This book is intended to assist teens to avoid unhealthy sexual situations. It stresses knowledge, beliefs, and skills. The interventions are medically accurate and age appropriate, and based on evidence-based research. It is based on three theories: 1) Social Learning - Individuals will avoid problems, if they can observe appropriate and inappropriate behaviors, and role play situations. 2) Health Belief Model - Individuals will take preventive measures, based on the seriousness of the problem and the costs, and benefits of the action needed. 3) Self Efficacy - Individuals will choose an appropriate option to be successful (e.g., will choose abstinence or condom use).
About the Author: Dr. Douglas Shantam Marans was born in Utica, New York. He pursued his undergraduate studies of political science at the University of Rochester in New York. He received his master's degree in pain management from Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland, and his doctorate degree in psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. Dr. Marans was a nationally certified Family Life Educator and had numerous sexual counseling certifications. He had extensive work experience both nationally and internationally with topics such as sexual education, sexual abuse, and intimacy. Much of his work has focused on teenagers, although he has worked with populations of all ages. Earlier in his distinguished career, he was a visiting scholar to Stanford University's Center of the Study of Families, Children, and Youth in California. He served as a sexual abuse therapist at the Parental Stress Service Child Sexual Abuse Treatment Program in Fremont, California. There, he conducted individual psychotherapy and group therapy sessions for child survivors and adult perpetrators. He has worked as a federal grant reviewer for the US Department of Health and Human Services and Office of Adolescent Health, reviewing numerous grant applications targeting teen pregnancy-prevention programs. Dr. Marans worked as adjunct professor at Broward College's Humanities Department and taught Strategies for Success to At-Risk Freshmen. He also served as adjunct professor at the University of Miami's Department of Education and Psychological Studies, where he taught Introduction to Family Studies focusing on dating, intimacy, and sexuality. He has worked as a Life Skills Trainer for the CHARLEE foster care program, teaching teenagers life skills, including sexuality. He has also served as adjunct instructor at Florida Atlantic University and instructor at Broward Public Schools and Nova Community School, where he taught psychological coursework. He was the founder of a program called Men against Violence and Abuse and worked assisting a group of distressed women in Miami Beach who were in need of counseling and psychological services. Dr. Marans passed away peacefully on April 15, 2013, due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's Disease," in South Florida, surrounded by his family and friends. He was fifty-seven years old. He was a very kind, compassionate, generous human being, wise and strong in mind, body, and spirit.