NFP info For Teachers, Youth Ministers, & Catechists

• First of all, it’s just healthy. Health is studied in school every year. NFP is the natural and safe way to monitor and understand reproductive health.

• Contraception is commonly encouraged in the secular world, but it’s not the answer. Young people should understand what the faith teaches regarding these matters, and why.

NFP relates to countless relevant topics such as family, marriage, dating, relationships, chastity, and the body.

Below are a few resources regarding NFP available for both young people, and adults who wish to teach young people about it.

Curriculum Resources

• Ascension Press offers programs to introduce Theology of the Body to teens, and middle school aged children. Each program comes with a DVD, Parent’s Guide, Leader’s Guide, and Student Workbook.

  • You: Life, Love, and Theology of the Body program is a new program designed for teens. It replaces the previous Theology of the Body for Teens program offered by Ascension Press.

  • The Theology of the Body for Teens (Middle-School Edition) is a program designed for middle ages.

• The Family Life program from RCL Benziger is designed for use in K-8 schools and parishes.

• Contraception: The Real Story -  This sixteen-part video educational resource is helpful for parents, diocesan staff, teachers, Catholic physicians, and parents.

• Teen STAR USA - An NFP-based sex-ed curriculum for teenagers.

• Read this article: "3 Myths About Teaching Teens about Fertility Awareness" (from NaturalWomanhood.org)

• Theology of Her Body and Theology of His Body are two books in one that provide answers for young men and women about love and sexuality, available on the Chastity project website.

• The Happiest Mothers and Daughters Project: A five-video series packed with practical information about the dignity of sex and marriage and how mothers can open the door to these conversations with their daughters.

• Mother-Daughter Area from the Couple to Couple League: Mothers are in a special position to engage their daughters about the gift of their fertility.  The CCL Mother / Daughter Area lets you choose the resources you feel would be the best to communicate with your daughter about this important subject (for ages 9 - 18).

• Pearl and Thistle: An innovative approach to lifelong body literacy for Catholics:

  1. CYCLE PREP (Stage 1): This course enables parents to share the Language of the Body  with their daughters through scientifically-accurate information that builds a positive narrative around cycles and periods.  Self-paced videos and a library of resources enable parents and daughters to be prepared, together

  2. CHARTING FOR GIRLS (Stage 2):This self-paced learning guide begins with the "Basic Guide" to charting (for girls within the first 3-4 years of cycling) and follows with the "Advanced Guide" to charting which will help girls identify ovulation as a sign of health. 

• David Hajduk writes for teenagers about Theology of The Body in his book, God’s Plan for You.

• The Sisterhood of Catholic Women and Adolescence (Presented by the St. Agustine Foundation) - teaches women about God’s plan for their sexuality with a focus on Fertility Awareness and Chastity. 

  • “Healthy Cycle, Healthy You!” is a free, practical guide designed to go deeper into the beauty of the menstrual cycle through a Catholic lens. 

  • 13 Week online course for Women and Adolescence covers Fertility Awareness, Catholic Sexual Morality, Chastity, Contraception, Abortion and Pornography

• Cherry Blossom Buds is a fertility and chastity education program for mothers and their daughters ages 5 thru 22.  It prepares girls for menarche (the first menstrual period), and then continues their formation through age-appropriate fertility and chastity education–all centered within the family.

• LifeTeen youth ministers discuss NFP in many of their blog posts:

  • I'm Single and I Love NFP. Here's Why...

  • What Teen Vogue Doesn't Tell

Teen Q and A about NFP (Source: Archdiocese of St. Louis Office of Natural Family Planning)

• Mother-Daughter/Father-Son Programs: The Mother-Daughter program model provides an opportunity to hold a parish (or cohort level) gathering of grandmothers, mothers and daughters (middle school age and above) with a guest speaker who speaks on various topics of family life, motherhood and fatherhood from the Catholic perspective. The miracle of the human body, chaste love, and procreation would be included in the presentation, as well as mutual respect of spouses in marriage, and the role of parents as educators of the Catholic faith. (CLICK HERE for information on the "Wonderfully Made" Mother-Daughter program available now for your parish.)

• The Father-Son model would be similar, with specific emphasis on respect for the dignity of women, chastity, and the important role of fathers and sons in the family.  To plan a Mother-Daughter or Father-Son event, contact the Dept. of Evangelization and Family Life, 609-403-7156.