With the stresses of peer pressure, physical changes and self-discovery, teens today are particularly at risk for abusing drugs, alcohol and other substances.

By definition, Sexual Risk Avoidance (SRA) education is a science-based approach on the public health model of primary prevention to empower youth to avoid all the risks of sexual activity. SRA programs focus on the whole child by sharing the importance of healthy decision-making to future life outcomes. It provides information within a broader conversation that strongly emphasizes the value of waiting for sex in order to avoid all sexual risk.

In order for a student to resist the pressures and negative influences in their lives, they need to have a strong internal compass. That compass is their character. Risk avoidance depends on that internal moral guide that leads them to make decisions that will positively impact their futures as well as the people around them.

When it comes to adversity relative to today’s youth, support systems and resources need to be established in order to help them not only overcome, but change the trajectory of their life toward a more successful future.

As defined by the National Center for Education Statistics, the dropout rate represents the percentage of 16-24 year olds who are not enrolled in school and have not earned a high school credential (a diploma or an equivalency credential such as a GED certificate).

By definition, an “at-risk youth” is a child who is less likely to transition successfully into adulthood. Success can include academic success and job readiness, as well as the ability to be financially independent. It also can refer to the ability to become a positive member of society by avoiding a life of crime.