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...
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...
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...
With so much uncertainty these last few years, we're thankful for our staff and being able to get together in-person again.November 29, 2022We know that these last few years haven't been easy. We've collectively adapted to pandemic life, shifting our work to adapt to...
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...
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...
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...
I asked our staff what their favorite LGBTQ+ shows and movies are and why they think it’s important that young people see themselves thoughtfully represented in media. By Mariah CowsertJune 14, 2022We believe every young person has the right to live their authentic...
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...
50 years later, we have much to celebrate with Title IX…but we still have a lot of work to support ongoing efforts for strong Title IX protections and enforcement.April 21, 2022"No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation...
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...
HPV vaccine resources to break down science with humor and honest answersBy Gina Desiderio January 20, 2022When it's time for their annual physical, the first question my kids ask me is if they have to get a shot. It's been a while since they've been due for one of...
Alexa, play We Found Love by Rihanna ft. Calvin HarrisBy Mariah CowsertJanuary 13, 2022It all started with a message on a dating app. Once our conversations got longer, we moved from messaging in the app to texting then after a fun phone call about life and how we...
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...
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...
Ensuring that youth have access to the services they need is a core principle of reproductive justice—one that we must continue to strive towards and build upon.By Tonyé Fohsta-Lynch, MPH April 15, 2021The COVID-19 pandemic has essentially changed our everyday...
Following these steps is a really effective way to guide young people towards becoming good sexual citizens.By Ellen Friedrichs, MAMarch 12, 2021 Recently, I was Zoom teaching a college class, and I asked my students to share any questions they had about sexuality....
Sharing what we’ve learned from our Power through Choices facilitators.By Valerie Sedivy, PhD February 16, 2021I know. You’re tired of Zoom, young people are tired of Zoom, and I’m tired of talking about how tired we all are of Zoom. (No shade to Zoom, by the way—it...
Newly-inaugurated President Joe Biden has reversed several policy decisions of former President Trump that had curtailed the sexual and reproductive rights of women and girls.Bob Reeg, MPA, CVA February 2, 2021As the saying goes, "elections have consequences." No...
Repro Blueprint First Priorities lays out more to do to advance access January 28, 2021For Immediate ReleaseHealthy Teen Network applauds President Biden for taking the first steps to undo the harms of the previous administration’s dangerous and restrictive policies...
Now is the time to talk to youth about sex and technology.December 11, 2020 From sexting to dating apps, young people are connected to technology and digital media more than ever, and this connectivity is helping shape their virtual and physical relationships with...
We’re kicking off the conference with our keynote, Andrea Barrica, sex tech entrepreneur and founder of O.school and the author of Sextech Revolution: the Future of Sexual Wellness. October 15, 2020From sexting, to dating apps, and watching porn, young people are...
In the midst of a global pandemic, it's nearly impossible to get people to gather in-person. The good news is that you can still elevate the voice of your participants through digital focus groups.By Genevieve Martínez García, PhD October 8, 2020Many of us are used...
We know young people are watching porn. But, what are they learning from it? How can sex ed equip young people to make informed decisions about the porn they watch?August 27, 2020Bring up pornography in any conversation, and you may just get an awkward silence…bring...
While we all try to adjust to the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, some young people are disproportionately affected. By Allison Tomai Felsen July 24, 2020W ell, here we are. It’s almost August and we’re still battling the COVID-19 pandemic. That short, sigh of...
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