ABSTRACT
While schools have long played an essential role in the delivery of sexuality education because of their ability to reach large numbers of students, programs in community settings are also critical to ensuring that young people receive the information and education they need to make healthy decisions and develop attitudes and skills that contribute to the formation of healthy relationships and behaviors. While debates persist in many parts of the world as to the type and amount of information to provide in school-based programs, community-based sexuality education often provides a venue to cover a broad range of topics. In addition, whereas school classrooms may contain a heterogeneous mix of students of different backgrounds, community-based programs allow the opportunity to tailor programs for specific target audiences. Importantly, community-based sexuality education programs can also reach young people not enrolled in school as well as those who do not receive sexuality education in their schools.
