Words Matter: A Guide to Inclusive Language for Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health October 2024 Language shapes our world, and the words we choose can build bridges or barriers. That’s why, across fields and industries, experts agree: Words matter. Words … Read More
For Teachers
Sexual Health Facilitators’ Guide to Responding to Youth’s Questions About Sex
Sexual Health Facilitators’ Guide to Responding to Youth’s Questions About Sex 2023 Facilitators of sexual health education programs may face a dilemma when they aren’t sure about how to respond to a youth’s question. This may be because they don’t … Read More
For Teachers
Serenity Kit
Serenity Kit A thoughtfully curated kit for youth-supporting professionals to promote self-care, healing, and a sense of safety Get yours Thrivology News About Us Ask Us Stay Inspired An experience for the senses Within every Serenity Kit is an experience … Read More
For Teachers
Thrivopolis
Thrivopolis A game and discussion where players navigate a social safety net in the not-so-distant future Join the fun! Thrivology News About Us Ask Us Stay Inspired In the wake of the Great Unraveling in the not-so-distant future, a brave … Read More
For Teachers
Serenity Collection
Serenity Collection Helping youth-supporting professionals create the time and space for self-care and healing Explore Thrivology News About Us Ask Us Stay Inspired Experience the Serenity Collection As youth-supporting professionals, you dedicate a lot of time and energy caring for … Read More
For Teachers
Serenity Room
Serenity Room a research-backed, sensory experience for you to explore, relax, and find your inner serenity Welcome Guide Thrivology News About Us Ask Us Stay Inspired Nurture your well-being We invite you to experience the Serenity Room at the Teen … Read More
For Teachers
Communicating About Adolescent Sexual Health: Messaging That Moves
Communicating About Adolescent Sexual Health: Messaging That Moves 2017 As an expert in efforts to improve students’ sexual health, you see your work in a different light than many of the people whose support you need to sustain your 1308 … Read More
For Teachers
Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program’s Adolescent Sexual Health Innovation Hubs Showcase
Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program’s Adolescent Sexual Health Innovation Hubs Showcase April 2024 We’re thrilled to unveil Healthy Teen Network’s Innovation Incubator Hub, In/Tend—funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Population Affairs. We are one of six organizations … Read More
For Teachers
Internal & External Condom Steps
Internal & External Condom Steps August 2024 Condom demonstrations are important because it’s better for young people to see (and then practice!) applying a condom before they need to use it. Review condom use steps for internal and external condoms, … Read More
For Teachers
Sexual Identity Glossary
Sexual Identity Glossary 2024 This handout identifies terms related to gender and sexual identity. Sexual identity is typically a combination of someone’s: sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, and sexual behavior. When packaged together, we get a sense of our … Read More
For Teachers
Merck Return to Care
Featured Project Merck Return to Care The Healthy Teen Oracle card deck centers around 16 unique, health-related Oracle cards with properties such as uncertainty, ritual, and encouragement. Where We Started One of the many ways that the COVID-19 pandemic has … Read More
For Teachers
Communication is Key: Sharing STI Test Results with Your Partner
Communication Is Key: Sharing STI Test Results with Your Partner 2022 HIV and STI testing should be a part of your routine—and, if you have a partner or partners, theirs too—so let’s talk about it! Having a Conversation about Getting … Read More
For Teachers
Delivering Contraceptive Lessons
Delivering Contraceptive Lessons April 2023 Part 1: Tossing Out the BinaryWe know it can feel tricky (at first) to discuss avoiding pregnancy in a way that includes everyone and every gender in the room. However, research shows that inclusive classrooms … Read More
For Teachers
Communication is Key: Having a Conversation About Getting Tested for STIs with Your Partner
Communication Is Key: Having a Conversation about Getting Tested for STIs with Your Partner 2022 HIV and STI testing should be a part of your routine—and, if you have a partner or partners, theirs too—so let’s talk about it! Having … Read More
For Teachers
More Than Pronouns: Creating Affirming Spaces During Positive Prevention Plus
More Than Pronouns: Creating Affirming Spaces During Positive Prevention Plus March 2023 We all are learning, growing, and doing the best we can for our students. Navigating conversations in a sex ed class can be complex. “Am I using the … Read More
For Teachers
Group Agreements for Good Colleagues
Group Agreements for Good Colleagues 2021 This is a working document that was crafted by the Healthy Teen Network staff and was inspired by our former Board Chair Nadine Finigan-Carr in the midst of the first year of the COVID-19 … Read More
For Teachers
National Observances, Awareness Campaigns, and Holidays Calendar
National Observances, Awareness Campaigns, and Holidays Calendar January 2024 National health observances and awareness campaigns are great opportunities to efficiently use and adapt existing content in support of the goal of promoting adolescent sexual health and well-being. This Google calendar … Read More
For Teachers
Why Sex Ed For All?
Why Sex Ed For All? October 2021 Have you heard that May is Sex Ed For All Month? Yes, no, maybe? Or yes, but you don’t quite get it? It’s okay…that’s actually what this session is all about. Since 2019, … Read More
For Teachers
Many Ways of Being
Featured Project Many Ways of Being Many Ways of Being is an inclusive, youth-centered curriculum focused on gender equity, healthy relationships, and safer sex practices. Where We Started Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice (formerly known as Promundo-US), in … Read More
For Teachers
Real Talk Evaluation
Featured Project Real Talk Evaluation Real Talk modernizes sex education by capitalizing on youths’ desire to engage in peer sharing. Where We Started Real Talk modernizes sex education by capitalizing on youths’ desire to engage in peer sharing. Real Talk was … Read More
For Teachers
DC Next!
