Annie Sweers
MERIT facilitator Becky Bauer (in white shirt) leads a group of girls at Wright Middle School in a discussion about standing up to peer pressure to have sex.
A heralded sex education program for minority youth run by the Goodman Community Center is losing its federal grant as the Republican-controlled Congress slashes funding for teen pregnancy prevention.
Center staff learned recently that the five-year grant for Madison Empowering Responsibility In Teens program — known as MERIT — would not be re-funded by the federal Office of Adolescent Health. Last year, the federal agency asked center staff to present the program at a national conference because of its success in addressing racial disparities in teen pregnancy and sexual health education.
“We were hopeful [MERIT would be renewed] because we rocked it,” says Goodman executive director Becky Steinhoff. The federal grant provided $596,000 for staff, materials and indirect costs over five years.
MERIT is on pace to reach its goal of serving 2,000 youth at 30 school and community sites across the city since it began in 2010. The program uses an interactive, discussion-based format coupled with decision-making and positive reinforcement to teach youth about sexual health and to reduce the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies.
A 2013 program report showed that 81% of high school students who participated in MERIT said they were more likely to use condoms in the next year. By comparison, a 2012 survey done by Dane County found only 58% of sexually active high school students always use protection against STDs.
The program also addresses racial disparities in adolescent reproductive health by specifically reaching out to African American and Latino youth, who make up 46% and 17% of MERIT participants respectively.
Steinhoff credits the program’s success to its unique teaching format and staff.
“We have really amazingly talented facilitators who make great connections to young people and have genuine, honest conversations and relationships,” says Steinhoff.
Arthur Morgan, MERIT’s lead facilitator and one of its five teachers, says the program is different from the traditional sex ed class because it’s discussion-based, not instructor-based.
“It’s a very different feel. It encourages students to talk and makes them comfortable to ask questions,” he says, adding that having younger staff also helps. “No one wants to talk to their grandmother about sexual health — that’s just uncomfortable.”
MERIT teachers tackle stereotypes and peer pressure without making assumptions about sexual orientation or activity.
“With the young men, we let them know it’s okay to say no. A lot of the messages they get from society, videos and music, they think they’re supposed to be running around chasing girls 24/7, and if they don’t, they’ll get vilified by their friends,” says Morgan. “So, we give them the tools to say no and let them know that’s okay to do.”
They also play games to keep the kids engaged. “The kids really get into it, and before they even know it, they know how to keep themselves safe from HIV/AIDS.”
Steinhoff says the center is seeking funds from the Madison Metropolitan School District and other public entities to keep MERIT afloat. It’s unclear now what the loss of the federal grant will mean for the program.
Morgan worries that meaningful connections between students and adults would be lost if the program folds.
“The students know that the adults at the community center are part of our program,” he says, adding that students sometimes bring up sexual health issues to the staff outside of class. “They feel like they can talk without being judged. And if you can get that, they let you into their lives a little bit and you have more effect.”
