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Pregnancy clinic pitches 'risk-avoidance' curriculum and opt-in model for county schools
Summary
Beth Heron of Hootle Pregnancy Clinic described a 'risk avoidance' (abstinence-focused) curriculum she said aligns with state lifetime-wellness standards, explained parental permission requirements and program length, and asked to offer services in Overton County schools; no formal board action is recorded.
Beth Heron of Hootle Pregnancy Clinic presented a proposal to provide sexual-risk-avoidance education in Overton County schools and described curriculum, delivery, and parental-permission practices.
"When we say 'risk avoidance education,' that's the new way of saying abstinence education," Heron said, adding that the program focuses on "the whole person, healthy relationships, long term relationships, delaying sex until marriage," and also covers consent and online safety. She said the clinic uses purchased, evidence-based curricula that can be crosswalked to existing state lifetime-wellness and family-life standards.
Heron said the clinic serves neighboring counties and would like to add Overton County to its service area. She said the high-school curriculum is taught across four class periods (with 45-minute class periods) and that middle-school material is shorter and emphasizes internet safety and social media. She described typical class sizes of 25–30 students and said the provider prefers to teach in regular classrooms during required classes so all students can be reached.
On parental permission, Heron said: "Absolutely. That's a that's a state requirement. So the way the state law is written, parents have the opportunity to opt out." She added that most counties the clinic serves require opt-in and that the clinic uses parent-contact apps such as ParentSquare; students without returned permission slips receive an alternative assignment.
Heron identified Dr. Chris Nam as the clinic's overseeing physician and said the program is offered as a supplemental external presenter at schools, not as a replacement for teacher instruction.
The transcript records questions from board members about grade-level placement, classroom logistics and parental consent, and Heron answered those items. The board did not record a formal vote or directive in the transcript on whether to accept the clinic's services; Heron concluded by offering materials and saying copies of the curricula were available for board review.
No regulatory citation beyond a general reference to a state parental-consent requirement was recorded in the transcript.
