill School Embraces GPA
High school club and middle school curriculum started
On April 10, GPA Curriculum Coordinator Steve Casey spoke to an attentive group of Pleasant Hill 7-12th graders about abstinence. Following the assembly, Sheryl Scott and two other faculty members volunteered to be faculty sponsors of a GPA Club for the high school. “Efforts are underway to help the new club attend the 2006 GPA Summer Leadership Camp,” said GPA Regional Director, LaBetha Casey. Pleasant Hill School is located in Sabine Parish. 4/06
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Sixteen Earn Authentic Abstinence Certification
I am ready to go….!
Sixteen teachers were certified by the GPA to teach its abstinence-authentic curriculum last week. The two-day workshop was held in Baton Rouge on Friday, March 28 and Saturday March 29.
“It is important, that our volunteers are certified to teach our message as it is intended, that is, authentic abstinence education,” said Gail Dignam, GPA State Coordinator/Director. “The GPA curriculum is a directive character-based abstinence-only model. It provides our youth with the information necessary to navigate the many challenges they will face in the pursuit of an abstinent lifestyle.” (3-28-06) v6,i23
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Abstinence Message for the Mentally Handicapped, too.
GPA’s Steve Casey chosen to speak at international summit
GPA Curriculum Coordinator, Steve Casey will be among the presenters at the International Summit for the Alliance on Social Inclusion this May in Montreal. Casey’s abstinence presentation entitled, "The Only Safe Sexuality" is among those chosen from over 400 proposal submissions sent in from 26 countries. (3-31-06) v6i22
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Abstinence, the Single Most Uniting Issue of This Generation
…by GPA State Coordinator/Director, Gail Dignam
The authentic abstinence message is about living healthy lifestyles, good self-esteem, setting goals and obtaining them, good social skills, and finishing school. The abstinence message is about eliminating high-risk behavior and dealing with peer pressure. It is about becoming successful and productive citizens for the State of Louisiana. The authentic abstinence message is about the success of Louisiana’s youth and Louisiana’s economic future. (1-21-06), v6, i15
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CURRICULUM CLIP
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Do not try to imitate the intimacy of marriage in dating. Sexual activity is never a shortcut to a good relationship. On the contrary, it prevents the relationship from growing and developing normally.
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