Education for a Lifetime
Education for a Lifetime (EFL) leads the “prevention” arm of our mission by educating local students on health relationships and mental health, using presentations in public and private high schools. More than 6,000 students annually hear presentations in their classrooms with messages that remind students they are valuable and educate them on healthy relationships. As a result, the number of students who highly agree that sexual risk avoidance leads to healthier outcomes increases by 65% after the training.
Trained volunteers, local physicians and Life Network staff have presented this hope-filled message since 1987. Teaching in public and private schools, we teach concepts such as decision making, goal setting and character education through a curriculum called Pursue. This high energy, interactive program covers living a life by design, healthy relationships, developing wisdom through critical thinking, seeing value in yourself, showing courage to stand up for yourself and others, and committing to a strong foundation for your future.
Students shared the following after hearing the presentation:
In addition to Pursue, we offer parent talks through churches and community organizations to prepare and educate parents. Ultimately, we want teens to realize that making healthy choices will enable them to stay in school, attain a quality education and have the ability to focus on their life goals and dreams.
Who Can Relate: EFL's Suicide Prevention and Awareness Presentation
In the fall semester of 2018, we launched a new program in area high schools called Who Can Relate. This curriculum is a presentation on the issue of teen suicide, working to release the stigma surrounding conversations on mental health. Students are asked to consider three questions as part of the training:
- Who needs you?
- Where do you find your value?
- Who loves you?
As students reflect on their answers to these questions, their risk of suicide decreases and their optimum health outcome increases.
To learn more about Education for a Lifetime, contact us to schedule a Parent Talk or inquire about volunteering, we invite you to visit EFL’s website here.
