WLA YSS Sessions in Short: Reach One, Teach One

Reach One, Teach One

 

Ehryn Barthelme discussed the ways teen peer educators from Planned Parenthood of MN worked with the Rochester Public Library teen librarian Sarah Joynt to make sure teens in the Rochester area have the information they need about sexual health, sexuality, and gender expression.  Unfortunately Sarah was unable to join us because she was sick, but Ehryn shared information and answered questions about

·         Discussing sex with teens

·         Working with community partners

·         Talking to administration and parents about what you are doing.  Her advice:  don’t try to do this on the down-low.  Be up front about the needs you are trying to address and it usually goes better!  Examples from the Rochester experience included making sure the library administration understood the need for an LGBTQ+ group, and providing information and resources to Somali parents who were concerned about what their teens were learning.

Resources recommended for getting accurate and positive sex education:

Advocates for Youth champions efforts that help young people make informed and responsible decisions about their reproductive and sexual health.

Go Ask Alice is supported by a team of Columbia University health promotion specialists, health care providers, and other health professionals, along with a staff of information and research specialists and writers.

Planned Parenthood has an excellent program to educate people about sexual and reproductive health.

Safe Zone Project is a free online resource for creating powerful, effective LGBTQ+ awareness and ally training workshops.

Scarleteen is an independent, grassroots sexuality and relationship education organization that provides inclusive, comprehensive, supportive sexuality and relationship information for teens and emerging adults.

Sex, etc. is sex education by teens, for teens, including information on birth control, condoms, HIV/AIDS & STIs, pregnancy and more.

The Teaching Transgender Toolkit is a detailed collection of best practices, lesson plans and resources for those who wish to facilitate trainings about transgender people, identities, and experiences.

Author: Leah Langby

To see all the recaps of "WLA Sessions in Short" click below:
Group Problem Solving
Fear Not Coding for the Rest of Us
Using the Five Practices in School Age Programming
Plan Less, Program More
Diversify Me