Unitarian Church Offering Our Whole Lives Program

The Unitarian Universalist Congregational Society of Westborough again will offer a comprehensive sexuality education program for grades seven through nine.

An Our Whole Lives information session will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the church, 64 West Main St.

The program runs Nov. 17 to March 2014.

Westborough Patch
How did the Our Whole Lives program get started?

Director of Religious Education Janet Davis
The Our Whole Lives Program was developed in the 1990s through joint cooperation with the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ to address the challenge of creating environments that support and nurture sexual health.

OWL is a lifespan program, meaning that there are programs for different age levels, including kindergarten and first grade, fourth to sixth grade, seventh to ninth grade, 10th to 12th grade, and adults. It is a progressive approach to sexuality education that deals with the totality of human sexuality in an age-appropriate manner. It is based firmly on the values of self-worth, sexual health, responsibility, justice, and inclusivity.  

Westborough Patch
What prompted the Westborough Unitarian church to offer it?

Director of Religious Education Janet Davis
We have been offering the program for grades four to six and seven to nine off and on for the past 10 years. The program speaks to the members of our congregation because it aims to model and teach caring, compassion, respect, and justice.  

Westborough Patch
How is the program structured?

Director of Religious Education Janet Davis
We are currently offering the seventh to ninth grade OWL program. It takes a broad view of sexuality and explores topics including anatomy and physiology, sexual orientation and gender identity, relationships, lovemaking, reproduction, abstinence and contraception, consent education, social media, sexually transmitted infections, and abuse of sexuality.

The program begins with activities for teens to get to know each other and feel comfortable and safe exploring sensitive issues, including developing ground rules for the program, and gradually introduces topics that are difficult to talk about. At each session, youth are afforded the opportunity to write out questions anonymously and have team leaders answer them at the following session.

The program is co-facilitated by a gender inclusive team, with each member of the team having attended a 15-hour training.  

Westborough Patch
What are some of the program's strengths?

Director of Religious Education Janet Davis
The strength of the OWL program is that it provides youth with facts and helps them explore their attitudes and develop the skills they will need to grow into adults who are sexually healthy and responsible.

Being a comprehensive program, OWL addresses topics that are often excluded from public school-based programs. Therefore, the program does much to dispel ignorance, secrecy, and shame around the topic of sexuality.   

Westborough Patch
What are some of the program's weaknesses?

Director of Religious Education Janet Davis
Being a comprehensive program, there are 27 sessions, making it difficult for both leaders and students to be able to make the commitment. We are running the program with double sessions and an overnight retreat.  

Westborough Patch
How does the program complement the Unitarian church's other religious education activities?

Director of Religious Education Janet Davis
The OWL program is run as an extra-curricular program within religious education. It provides another opportunity to help youth identify and articulate their values.