Medical Educators of Sexual Health (MESH)
In Medical Educators of Sexual Health (MESH), trained Medical and Health Professions students deliver comprehensive and developmentally appropriate sexual health education for the ages of 13 -17 years in the Hampton Roads region. As of 2018, there were 18.5 pregnancies per 1000 females aged 15-17 nationally compared to 7.7 pregnancies in the state of Virginia. Additionally, Norfolk consistently ranks among the worst 25% of counties regarding teen pregnancy rates in the Greater Hamptons Roads, VA. Recently, statistics have shown markedly increased incidence of STIs and teen pregnancies in Norfolk, VA compared to the state of Virginia.
For each MESH cohort, students will conduct six 60-minute sessions consisting of a large group lesson followed by small, private group discussions. Each session will be guided by the evidenced-based Family Life and Sexual Health (FLASH) curriculum. This developmentally appropriate curriculum has been rigorously evaluated and found to be an effective, proven program at reducing unintended pregnancy and STDs among teens. FLASH adheres to the Characteristics of an Effective Health Education Curriculum and is aligned to both the CDC’s National Health Education Standards for Sexual Health and the National Sexuality Education Standards.
Students will:
- Complete comprehensive training in sexual health curriculum.
- Engage with youths in developmentally-appropriate discussion to promote safe sex practices.
- Learn to communicate effectively and respectfully on the topic of sexual health, which may be a sensitive subject for some
- Teach the curriculum alongside homeroom teachers x times per month/year
For additional details on MESH, you can download the handout: HERE
You may also contact Community-Engaged Learning for any additional questions.
Students, report your CEL hours: HERE