What are the criteria for selecting good leaders for Our Whole Lives?
The success of this program depends on the qualified and caring persons who are selected and trained to be Our Whole Lives leaders. Keep the following criteria in mind when choosing your leaders:A commitment to value-based, comprehensive sexuality education. A leader needs to have values in harmony with the Our Whole Lives program and goals, and to feel comfortable with his or her own sexuality.
Experienced, skilled, and comfortable with the specific age group and its developmental needs. A leader needs to stimulate discussion by asking open-ended questions, encouraging communication among participants, and facilitating activities that foster experiential learning. A leader needs to use sexual terminology and age-appropriate language comfortably, relate well with the age group of the participants, and convey warmth and a sense of humor.
Anti-bias awareness. A leader needs to understand, appreciate, and celebrate diversity of race/ethnicity, culture, age, ability, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation. A leader needs to have the skills to work with people of diverse backgrounds as well as the ability to create a safe and engaging learning environment.
An advocate for sexual health and safety. A leader needs knowledge and skills not only to educate about sexual health but to fulfill the trust inherent in the role of sexuality educator. This role includes the responsibility to recognize and report abuse. The leader must support your organization's safety-abuse policy and must follow your state's or province's process for reporting and investigating an alleged abuse.
Ability to build relationships. A leader needs to develop a relationship with participants, and when the participants are children or youth, with parents and family as well. Leaders need to build community in the classroom, uphold the Participation Guidelines, and develop relationships of respect, reciprocity, and responsibility within your organization and the wider community.
Dedicated learner and leader. A leader needs to be willing to become thoroughly familiar with the content of the program, to work with a co-leader or teaching team, and to listen to and learn from young people and parents.
Person of faith. A leader needs to be a person who is respected by the congregation and comfortable discussing the integration of sexuality and spirituality with members of their faith community. They should be aware of their own spiritual or religious grounding.
It is very important to use these criteria in selecting a teacher to attend a training. (See the question, "What does leader training involve?") It is also important to know that at the leader training, teachers are being training and evaluated. Our Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) trainers have a responsibility to the Our Whole Lives program to ensure that our leaders are qualified to lead the different levels of the program. Occasionally our trainers identify individuals during the trainings that might not be appropriate for teaching that level of Our Whole Lives. Churches should know that their leaders may not be approved if there are concerns that arise during the training. If this is the case, the leaders will be notified directly by the trainers, documentation will be sent to the UUA for their files, and the congregational contact person(s) will be notified.
Last updated on Monday, June 4, 2007.
