NISC Programs of Excellence 

• Year Awarded: 2026
• Programs of Excellence Name: Grown Folks Talk: Sex Education for Older Adults
• Hosting Organization: Woodie Fite Senior Center, Douglasville, Georgia

About Grown Folks Talk: 

Many older adults are re entering dating after divorce or widowhood, navigating new relationships, or managing chronic health conditions that mayaffect intimacy. Yet few community resources address these realities in a respectful, medically accurate, and empowering way.

Douglas County Senior Services developed a first of its kind sex education program, Grown Folks Talk: Sex Education for Older Adults, designed specifically for adults aged 55 and older. The program was created in response to a growing but often overlooked public health concern: rising rates of sexually transmitted infections among older adults, paired with persistent stigma and limited access to age appropriate sexual health information.

The program led to stronger sexual health knowledge, greater comfort discussing intimacy, and increased confidence in talking to partners and health care providers. Participants reported learning practical information about aging, safer sex, and STIs. Many participants expressed intentions to adopt safer sexual behaviors and more frequent health screenings. The program reduced stigma and created a supportive environment that strengthened social connections amongst participants.

Douglas County Senior Services partnered with Cobb & Douglas Public Health, and trained health care workers lead the session and provided all curriculum materials including informational pamphlets, proper condom usage demonstrations, and condom distribution.

The program used the senior center’s existing classroom space and basic audiovisual equipment for presentations. Center staff handled setup and registration. Because the partnership covered instruction and content, the program required minimal funding and relied mostly on resources already available at the senior center.

Key takeaways from Grown Folks Talk:

• The program's most meaningful impact was increasing the participants confidence and comfort discussing sexual health and screenings, something many in this age group report having never felt safe discussing or addressing.
• The program strengthened the senior center’s reach by drawing in older adults who had not previously participated in its services, especially those re-entering dating or seeking health information not typically offered in aging programs.
• The partnership with Cobb & Douglas Public Health also elevated the center’s credibility in the community and opened doors for future collaborations. 

About Woodie Fite Senior Center

The Woodie Fite Senior Center is a recreational and educational center for adults 55 and older in Douglas County, Georgia. The center serves more than 8,000 members and has a goal "to make a positive difference in the lives of all who enter."