Seeds of Healing: A Community Garden Experience by Thrivology September 29, 2023 In their modest and unassuming form, seeds encapsulate the potential for transformation and growth. Just as these seeds thrive when nurtured and cared for, so do our intentions, … Read More
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Welcome, Caro!
We’re excited to have Caro Hernandez join our Capacity Building department! September 29, 2023 We’re excited to have Caro Hernandez join Deb, Valerie, Sam, and Mackenzie in our Capacity Building department as a Project Coordinator. Caro brings nearly a decade … Read More
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Welcome, Arianna!
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A Mind Flayer from Stranger Things? The Brooms from Fantasia?! No, Friends…It’s the Clitoris!
Tales from an impromptu poll among friends…and a challenge for you. By Mackenzie Piper, MPH, CHES August 3, 2023 Afew months ago, I was getting ready for a for a sex ed workshop with a group of adults. In preparation, … Read More
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Our Culture of Innovation
We push the boundaries of imagination to develop innovative approaches to adolescent health. This is how we create the space to do it. By Kaitlyn LaBonte, LMSW By Milagros Garrido, MS, PMP August 1, 2023 We live in a world … Read More
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Taking Time to Smell the Roses at #HealthyTeen23
From art and eats to the International Rose Test Garden, there’s plenty to explore in Portland! By Shanise Taylor July 24, 2023 Pack your bags and goods because we’re hitting the trail! The Oregon Trail! No, not really, but if … Read More
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Welcome, Monique!
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Give Your Contraceptive Lessons a Refresh
Support your students to feel informed and in control of their health! By Allison Tomai Felsen June 23, 2023 As part of its efforts to bring the very best sexual health education to Maryland youth, True You Maryland, a program … Read More
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Welcome, Charlie Blue!
We’re excited to have Charlie Blue Brahm join our Innovation & Research Department! June 22, 2023 We’re excited to have Charlie Blue join Mila, Nick, Patricia, and Kaitlyn in our Innovation and Research department as a Design Researcher. Before … Read More
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That Just Gave Me Goosebumps! The Artistry Behind an Immersive, Emotional Encounter with Banned Books
Nick and Patricia chat about creating an experiential art installation that transported conference-goers into a world of forbidden literature and reveal how you can be part of efforts this year By Nicholas Sufrinko By Patricia Natalie, MA June 6, 2023 … Read More
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Welcome, Kaitlyn!
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May Is National Sex Ed for All Month (2023)
Community Leaders, Parents, and Guardians Lend Their Voice to Promote #SexEdForAll May 3, 2023 For Immediate Release B altimore, MD — May is Sex Ed For All Month, a time community leaders, caring adults, and advocates call on local school … Read More
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STI Stigma Be Gone!
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Traveling to Portland for #HealthyTeen23? Start Planning Now
Getting to the west coast can be tricky, but luckily, I have some tips from my recent visit to share (especially for my fellow East Coast folks)! By Deborah Chilcoat, MEd March 30, 2023 So, you want to come to … Read More
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Conversations Between Grandparents and Grandchildren: Love, Relationships, and Human Sexuality
Generation to generation, we can all learn from each other’s stories and experiences By Deborah Chilcoat, MEd January 13, 2023 I Googled “grandparents as sex educators” today. I wanted to write about the role grandparents play in educating their grandchildren about … Read More
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Supporting Youth Safety and Wellness in Sex Ed
Resources and information from a recent True You Maryland training to help support the mental health and safety of your students. By Allison Tomai Felsen January 5, 2023 Talking about sexuality in the classroom can be awkward! We’ve all been … Read More
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Talking to Your Dog about Sex: 5 Reasons to Prepare for Human Conversations with a More-Forgiving Furry Friend
If you are a dog parent, or ever had a loving pet in your life, you already know how responsive they are to our emotions. By Deborah Chilcoat, MEd December 15, 2022 As I was passing my pups laying on … Read More
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Where the Wild Things Are: 5 Reasons to Embrace the Playful, Outrageous, and Make-Believe at Work
Why a fun, outside-of-the-box scheme might be just what your brand, product, or campaign needs. “That very night in Max’s room a forest grew and grew—and grew until his ceiling hung with vines and the walls became the world all … Read More
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Picture it, Miami 2022.
Check out the sights and bites on our Must-Do list while we’re at #HealthyTeen22. By Shanise Taylor October 3, 2022 Miami is not only the setting for one of pop culture’s favorite television shows, Golden Girls; it’s also the setting … Read More
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Connecting Rural Youth to Sexual and Reproductive Health
When looking at sexual and reproductive health access across America, geography matters. And we see rural communities facing bigger gaps in access to services and comprehensive sex education. By Mackenzie Piper, MPH, CHES August 18, 2022 True You Maryland brings … Read More
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I Have Monkeypox—Here’s Where I’m Getting the Public Health Information I Need
Finding affirming, sex-positive, complete, and up-to-date information on monkeypox isn’t easy. Here’s a story about some of my sources, expected and unexpected, and the power of queer friendship. By Nicholas Sufrinko August 11, 2022 Information that’s as incomplete as it … Read More
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How Youth Development Professionals Might Want to Address “Parent Rights”
Perhaps these rebuttals to central themes in the “parent rights” movement will be useful to you By Bob Reeg, MPA, CVA May 26, 2022 (To be clear, I am not assailing the rights of parent’s writ large. This is a … Read More
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The Power of the Anonymous Question Box
There’s a reason just about every sex ed program uses a question box. By Mackenzie Piper May 12, 2022 The first session of each new sex ed program typically looks the same—an ice breaker of some sort, creating and signing … Read More
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May Is National Sex Ed for All Month (2022)
Community Leaders, Parents, and Guardians Lend Their Voice to Promote #SexEdForAll May 2, 2022 For Immediate Release B altimore, MD — May is Sex Ed For All Month, a time parents, guardians, teachers, community leaders, and advocates call on local … Read More
Staff
Welcome, Patricia!
We’re excited to have Patricia Natalie join Mila and Nick in our Innovation & Research department. April 7, 2022 Patricia Natalie is a curious learner who loves to ask questions and find patterns. If you look closer, you might think … Read More
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Would you like FRIES with that?
Sexting and digital consent are important topics to discuss with young people By Allison Tomai Felsen February 17, 2022 A study published in 2018 by JAMA Pediatrics found that sexting is becoming a more common practice among youth: about 1 … Read More
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Get the Shot(s): HPV Vaccine Resources for Parents
HPV vaccine resources to break down science with humor and honest answers By Gina Desiderio January 20, 2022 When it’s time for their annual physical, the first question my kids ask me is if they have to get a shot. … Read More
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Say Hello to Mackenzie!
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Reflections on #HealthyTeen21
We encourage you to think about what fills your cup and how we can reset the balance in order to show up for our young people. By Janet Max, MPH, CHES October 28, 2021 We were so happy to have … Read More
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Brand Voice: The Make-or-Break Secret for Crafting Health Information that Inspires
How you say it matters now more than ever. By Nicholas Sufrinko October 1, 2021 It’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it—an adage said a zillion times over. And yet today, it’s one that’s felt with … Read More
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Can We All Use Human-Centered Design?
Part two of our series on why using human-centered design can help us create better resources, programs, and services. By Milagros Garrido, MS, PMP July 29, 2021 A lmost 15 years ago, when I took my first Human-Centered Design (HCD) … Read More