WISE in WV

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

In my free time I enjoy spending time with my husband and our three daughters. If we aren’t on the ball field then we are either at swim practice or gymnastics.  I try to remind myself that even though always being on the go is hard now, it isn’t going to last forever!

2.  What is your favorite thing about teaching reproductive health?

My favorite thing about teaching reproductive health is knowing that the kids are getting correct information to make the important choices that they are faced with as they go through their young adult lives.  They know that the classroom is a safe place for them to ask about real questions and concerns.  That to me is a success because I want them the facts and to have access to what they need no matter the situation.

3.  If you could have one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

If I could only have one meal for the rest of my life I would want Olive Garden’s salad and five cheese ziti.

4.  What is the best thing about living in WV?

The best thing about living in West Virginia is that there is so much to do outdoors. Our state is absolutely beautiful, and there is constantly something to do or explore if you are willing to do so. 

5.  What other youth health issues are you passionate about?

I am also passionate about about teenage drug abuse and mental health issues in our youth. With our ever changing society there are many kids who are being brought up in terrible situations.  Teenagers are dealing with much more in today’s world than what they had to deal with 10, 20, or 50 years ago. It is important to me that they always know they have someone in their corner that will help them so that they don’t become overwhelmed.  

6.  What’s the best part of your job?

1.        What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

One of my favorite things to do is to go to Washington DC for issue events and marches and stop by my Senators and Representatives office to educate them on how they can better serve WV.  They need to do better.

2.       How did you get interested in promoting sex ed?

I saw a horrifying infographic showing that WV had high teen pregnancy rates. As a social worker, I know that girls that have unwanted pregnancies have a much harder time staying in school, getting a job and very often the young mother and the baby live in poverty.  Its a very hard cycle to break out of.  However, its one of easiest disasters to prevent.  Data on Comprehensive Sexuality Education has shown over and over again to help teens stay abstinent longer and utilize birth control and condoms when they do become sexually active, which prevents pregnancy and disease.  Those that understand the problem and understand the facts about Comprehensive Sex Ed know that everyone that has anything to do with kids should be promoting sex ed.

3.       If you could have one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? 

 Rio Grande Number 5 combo with Cheese.

4.       What is your favorite thing about living in WV?  

West Virginians.   As rough around the edge as we can be, I think the people of West Virginia are as wild and wonderful as our terrain.

5.       What kinds of youth health issues are you passionate about? 

 I'm pretty passionate about youth having access to healthcare in general.  Teens often get past their pediatrician yearly visits and quit going unless they are sick. Teens need to have yearly wellness exams to stay on top of their health and see a physician about their changing needs and to develop a long lasting positive relationship with a trusted health care professional.

6.       What’s the best thing about your job?  

Rachel McAlister-Raleigh County High School Teacher

Independence High School

  What do you enjoy doing in your free time?   

In my free time, I like to help dogs in need find homes. I volunteer with Operation Underdog and the Raleigh County Humane Society. I take dogs to the vet to make sure they are healthy to travel to rescues.  I also transport and foster dogs.

 How did you get interested in promoting comprehensive sexuality education?

I believe that sex education is one of the most important bits of information people can learn. Having children is a life changing experience and I would like for everyone to be able to make educated decisions about having children.  Also sex can be so casual, I want people to know there are dangers and consequences that come with such casual behaviors.

 If you could have one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?  

The meal my mom made me on Sundays before heading back to college- chicken casserole, butter peas, mashed potatoes, and no bake oatmeal cookies.

 What is your favorite thing about being a West Virginian?

The four seasons- every season has something beautiful about it, and also the festivals.  

 What kinds of wellness issues are you passionate about?

I am passionate about emotional wellness because if you can identify your emotions you can conquer a lot of obstacles life brings your way. We often do things in life based on emotions, for example emotional eating, or smoking.

 What is your favorite thing about teaching sex ed and health?

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

During my free time I enjoy reading, watching movies, exercising, and taking naps. I honestly wish adults were given naptimes…

 How did you get interested in promoting comprehensive sexuality education?

I will always give the utmost credit to Carrie-Meghan for introducing me to CSE. I knew it was something that needed be incorporated into our professional preparation curriculum, but was struggling with finding the resources that seemed to be the right fit. Thankfully Carrie-Meghan introduced me to the FLASH curriculum. What a lifesaver they both are!

What is your favorite food?

My favorite food is definitely anything that falls within the dessert category. I have a ferocious sweet tooth!

What kinds of wellness issues are you passionate about?

