Untrapped Curriculum: A New Approach to Teen Pregnancy Prevention

An Innovative, Contextualized Approach

The Untrapped curriculum is not just another teen pregnancy prevention program; it’s a unique and contextualized approach designed specifically for Black teens in Georgia. Recognizing that teen pregnancy is influenced by complex social, economic, and historical factors, Untrapped goes beyond traditional sex education. By using storytelling, group discussion, and reflection, it addresses the broader social context of each teen’s life.

Core Themes Addressed

Untrapped focuses on several key themes to provide students with a holistic understanding of teen pregnancy and the risk factors surrounding it. Major themes include:

• Social Determinants of Health: Teens learn how factors like neighborhood, family dynamics, and economic conditions impact health and influence pregnancy risk.

• Decision-Making and Relationships: Students explore the complexities of relationships, discussing healthy dynamics, boundary-setting, and self-worth.

• Breaking the Cycle of Poverty: The curriculum addresses how teen pregnancy can contribute to ongoing cycles of poverty and limited opportunity, emphasizing the importance of education and economic stability.

  
  

How It Works: A Multi-Layered Intervention

The curriculum is designed as an interactive, five-week program featuring structured in-class sessions that guide students through discussions, reflections, and practical applications. Here’s a breakdown of how Untrapped unfolds:

1. Storytelling: Students watch recorded narratives based on the real experiences of teen mothers. These stories, performed by actors, touch on themes like early pregnancy, relationship challenges, and family struggles, giving students a glimpse into lives impacted by teen pregnancy.

2. Group Discussion: Each story is followed by guided discussion, allowing teens to express thoughts, ask questions, and confront any misconceptions. Facilitators guide these conversations, providing context and drawing connections to students’ own experiences.

3. Reflection and Application: Students are encouraged to journal their responses, creating personal action plans with prompts like “I will start…” or “I will stop…” based on the lessons they’ve learned. This reflective practice helps students internalize and apply their new understanding.

   
   

Why Storytelling Matters

Untrapped’s storytelling element is central to its approach. Stories resonate with students on a personal level, bridging the gap between data and lived experience. By hearing narratives that mirror their own communities and challenges, students can see the real-world impacts of teen pregnancy in a way that statistics alone cannot capture. Storytelling has proven to be a powerful educational tool, encouraging empathy, self-reflection, and critical thinking.

Goals and Considerations in Developing the Curriculum

The development of Untrapped was guided by specific goals: to empower students with the skills and knowledge needed to make informed decisions and to foster an environment where teens feel safe discussing sensitive topics. Key considerations included:

• Cultural Relevance: Recognizing the unique challenges that Black teens in Georgia face, the curriculum is designed to be culturally relevant, featuring language, scenarios, and themes that reflect their lives and experiences​.

• Inclusivity: Untrapped includes both male and female perspectives, ensuring that all teens feel represented and responsible in the conversation around pregnancy prevention.

• Trigger Warnings and Sensitivity: The curriculum includes content warnings before sensitive stories, creating a safe space where teens can engage without feeling overwhelmed. Facilitators are trained to manage these moments with care, guiding students through any emotional reactions constructively​.

Through its focus on social context, storytelling, and reflection, Untrapped offers teens a unique opportunity to understand the broader implications of teen pregnancy and to envision a future where they are empowered to make choices that benefit their lives and communities.

Comments from Academic Peer Review:

“The Untrapped curriculum is presented as a responsive and contextually aware intervention that integrates storytelling, media, reflection, and structural critique. The inclusion of narrative-based pedagogy and problem-tree analysis aligns with current best practices in critical health education and adolescent engagement.”

“an innovative, equity-focused intervention that centers young people’s lived experiences and acknowledges the structural factors that shape adolescent sexual health outcomes.I find the framework promising, and the intervention's design aligns well with adolescent-centered pedagogy and public health best practices. “

"Untrapped, as a tailored curriculum designed to interrupt intergenerational cycles of teen pregnancy."