Objectives

RSBD strives to improve student health and academic success through training and supporting teaching staff to deliver high-quality and engaging sexual health curricula. In 2013, the CDC/DASH grant allowed RSBD to expand programs to also include: helping schools provide a safe and supportive learning environment, partnering with local organizations to improve student access to youth-friendly healthcare services and serving as a resource for parents and guardians. RSBD also conducts school-based surveillance surveys to help track student risk behaviors, identify gaps in programming, and design health and wellness programs to meet the needs of all CMSD students.

The following program components are the primary focus of the RSBD:

• Exemplary Sexual Health Education (ESHE) - Training and supporting teaching staff to deliver high-quality and engaging sexual health curricula. The goal is to increase the number of CMSD schools that implement ESHE and increase the number of students who receive medically-accurate, culturally and age-appropriate sexual health education to prevent HIV/STDs and unplanned pregnancy.
  
  
• Safe and Supportive Environments - Helping schools provide safe and supportive learning environments, with a focus on LGBTQ students. The goal is to increase the number of schools that: prohibit bullying and sexual harassment at school and at school-sponsored events, implement policies to prevent cyber-bullying and sexting, foster parent engagement, foster student clubs and programs that promote positive school environments and create mentoring and service projects that connect students with teachers and other adults.
  
  
• Sexual Health Services - Partnering with local organizations to improve student access to youth-friendly healthcare. The goal is to increase youth access to both off-site and school-based clinics, educate students and staff on minors’ right to sexual health services, help staff increase the number of referrals and connect students and staff to related community resources.
  
  
• School Based Surveillance - Monitoring student risk behaviors though school-based surveillance, including the CDC-sponsored Youth Risk Behavior and Profiles Survey sallows RSBD to identify gaps in programming and to design health and wellness programs that meet the needs of CMSD students. RSBD also educates decision makers and monitors policy that impacts student health.