Norfolk has one of the highest rates of sexually transmitted infections and teen pregnancy among all cities and counties in the Commonwealth of Virginia. That's why EVMS Pediatrics is working with the Norfolk School Board to host the Get Real Open Call to engage the community in an open dialogue about the new Family Life Education curriculum in local public schools: . Results will be used to support a pilot Get Real program for middle and high school students, with the support of the Virginia Department of Health.

Studies show that medically accurate, evidence-based and age-appropriate program services for school age youth, such as , can delay sexual initiation, reduce risky sexual behaviors and reduce sexually transmitted infections and teen pregnancies. The Get Real program was developed by the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts in 2008 and was endorsed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Get Real has been widely implemented in 42 states and Washington, D.C.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for ideas and inputs surrounding the following topic:

  • What does it mean to Get Real about family life education?

We welcome various forms of original submissions.

  • Written descriptions of story or experience (PDF, one page or less)
  • Images, such as drawings or paintings
  • Audios or videos (five minutes or less)
  • Other mixed media works which involve one or all of these elements

The size of any submission should be within 10 MB. The content of any submission needs to be related to the Open Call topic above.

Judging process

Each submission will be reviewed by at least five judges from the which will consist of people with diverse backgrounds and experiences. The Open Call will follow the developed by the World Health Organization. Learn more about how .

Submissions will be judged using the following criteria:

  • Relevance to the Open Call topic
  • Innovation
  • Feasibility
  • Relevance to our local middle and high school students and their parents and guardians
  • Inclusivity in terms of gender, race/ethnicity and disability


Prizes valued at $2,500 will be awarded to winning submissions and participants. The deadline to apply is Monday, May 24. Winning submissions will be shared to support the implementation of the Get Real program services in public schools.

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