Teen emPower!, Oklahoma City

Teen emPower! Inc. (TEI) hosts two programs that aim to prevent high-risk sexual behaviors among adolescents that could lead to pregnancy or STIs. The programs include The Courage to Say KNOW, which was developed at the University of Oklahoma, and Postponing Sexual Involvement, which teaches students to be peer mentors and share science-based instruction. The programs take a holistic approach to healthy sexual relationships by touching on a variety of issues, including setting boundaries, the prevention of HIV and other STIs, contraceptives, self-esteem, and abstinence. TEI draws students from three regional high schools and trains them to become peer educators so they can help spread the programs to middle-school students and high-school freshmen.