Peer Challenge Program

"Thanks for making me feel good about being a virgin—I want to hear more, this program was great.”  “This was so very different than what I expected—it really challenged my thinking.”  “I never knew there were so many sexually transmitted diseases and I didn’t give the emotional consequences much thought until this program.”

These are just a few of the numerous positive comments from teens regarding the “Peer Challenge Program.”   The program, now entering its tenth year, is unique in both its style and approach. 

The 2-period assembly opens with our own DVD production featuring local teens, current television, movie, and music video clips, which challenge teens to evaluate how their culture influences their views on sexuality.  The presentation uses humor, storytelling, and a ten-point survival guide to illustrate the importance of acquiring good decision making skills in order to successfully navigate through the “field of life.

The interactive second facet of the assembly exposes several STD myths through powerful visual tools and hands-on demonstrations.  Students play the “Wheel of Misfortune”, an actual life-size refurbished gaming wheel, to learn the actual statistical risks of getting an STD, pregnancy, or emotional problem following pre-marital sexual activity.  Scientific experiments utilize student volunteers to illustrate the prevalence of STDs, the lack of early STD symptoms, the myth of safe sex; and possibility of contracting an STD from anyone in the chain of sexual partners. 

Students have the opportunity to become Peer Challengers and positively impact other teens through their participation in 8 after-school sessions which enhance their ability to resist peer pressure, set dating standards, discern media messages, strengthen refusal skills, avoid drugs and alcohol, develop character, fortify marriage along with a host of other topics.  Two high risk schools enjoy a full year of this after school club.  School personnel are highly supportive as the program is designed to strengthen existing family life abstinence components as mandated by New Jersey law. 

The program has gained community notoriety as we take advantage of every opportunity to promote the abstinence message countywide and as we collaborate with other community agencies to provide student and parent workshops at fairs, conferences, and youth events. Added features to the program include ongoing training for peer challengers, a teen newspaper column, and a media campaign utilizing peer challengers on local commercials and radio spots.

This year the Peer Challenge Program is proud to announce their partnership with CDC Impact for a Community Based Abstinence Education grant.  This grant will introduce 9th graders to the “Yes I can” 8 lesson abstinence curriculum and 11th graders to the “Choosing the Best” program.  The reinforcement of the abstinence message at the high school level will undoubtedly increase the number of teens choosing an abstinent lifestyle and reduce teen pregnancy and STI rates.

Peer Challenge Program Success

Peer Challenge began servicing Cape May County’s eighth graders in 1998 and continues to service an average of 1,500 students annually, (about 22% of the county’s targeted population of 10—14 year olds)
Two municipalities with the highest poverty levels, Wildwood (29.4%) and Middle Township (10.2%) receive yearlong instruction.

Teen Birth Rate Reduction:
1995 New Jersey Department of Health Birth Certificate files indicated that Cape May County’s 10-14 year olds had a birth rate of 2.66 per thousand females, more than double the state average of 1.20, and the 15-19 year olds had a birth rate of 49.58 per thousand females, higher than the state average of 37.87.
In Cape May County, the birth rate for teens 10-14 fell from 2.66 per thousand females in 1995 to .31 ( 88% decrease) in 2003 and the birth rate for 15-19 year olds fell from 49.58 per thousand females in 1995 to 32.34 (35% decrease) in 2003. 89% of teen births will be to unmarried mothers making them more likely to drop out of school, experience physical abuse, and need public assistance.

STD Rate Reduction:
Sexually Transmitted diseases are common, costly and preventable:
The Adolescent Profile-1997 shows Cape May County ranking among the top three counties in the state for the rampant spread of chlamydia with 684 cases and 52% of them occurring in the adolescent population.
The number of cases of chlamydia in Cape May County dropped to 142 (79% decrease) in 2004.  The rates of gonorrhea, syphilis, and hepatitis B have remained fairly constant.