We should all be working to combat the stigma and normalize talking about menstruation in an inclusive and affirming wayBy Caro Hernandez October 3, 2024For people who menstruate, this change can bring up all kinds of feelings, especially when you’re a young person!...
Is There Such a Thing as “Good English”?
Why plain language matters more than “perfect” English.By Patricia Natalie, MA September 9, 2024I often hear the praise—"Your English is so good!"—when people find out that I’m an immigrant who speaks English as a second language. Sometimes, they add, “You don’t have...
Lets Collab: Cultivating Creative Spaces with Young People
5 takeaways from our work collaborating with young influencersBy Kaitlyn LaBonte, LMSW August 15, 2024The youth experience is always changing, but one thing that stays consistent is the need for youth-supporting professionals to meet young people where they are. In...
Grab & Go Birth Control: The Opill Revolution
Over-the-counter birth control is a game changer but it's up to all of us to make sure access remains unrestricted for everyone.By Lilith BreazealeBy Mandy WilliamsBy Deb CoffyAugust 6, 2024Thrivology Youth Leaders is a diverse group of 10 exceptional young people...
The Youth Behind Thrivology
Meet the Thrivology Youth Leaders!By JB Rodriguez-AnelloJuly 30, 2024As a young person myself, I know how often we are left out of conversations about our own health and well-being. This is especially true for marginalized youth, like BIPOC and LGBTQ+ young people....
Forget Gen Alpha…This Is Gen Sigma
Making the case for teens born between 2007 and 2013 to become the next micro-generationBy Gina Desiderio July 19, 2024What the sigma!? “Gen Alpha” is skibidi ohio toilet! Today’s tweens and teens are “Gen Sigma.” No cap! (For those of us who need that translated,...
“Add-On” to Your Experience at #HealthyTeen24
These limited-capacity training sessions allow you to dig deeper into specific topics, gain new tools, and enhance your professional skillsBy Arianna de la ManchaJuly 11,2024If you’ve been following our recent national annual conference promotion, you might be...
Trauma-Informed Needs to Be the Rule, Not the Exception
Finding the right health care provider feels a lot like dating—trial and error, dealbreakers, and all. But after my recent experience, I've realized that trauma-informed care is a non-negotiable. Here's how to find a provider who truly listens and supports you.By...
Have Fun, Be Safe: A Provider’s Guide to Supporting Young People with Multiple Sexual Partners
Approach these conversations in a way that is affirming, inclusive, and nonjudgmental.By Charlie Blue Brahm, MA June 28, 2024The stigmatization that exists culturally around having multiple sexual or romantic partners makes it all the more important for...
In/Tend Incubator Hub Office Hours
July 11, 2024, 9:30 - 10:30 PM ETJuly 19, 2024, 12:00 - 1:00 PM ETJuly 22, 2024, 2:30 - 3:30 PM ETAre you passionate about making positive change in adolescent sexual and reproductive health? Interested in digging deep into the world of human-centered design to...
Celebrating AANHPI Month
Cultural Experiences, Shared Identities, and Everything, Everywhere, All At Once By April “Kayuri” Lat, MS MPP By Patricia Natalie, MA May 28, 2024Check out this video blog post, where April and Patricia discuss their shared identities as Southeast Asians, their...
The Not-So-Top-Secret Mission to Improve Adolescent Health Outcomes
Dive deep into county-level data to identify factors contributing to the sexual and reproductive health outcomes of young people in your community! By Deborah Chilcoat, MEd May 16, 2024Here is your mission, should you choose to accept it: Dive deep into county-level...
5 Queer Sex Ed Resources by and for Young People
Young people take the lead to reimagine building a society that centers their experiences. By Arianna de la ManchaApril 11, 2024I’m constantly in awe of young people who work collectively to fill the gaps in their sex education experiences. As someone approaching...
Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program’s Adolescent Sexual Health Innovation Hubs Showcase
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 newly funded to support teams that will develop, refine, and...
Why all Menstruating Students Deserve Dignified Self-Care
Young people—and all of us, really—deserve to live in a world that celebrates and does not stigmatize the topic of menstrual health and human growth. By Sasha Grenier, MPH, CHESDecember 14, 2023This October, I attended the #HealthyTeen23 conference to accept the...
Anti-Trans and Anti-LGBTQ Policies Threaten the Safety and Well-Being of Young People
Trans youth—like all young people—deserve to live in a world that affirms and celebrates them for who they are.By Charlie Blue Brahm, MANovember 9, 2023It’s been almost four months since the Department of Education in my home state of Virginia released new model...
Taking Care of Each Other at #HealthyTeen23
Thank you for taking care with us at #HealthyTeen23; now let’s work together to take action.By Janet Max, MPH, CHES October 20, 2023As I was drafting my opening remarks for #HealthyTeen23 and reflecting on our conference, I realized this was my 20th conference with...
Protecting Transgender Youth and Young Adults in Maryland
Get the latest scoop on the Trans Health Equity Act in Maryland and what you can do to show up for the trans, non-binary, and gender-expansive young people—and adults—in your life. By Mariah CowsertAugust 31, 2023While Pride month has already wrapped up this Summer,...
How Youth-Friendly is Your Clinic?
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...
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, 2023Afew months ago, I was getting ready for a for a sex ed workshop with a group of adults. In preparation, I decided to purchase another anatomical model to...
Let’s Talk Inclusivity… in Birth Control!
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...
Welcome, Monique!
We’re excited to have Monique Davis join our Finance and Operations Department! June 29, 2023We’re excited to have Monique join Dawn, Shanise, and Jenna in our Finance and Operations Department. She will help with crunching the numbers and working with the...
Give Your Contraceptive Lessons a Refresh
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...
Defend LGBTQ+ Rights by Creating Inclusive Learning Spaces
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...
How to Use Storytelling as a Vehicle for Social Change
6 Storytelling Lessons Learned while Creating the Casey Young Parents Stories.By Patricia Natalie, MA June 8, 2023When I first joined Healthy Teen Network in March 2022, my first project was to “create stories about young parents that can affect policy change.” Wow, I...
Offering the “Right Support” for Young Parents
Young parents are usually really motivated to access services...it’s our job to make sure the supports are they and they can access them.By Valerie Sedivy, PhD May 18, 2023In a perfect world, Mother’s Day is a celebration of mothers and all that they do. But for...
STI Stigma Be Gone!
There are many myths and misunderstandings about these infections, but one truth remains: people living with STIs can lead healthy, full lives. By Sam Akers, MSWApril 7, 2023 Oftentimes, when people hear “sexually transmitted infections,” their first thoughts are of...
Beyond Sexual & Reproductive Health: Linking Young People to Mental Health Resources
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, MPH, CHES March 6, 2023Many years ago, I still remember being introduced to a short story titled “Why is...
New Year, Same WHY
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...
Treat Yourself to Protection from HPV & HPV-related Cancers
Happy HPV Prevention Week and Cervical Cancer Prevention Month! Here’s your reminder to treat yourself (and your kids) with protection from HPV and HPV-related cancers!By Mariah CowsertJanuary 27, 2023Irecently went in to get my annual flu shot at the CVS in my...
Discover the magic of the Network.