Consultation Connection
Connection Institute, by means of highly effective, proven programs empowers parents, teens and the community to choose and support the concept of sexual abstinence among unmarried teens.
Connection Institute, CI, is making a difference! In 1997, we began with one presenter, one school district and a belief that we could make positive changes in the lives of the teens of southwest Missouri. Today, we have a staff of 4, with over 40 trained presenters who speak to over 6,000 teens in 34 schools each semester. In addition, we will speak to over 13,000 parents and community members this year through rallies, trainings and special events.
Our 10-day classroom seminar comes in many forms for a variety of grade levels. We have presentations for sixth through ninth grades, with ‘booster shot’ curricula for high school classes. In 2001, we lowered the predicted pregnancy rate by 17.2% in Jasper County. [We teach over 97% of all junior high students in Jasper County.]
A previous recipient of funding through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Abstinence-Only Education Grant [Title V], as well as the coveted SPRANS/CBAE Federal Grant, CI programming is now sustained through the partnership of individuals, foundations, and organizations who believe in what we do.
One of our main goals is to help other agencies plan, implement and grow their own programming to service the teens and families in their area. Through our Consultation Connection, we offer our services in the following areas:
- Effectively marketing your program
- Making excellent presentations to your school board and community members
- Getting the power broker/key people on your side
- Recruiting and keeping excellent presenters
- Becoming a resource to school and community staff
- Learning to adapt curricula for your target population
- Educating and empowering parents
- Avoiding the dreaded ‘program killers’
Please call us if there is any way we can help your program get off to a great start or help you continue your current effective program at (417) 624-4470 or email CI Director, Shannon Wendt, at shannonw@lifechoices4states.org.