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...
Community Leaders, Parents, and Guardians Lend Their Voice to Promote #SexEdForAllMay 3, 2023For Immediate ReleaseB altimore, MD — May is Sex Ed For All Month, a time community leaders, caring adults, and advocates call on local school boards, parent-teacher...
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...
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...
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...
How are you taking care and taking action in 2023?February 17, 2023This one is for you—the caregivers, teachers, and changemakers who give it all for today’s youth and the generations yet to come. This one is for you—the caregivers, teachers, and changemakers who give...
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...
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...
Our role as sex educators has never been more important—or more at risk. December 22, 20222022 has been nothing short of a difficult year for our community of professionals and the incredible young people we serve each and every day. When working through the...
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...
Thank you for daring to dream with us in Miami!November 4, 2022During our staff meeting before the conference, we asked everyone to share one thing they were excited about for this year’s conference. Every single person mentioned they were excited to be together, in...
We’re excited to have Saumya Sao join our Capacity Building & Evaluation team! October 16, 2022We’re excited to have Saumya join Valerie, Deb, Mac, and Sam in our Capacity Building and Evaluation department as a Project Coordinator. Their bubbly energy,...
Check out the sights and bites on our Must-Do list while we’re at #HealthyTeen22. By Shanise Taylor October 3, 2022Miami is not only the setting for one of pop culture’s favorite television shows, Golden Girls; it’s also the setting for the #HealthyTeen22, our 43rd...
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, 2022Information that’s as incomplete as...
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:...
Our freedom, our rights, are being restricted by a radical minority that does not represent the majority of Americans. By Gina Desiderio June 27, 2022Like many of you, here at Healthy Teen Network, we’re feeling the weight of the Supreme Court decision last week to...
“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 InstituteJune 27, 2022Content Warning: This blog mentions...
Perhaps these rebuttals to central themes in the “parent rights” movement will be useful to youBy Bob Reeg, MPA, CVA May 26, 2022(To be clear, I am not assailing the rights of parent’s writ large. This is a commentary on the latest set of restrictive and...
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...
There’s a reason just about every sex ed program uses a question box. By Mackenzie Piper May 12, 2022The first session of each new sex ed program typically looks the same—an ice breaker of some sort, creating and signing onto group agreements, a first activity to get...
Community Leaders, Parents, and Guardians Lend Their Voice to Promote #SexEdForAllMay 2, 2022For Immediate ReleaseB altimore, MD — May is Sex Ed For All Month, a time parents, guardians, teachers, community leaders, and advocates call on local school boards,...
This Sexual Assault Awareness Month, let’s emphasize survivors' right to joy and pleasure after sexual trauma.By Mariah CowsertApril 15, 2022I remember learning about it during welcome week at my tiny liberal arts college in the form of cheesy skits about preventing...
Legislation that restricts young people’s rights isn’t a reason to stay away…it’s a reason to come and get loud.By Gina Desiderio March 22, 2022It’s more important than ever for us to bring #HealthyTeen22 to Florida. Our annual national conference, Dare to Dream of a...
If youth don’t have equal access to comprehensive sex ed, then it is not intersectional. And it’s on us to change that. March 10, 2022Intersectional sex ed is possible, but what does that mean? Sex ed should be as robust and diverse as young people are today. And it’s...
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...
Social media can be more than algorithms and explore pages—it can be a spring board into action, a connecting place for activists, and a place for inspiration and growth. By Sam AkersFebruary 3, 2022As a Gen Z’er who has been scrolling Instagram for years, I’ve come...
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