Each May since 2019, Sex Ed for All Month is an opportunity to voice our shared commitment to a world where all young people get equitable access to the education and care they deserve. April 18, 2024The seasons are changing, and May will be here before you know it....
Together, by advocating in our communities, we can ensure Sex Ed for All.April 16, 2024As April starts to wind down, and as we look ahead to the start of May on the horizon, we wanted to take a moment to share with you the history behind May as Sex Ed for All Month....
Stay up to date with our 2024 adolescent health national observances Google calendar!By Mariah CowsertJanuary 25, 2024When I first started working at Healthy Teen Network—now 3 years ago, almost to the day!—and started creating content for our social media channels, I...
On a scale from mid to stellar, how would the youth you serve rate your clinic's youth-friendliness? By Allison Tomai Felsen August 17, 2023Have you ever walked into a health care facility and felt totally overwhelmed? Or been unsure how to talk to your health care...
We need to be mindful of our language to ensure that we’re reaching young people of all genders.By Vanessa GeffrardJuly 13, 2023As health educators, it’s likely that we’ll teach a lesson, or answer questions about, birth control for a classroom full of curious young...
Support your students to feel informed and in control of their health!By Allison Tomai Felsen June 23, 2023As part of its efforts to bring the very best sexual health education to Maryland youth, True You Maryland, a program of the Maryland Department of Health, has...
Learn more—and get resources—about how to create affirming spaces for your students.By Allison Tomai Felsen June 15, 2023The onslaught of attacks on the basic human right for people to exist just continues to be exhausting. Banning books, censoring curricula, banning...
Whether it is crisis hotlines, toolkits, trainings, or support groups, there are ways to get youth connected to mental health resources today.By Mackenzie Piper March 6, 2023Many years ago, I still remember being introduced to a short story titled “Why is Jason in the...
Our Thoughts on Why Sex Ed Matters By Sam AkersFebruary 23, 2023“What do you do?” I was asked by my family when I went home... “Well, I work in sex ed!” *Brace for impact* “and I LOVE what I do, because it matters.” Going home for the holidays can bring...
Generation to generation, we can all learn from each other's stories and experiencesBy Deborah Chilcoat, MEd January 13, 2023I Googled “grandparents as sex educators” today. I wanted to write about the role grandparents play in educating their grandchildren about...
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, 2023Talking about sexuality in the classroom can be awkward! We’ve all been there. But there’s a...
Young people have a right to quality, affirming sex education...and regardless of political affiliation, parents and young people agreeBy Mariah CowsertMay 1, 2021Aworld where all young people lead healthy and fulfilling lives...that’s the dream, right? And it’s not...
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, 2022As I was passing my pups laying on the couch (spoiled), looking so carefree (except when they...
Why a fun, outside-of-the-box scheme might be just what your brand, product, or campaign needs. By Nicholas Sufrinko November 10, 2022"T hat 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...
This is only a sneak peak of our incredible line-up of some of our conference sessions; you’ll just have to join us in Miami for #HealthyTeen22 to get the full experience! September 23, 2022We’re counting down the days to #HealthyTeen22 in Miami. While we may not be...
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, 2022True You Maryland brings...
But if you feel you have to respond, be polite and stick to the facts.By Allison Tomai Felsen August 4, 2022Ever heard the expression “don’t feed the trolls?” Maybe it was in a news article about the rise of clickbait posting and algorithms designed to show us content...
Religion and faith does play a role in shaping our views on sex and sexuality. By Allison Tomai Felsen July 14, 2022You might be thinking the same thing that I was when I first read the title and description to our recent training series—Demystifying Sexual Taboos:...
“Every time we point out stigma and name it as unfair, it loses its validity, and in turn, its power.” By Yesi Llerenas Daniel (they/elle) By Maria Peñas (she/her) Educators with Responsible Sex Education Institute June 27, 2022Content Warning: This blog mentions...
It's more likely than you think.By Sam AkersMay 20, 2022Kids these days are all about TikTok, and I’ll admit it, I’m into it too! From watching morning routines to dances to Lizzo’s newest song, I love a good scroll. Social media provides a platform where people can...
Sexting and digital consent are important topics to discuss with young peopleBy Allison Tomai Felsen February 17, 2022A study published in 2018 by JAMA Pediatrics found that sexting is becoming a more common practice among youth: about 1 in 7 adolescents reported that...
All students deserve to learn in an inclusive and affirming space.By Allison Tomai Felsen December 9, 2021Did you know that out of the 29 states that require sex ed to be taught in school, only 17 states require the inclusion of LGBTQ+ topics? GLSEN’s National School...
How you say it matters now more than ever.By Nicholas Sufrinko October 1, 2021It’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 particular intensity and dismay across public health fields like...
Quick tips to build motivation to turn the camera on.By Valerie Sedivy, PhD July 15, 2021By far, the most common challenge we hear from facilitators working in virtual settings is that young people do not want to be on camera. There are so many reasons why this might...
With more youth feeling free to live their authentic sexualities and build relationships that reflect that, it’s up to educators and youth-supporting professionals to keep up momentum for supporting LGBTQ+ young people in schoolsBy Mariah CowsertJune 30, 2021Growing...
I’m Just a Bill covers how a legislative bill makes its way to law. As a public policy advocacy practitioner for over 30 years, let me just say that how a bill becomes a law is more complicated than the short film conveys. By Bob Reeg, MPA, CVA June 3, 2021The I’m...
I have never liked the phrase, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” I share this so what I write will not be dismissed as musings of a bubbly-happy-go-lucky-always-look-on-the-bright-side-of-life-optimist. By Lisa Schelbe, PhD, MSW May 27, 2021We must use a...
Well visits are a good venue for routine and COVID-19 vaccinations, as well as a variety of important screenings and assessmentsMay 19, 2021With the decline in routine pediatric immunizations and well-child visits during the COVID-19 pandemic, Healthy Teen Network...
All young people deserve access to high-quality sex education and sexual health careMay 18, 2021For Immediate ReleaseWashington, D.C — Today, champions in Congress are introducing the Real Education and Access to Healthy Youth Act of 2021 (REAHYA). The bill, which is...
Together, We Can Ensure Equity and Access for AllMay 3, 2021For Immediate ReleaseB altimore, MD—May is Sex Ed For All Month, a national effort spearheaded by a coalition of sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice organizations committed to ensuring...
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