Featured Project DC Next! Centering young people as valued experts in identifying challenges to create innovative solutions. What It Is DC NEXT! is a collective impact innovation network of young parents, community providers, educational institutions, healthcare agencies, government partners, and … Read More
For Teachers
Protecting Youth Access to Health Care
Protecting Youth Access to Health Care April 2022 Of all the reproductive health services—testing, treatment, supplies, procedures—which ones can a minor access without their parent/guardian’s permission? Get the answers during this 30-minute overview of Maryland’s Minor Access laws. This session … Read More
For Teachers
Demystifying Sexual Taboos: Education, Science, and Sex-Positive Christianity
Demystifying Sexual Taboos: Education, Science, and Sex-Positive Christianity April 2022 Religious values often shape our perspectives on sex and sexuality. How can we explore the impact of religious beliefs on young people, their sexuality, and sexual behavior? We will identify … Read More
For Teachers
Teaching Inclusive Sex Ed: A Focus on LGBTQIA+ Youth
Teaching Inclusive Sex Ed: A Focus on LGBTQIA+ Youth December 2021 Research shows that inclusive classrooms are necessary in supporting the diverse academic, social, emotional, and communication needs of all students. Join True You Maryland partner Vanessa Geffrard to learn … Read More
For Teachers
Keeping It Real and Professional Part 2: Answering Challenging Questions
Keeping It Real and Professional Part 2: Answering Challenging Questions February 2021 Educators and facilitators are often torn between the desire to connect with students/youth while answering their questions comprehensively and the desire to maintain appropriate boundaries. This training will … Read More
For Teachers
Keeping It Real and Professional Part 1: The Wondrous Landscape of Teaching Sex Ed
Keeping It Real and Professional Part 1: The Wondrous Landscape of Teaching Sex Ed January 2021 Teaching sex ed can be rewarding…but also complicated! Human service professionals are often torn between the desire to connect with clients and teach from … Read More
For Teachers
Human Trafficking 101
Human Trafficking 101 February 2019 Through Healthy Teen Network’s partnership with the University of Maryland School of Social Work’s Prevention of Adolescent Risk Initiative, this elearning unit is available to learn about sex and labor trafficking. This unit is focused … Read More
For Teachers
Everyone Wins!
Everyone Wins!: Co-Parenting Can Work for All 2020 As a partner on Map 2 Success, a project of the Baltimore City Health Department and Maryland Department of Health, Healthy Teen Network developed this poster, as a complement to Protect Your … Read More
For Teachers
Power Through Choices Training-of-Trainers
Power Through Choices Training-of-Trainers Available In-Person (Online, Coming Soon!) Do you have a team of trainers experienced at building the capacity of adult professionals? A Training-of-Trainers, or a TOT, prepares experienced trainers to conduct a Training-of-Facilitators (TOF) on Power Through … Read More
For Teachers
What Works? Sex Ed for Youth in Systems of Care
What Works? Sexual Health Education for Youth Involved in Systems of Care Presentation Available Online & In-Person What does it take to provide high-quality sexual health education to youth involved in systems of care? In this interactive workshop, participants learn … Read More
For Teachers
Creating a Comfortable Climate
Creating a Comfortable Climate Training Available Online & In-Person This training helps sex education instructors ensure they are using best practices when it comes to setting the tone for discussions, answering questions, preventing challenging situations, and managing them effectively if … Read More
For Teachers
Why All-Gender Classrooms Work
Why All-Gender Classrooms Work U Choose to Know Digest, 2020 Discussing gender in the classroom can be a difficult task for some teachers and staff. Challenging situations can come up, like students having different perspectives on the subject matter or … Read More
For Teachers
When Sex Education Meets Mandatory Reporting
When Sex Education Meets Mandatory Reporting U Choose to Know Digest, 2020 As a teacher, you know that if you suspect that a student has been abused, or a student tells you about a situation that sounds like abuse, you … Read More
For Teachers
When Is the Right Time to Engage in Sexual Activity?
When Is the Right Time to Engage in Sexual Activity? U Choose to Know Digest, 2020 In the classroom, students may ask questions like, “How do I know when it is the right time to have sex?” or “How do … Read More
For Teachers
What’s Law Got to Do with It?
What’s Law Got to Do with It? U Choose to Know Digest, 2020 Although you don’t need to be a legal expert to teach sex education, it helps to be up to date on federal and state laws that relate … Read More
For Teachers
What Is Dual Protection & Why Is It Important?
What Is Dual Protection & Why Is It Important? U Choose to Know Digest, 2020 Although birth rates among young people have declined over the years, STI rates are soaring. According to the CDC, adolescents ages 15-24 account for nearly … Read More
For Teachers
Talking to Partners about STI Status: Building Skills & Confidence in Youth
Talking to Partners about STI Status: Building Skills & Confidence in Youth U Choose to Know Digest, 2020 Having conversations about sex with a partner can be difficult, but talking to partners about STI status can feel particularly tricky, especially … Read More