Honest, accurate information about sexuality changes lives. It dismantles stereotypes and assumptions, builds self-acceptance and self-esteem, fosters healthy relationships, improves decision making and has the potential to save lives. For these reasons and more, UUCF is proud to offer Our Whole Lives (OWL), a comprehensive, lifespan sexuality education curriculum.
UUCF offers OWL curricula for a variety of ages at different times during the year. Age groups include: grades K-1, 5-6, 7-9, 10-12, and adults.
Our Whole Lives helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their relationships, sexual health, and behavior. The curricula also provide accurate, developmentally appropriate information about a range of topics, including relationships, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, sexual health, and cultural influences on sexuality.
Our Whole Lives Offers
- Accurate information presented in developmentally appropriate ways
- Affective and emotional learning
- Guiding values and principles
- Activities that help participants clarify values and improve decision-making skills
- A safe and supportive peer group
- Acceptance of diversity
- A social justice approach to inclusive sexuality education
- Step-by-step instructions for program promotion, implementation and facilitation
- Parent orientation that affirms parents as their children’s primary sexuality educators
- Facilitator trainings, continuing education and email forums to increase knowledge, skills and confidence
- Expert user support from the Unitarian Universalist’s Association OWL Program Manager and the United Church of Christ’s Minister of Sexuality Education and Justice
- Sexuality and Our Faith, an optional religious supplement for use in Unitarian Universalist and United Church of Christ settings
Our Whole Lives Values
While Our Whole Lives is secular, it is not values-free. The program gives clear messages about the following key sexuality issues:
- Self-worth
- Sexual health
- Responsibility
- Justice and inclusivity
Our Whole Lives recognizes and respects the diversity of participants with respect to biological sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, and disability status in addition to cultural and racial background. The activities and language used throughout the program have been carefully chosen to be as inclusive as possible of this human diversity.
To find out more, contact Director of Family Ministry and Lifespan Faith Formation Diana Tycer.