REND LAKE
168 N. Ken Gray Parkway Ina, IL 62846
618.437.5321 fax: 618.437.5677 » price@rlc.edu
Cities Served: Akin, Mount Vernon, Ewing, Logan, Benton
The abstinence education program at Rend Lake College is a composite of both state and federal grant monies. Our middle school programs, titled "Future Focus" and "In Focus," provide services to grades 5-8. Our high school program, "Keep Focus" is geared toward 9th grade students. All programs have 4 basic components: 1) Classroom education, 2) Counseling services (both personal and family), 3) Career education, and 4) Cultural activities. The programs serve 5 high schools and 15 elementary/middle schools.
Students in grades 5-8 receive weekly education sessions on various topics: communication skills, relationships, family life, STDs, drug & alcohol education, decision-making, and abstinence. The culminating project for the students is an essay-writing contest. Students write an essay titled "Abstinence: A Choice For Me, Why I Want to Say No!" Winners are given the opportunity to take a 3-day, all expense paid trip to Chicago, where participants enjoy museums, a theatre production, and other activities in the city.
High school age participants are taught using the Project Reality curriculum "Game Plan". Students sign a pledge card at the end of their 2-week "Game Plan" session. These participants are also given the opportunity to enter a contest. Their contest is a "media" style competition. Students are given the freedom to write an essay, make a poster, write poetry, or produce a CD/movie for competition. Winners are chosen and will also be provided the opportunity to travel. Last year the students attended an Abstinence/Leadership conference at Colorado State University.
