Life Planning Education: A Youth Development Program

Introduction, Table of Contents, and Leader's Guide to Life Planning Education

Chapter 1: Who Am I and What Can I Do?—Objectives are to: 1) become acquainted with other participants; 2) begin to feel comfortable as a member of the group; 3) become aware of one's positive qualities; 4) identify things about oneself that can be changes; and 5) identify potential work skills and strengths.

Chapter 2: What Are My Personal, Family, and Community Values?—Objectives are to: 1) understand the meaning of values; 2) identify personal, family, religious, and cultural values; 3) explore where values come from; 4) discover which values are most important personally; 5) examine the relationship between values and behavior; 6) practice communicating values to others; and 7) practice accepting the values of others.

Chapter 3: How Well Do I Communicate with Others?—Objectives are to: 1) learn what communication consists of; 2) understand how communication can affect feelings and relationships with family and friends and at school or work; 3) identify bridges and barriers to good communication; 4) practice good communication skills; and 5) define, give examples of, and practice assertive behavior.

Chapter 4:  What Are My Relationships with Others Like?—Objectives are to: 1) learn which behaviors can enhance or destroy a relationship; 2) understand the nature of family relationships and what influences them; 3) identify qualities that develop and define friendship and romantic relationships; 4) explore community relationships and identify those that can serve as resources.

Chapter 5:  What Is Sexuality?—Objectives are to: 1) define sexuality as more than genital sexual activity; 2) learn what human sexuality is and how it affects our behavior; 3) become more comfortable talking and asking questions about sexuality; 4) review how male and female bodies develop and change during puberty; 5) discuss how feelings and relationships change during sexual development; 6) review how human reproduction occurs; 7) review and dispel myths about sexual activity and reproduction; 8) learn how to care for sexual and reproductive organs; and 9) learn about sexual orientation.

Chapter 6: What Does Community Mean to Me? —Objectives are to: 1) define community and identify the people that make up one's community; 2) explore positive and negative elements in one's community; 3) identify the rights and responsibilities of membership in a community; 4) emphasize the importance of individual rights; 5) recognize how communities change and how people view those changes; 6) find ways to positively change one's community; and 7) learn about people in communities and their responsibilities and connections to one another.

Chapter 7:  What Are My Goals?—Objectives are to: 1) learn what goals are and why goal-setting is important for life planning; 2) identify short-term and long-term goals; 3) learn and practice a process for setting goals and trying to achieve them; 4) explore personal and vocational life goals; 5) examine the importance of completing high school in life plans and goals; and 6) examine the probable impact of early parenthood on life plans and goals.

Chapter 8:  How Can I Make Good Decisions?—Objectives are to: 1) identify various ways of making decisions and to examine their results; 2) learn about effective decision-making and the consequences of choices; 3) practice making difficult decisions; 4) practice predicting the consequences various decisions; 5) apply effective decision-making to sexual decisions; and 6) practice resisting pressure to change a decision.

Chapter 9: What Are Stereotypes and Gender Roles?—Objectives are to: 1) learn what stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination mean; 2) examine stereotypes about gender and learn how stereotyping affects relationships; 3) practice critical thinking about media messages; 4) learn about, meet, and develop empathy for a variety of people; and 5) discuss personal experiences with discrimination.

Chapter 10:  What Does it Take to Be a Good Parent?—Objectives are to: 1) explore personal values and attitudes about parenthood; 2) learn about the challenges teenage parents face; 3) identify the qualities and resources needed for parenthood; 4) examine the financial costs of caring for an infant; and 5) evaluate personal readiness for parenthood.

Chapter 11:  Can I Keep Violence out of My Life?—Objectives are to: 1) learn when, where, and why violent acts are most likely to occur; 2) understand the relationship between anger and violence; 3) learn that angry feelings do not have to result in violent behavior; 4) identify appropriate responses to anger; 5) learn to negotiate compromise in conflict situations; 6) explore options to avoid violent or abusive situations; and 7) learn what date rape is, when it can occur, and how to prevent it.

Chapter 12:  How Can I Take Care of My Health?—Objectives are to: 1) define health and all its components; 2) identify risks to personal health; 3) review the elements of a nutritious diet and healthy ways of managing weight; 4) learn accurate information about tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs and their effects on health; 5) practice decision-making and assertiveness skills as they apply to avoiding use of alcohol and other drugs; 6) understand stress and learn stress management techniques; and 7) identify the signs of depression and suicide and to practice making appropriate responses to a depressed friend.

Chapter 13: What Reduces Sexual Risks? —Objectives are to: 1) identify sexual behaviors that put one at risk for pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS; 2) correct misinformation about unprotected sexual intercourse and its consequences; 3) learn basic facts about STD/HIV infection; 4) identify contraceptive methods that reduce the risk of pregnancy and STD/HIV infection; 5) develop increased understanding of and compassion for people with AIDS; and 6) practice skills needed to avoid sexual risk-taking.

Chapter 14: How Do I Prepare for the World of Work? —Objectives are to: 1) explore job options; 2) examine the relationship between personal values and vocational choices; 3) examine the relationship between gender and vocational choices; 4) identify the education and training requirements for various jobs; 5) practice job-seeking skills; 6) learn how to be a good employee; and 7) understand the link between early parenthood and a vocational future.

Chapter 15: Evaluation

Chapter 16: Video Distributors

Source/Citation:
Hunter-Geboy, Carol. Life Planning Education: A Youth Development Program. Washington, DC: Advocates for Youth, 1995.

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