STOP AND THINK is a sexual abstinence program that encourages students to delay sexual activity until marriage. The primary service of the program is to provide sexual abstinence presentations in middle school and high school classrooms.

    Stop and Think was developed in 1990 by Lane Pregnancy Support Center (LPSC) in Eugene, Oregon. LPSC opened in 1985, with a focus on providing resources to women in crisis pregnancies. LPSC developed Stop and Think as a proactive response to the growing number of young teen clients.  Stop and Think was brought to South Dakota in 2001 as an prevention program for the Northern Hills Pregnancy Care Center.  Volunteers at the center saw a need to educate teenage girls and boys in our community about the risks of pre-marital sex.  So far, Stop and Think has been very well received by both the teens and teachers who hear the message.  Due to it's response Stop and Think has recently received a federal grant, called the Community Based Abstinence Education Grant, which will aid in expansion efforts across Central and Western SD and Eastern Wyoming.

    With our relational, respectful approach to sexual abstinence education, Stop and Think enjoys immense and ongoing success. We have been invited to return to every school we have presented in, and student and teacher evaluations are overwhelmingly positive.

During the 2005-2006 school year Stop and Think presented to nearly 3000 students in 20 Western South Dakota schools. This year, our goal is to reach nearly 7000 students across South Dakota and Wyoming.

    The premise of Stop and Think is that we gain freedom when we practice self-control. Stop and Think covers three critical decision making skills that encourage self-control. The skills covered are: 1) Examining Influences Around You, 2) Considering Personal Values, and 3) Determining Pros and Cons. The presentation concludes with a discussion of refusal skills.

    Stop and Think is an interactive presentation. Much of the current presentation is a direct result of student input. We strive to present the sexual abstinence message clearly by using student materials designed for use with a wide age group, and in a multicultural setting. We are non-judgmental in our effort to encourage sexually abstinent students, provide an alternative to sexual activity and birth control for students considering them, and challenge sexually active students to re-evaluate their decision.

   Stop and Think, SD/Wy is funded in part through a federal abstinence education grant through the Department of Heath and Human Services, and, in part, through a federal grant administered through the South Dakota Department of Health, www.state.sd.us/doh/abstinence.