Project RESPECT
(Rural, Early, Sexual Prevention, Empowerment and Care for Teens)
The purpose of the Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) Program, Project RESPECT, is to implement sexual risk avoidance education that teaches participants how to voluntarily refrain from non-marital sexual activity and to teach them the benefits associated with self-regulation, success sequencing for poverty prevention, healthy relationships, goal setting, and resisting sexual coercion, dating violence, and prevent youth risk behaviors such as underage drinking or illicit drug use without normalizing teen sexual activity.
Our goal is to aim to educate, inform, motivate, and empower teens (ages 15-19) to voluntarily refrain from non-marital sexual activity and to avoid related risky behaviors. Teens will embrace and celebrate “deciding” to make heath relationship decisions rather than “sliding” into unintended consequences.
Our target population is primarily African Americans and Hispanics teens ages 15 – 19 years old to eliminate disparities. Services include:
- Goal setting strategies
- Healthy relationship skills
- Communication skills
- Life skills
- Leadership and development training
- Peer mentoring and support
- Parent/caregiver involvement
- Adult supervised activities
- Preparing for life after high school
Eligible Participants
- Teens Ages 15-19
- Live or Attend School in Dillon or Marion County
Program Requirements/Benefits
In order for teens to participate in Project RESPECT, parents/legal guardians must provide written consent. Teen participants in the program are eligible to receive:
- Up to $100 in gift cards
Our Curriculum
Love Notes is an evidence-based program that builds skills and knowledge for healthy and successful relationships for romance, friends, family, school, and work. Love Notes is an innovative and strengths-based approach within a positive youth-development framework that teaches youth about forming and maintaining healthy relationships. This unique approach also empowers them to make healthy sexual choices that will boost sexual delay and sexual risk avoidance.
Love Notes is an engaging thirteen-session curriculum that emphasizes healthy behaviors in teens that can be adapted into their adulthood and empower them to reach their full potential. Self-esteem, relationship skills, communication skills & goal-setting strategies are all targeted for improvement.
Success Sequence for Poverty Prevention
This website was supported by Funding Opportunity Number HHS-2020-ACF-ACYF-SR-1849 from the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. Its contents are solely the responsibility of Pee Dee Healthy Start Inc. and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.
Service Areas
Dillon County Office
Cynthia Thomas, Health Facilitator, (843) 799-7586, cthomas@pdhs.org
Jessica Fore, Health Facilitator, (843) 799-7520, jfore@pdhs.org
Marion County Office
1305 N. Main Street
Marion, SC 29571
Office: (843) 423-4332
Arica Nelson, Health Facilitator, (843) 799-7853, anelson@pdhs.org
Kneshia Williamson, Health Facilitator, (843) 799-7910, kwilliamson@pdhs.org