I actually have two wellness issues that I am passionate about- obesity and physical activity. My students in my classes will tell you that I am constantly talking about the necessity of physical activity promotion to people of all ages, and education on healthy eating/healthy food choice. I would almost say that I am a bit frantic because the trend is continuing for our youth to be suffering from obesity at an earlier and earlier age, and people just do not participate in physical activity. It is very concerning.

What is your favorite thing about teaching pre-service Health/PE educators?

Web Sites Especially for Young People

•Sex, Etc.

 www.sexetc.org

•Talk About Sex

 www.seriouslysexuality.com

•Stay Teen.org

 www.stayteen.org

  •It’s Your (Sex) Life

 www.itsyoursexlife.com

  •I Wanna Know.org

 www.iwannaknow.org

  •Scarleteen- Sex Ed for the Real World

www.scarleteen.com

  • Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN)

www.glsen.org

  •Ambiente Joven

www.ambientejoven.org 

  •My Sistahs

 www.mysistahs.org

  •Youth Resource

    What are some of your favorite recreational activities or hobbies?

When it’s warmer, I spend a lot of time on the Mud River Lake in Lincoln County where I kayak and swim.  During the summer, I volunteer-direct a weekly day for kids there with swimming, canoeing, and kayaking.  I usually read between 20 and 30 books a year.  Living in the country, up a hollow, I spend a lot of time in the woods.  I raise a fair size garden. I’ve been a part-time photographer since the 1970’s

  How did you get involved with promoting comprehensive sex education (CSE) in Lincoln County? 

Back in the 1980’s, I helped bring folks into the county from an advocacy group in DC to talk with 4-H volunteers and school educators about HIV prevention.  Ever since I have worked on projects to increase access for teens to family planning and STI prevention.  We’ve worked on this in the schools, the local primary care center, and the county health department.  Though attitudes have changed for the better over the decades, teens still are not supported like they should be.  Unfortunately the county’s school based health clinics don’t offer family planning, pregnancy, or STI testing.

  What kinds of initiatives do you work to provide to support pregnant and parenting teens?

We are in the 4th year of a teen parenting program at the high school.  Once a month for the entire school day, pregnant and parenting teens, both males and females, are excused from class and gather together with their children.  (Teens have to make up any work missed.) We bring in a various presenters who deal with all sorts of topics and issues: breast versus bottle feeding, positive child discipline, brain development in infants, ways to communicate with your partner’s parents, how to negotiate the legal system and child support payments. At the same time presenters work with the teens, we do modified day care with their children, trying to model what the parents are hearing.

We tried unsuccessfully last year to establish a child care center at the high school.  For a while it looked like we were moving the idea forward, but in the end the Board of Education voted to stop work on it.  On a positive note, this fall we were able to establish a new Early Childhood Education curriculum.  Students who meet the requirements will graduate with a certification that will allow them to work as a kindergarten / preschool aide or in a day care center.  This should provide more jobs for our youth as well as increase state-licensed day care opportunities in the county.

I’ve been able to work with our county health teachers evaluating current textbooks and getting administrative approval to add additional lesson plans from the FLASH curriculum,  improving students’ comprehensive sex education.

How can we foster an open dialogue about youth sexual health with all stakeholders (parents, youth, community)?

This is hard work that takes time and effort over the long haul.  Social change in many ways never ends, so you can’t assume that a victory means the struggle is over.  Listening and being open to different viewpoints and acknowledging the worth of the people you disagree with is key.  Bringing as many different people to the table to discuss issues is critical.  Another thing I have learned (usually the hard way) is making sure people in power aren’t blindsided by what is going on around them.  To the greatest extent possible, everybody needs to be involved in the process and kept aware of what’s happening.

  What’s your favorite thing about living and working in Lincoln County?

The great natural beauty that surrounds me continually lifts me up, especially when the struggles seem overwhelming.

What’s your favorite food? 

Resources for Families to help open healthy communication about sex with their kids :) 

For Young People

Ambiente Joven- http://www.ambientejoven.org

Scarleteen- http://www.scarleteen.com/

The Body- http://www.thebody.com

Go Ask Alice!- http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu

I Wanna Know- http://www.iwannaknow.org

My Sistahs- http://www.mysistahs.org

My Voice Counts! Youth Action Center- http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/youth/

OutProud- http://www.outproud.org

Sex, Etc.- http://www.sxetc.org

Youth Resource- http://www.youthresource.com

For Guardians and Adults 

Families Are Talking- http://www.familiesaretalking.org

Parents' sex Ed Center- http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/parents/