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!...
Connecting the Dots: How Environmentalism Shapes Adolescent Health
Understanding the vital link between social determinants of health and environmental justiceBy Angela ZhongAugust 29, 2024Growing up in a city economically tethered to the WTI oil price, I dismissed natural disasters and environmental health concerns as part of life’s...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Stay in the Loop with our Shareable National Observances Calendar
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...
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...
Menstrual Dignity for Students Program to Receive 2023 Healthy Teen Network #StandingStrong Award
In recognition of the Program’s efforts to ensure all menstruating students have the opportunity for safe, dignified self-care September 13, 2023Our nation’s young people face continued and escalating attacks on their sexual and reproductive health rights, driven by...
Bring Your Amazing Ideas and Work to #HealthyTeen23
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...
Supporting Youth Safety and Wellness in Sex Ed
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...
Connecting Rural Youth to Sexual and Reproductive Health
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...
What’s Next in the Endless Attack on Our Rights and Freedoms?
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...
Anti-Fat Bias Is Pervasive and Insidious: Combating Its Harm in Sexual Health & Education
“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...
Would you like FRIES with that?
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...
3 Instagram Accounts to Follow to Learn about Reproductive Justice
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...
Get the Shot(s): HPV Vaccine Resources for Parents
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...
We Found Love in a COVID Place
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...
Say Hello to Sam!
Join us in welcoming Sam to the Healthy Teen Network family! By Deborah Chilcoat, MEd September 2, 2021How is it possible that rays of sunshine actually radiate through my monitor when I have Zoom meetings with our newest staff person, Sam Akers? Sam AkersSam joined...
On and Off the Field: How Title IX Protects the Rights of All Young People
Anyone who works in schools, or with students in other educational settings, can benefit from learning more about Title IX protections.By Mariah CowsertJune 24, 2021When you hear “Title IX,” your mind likely goes first to sports. Indeed, today, more than 100,000 women...
I’m Just a Bill: The Untold Story
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...
Adolescents & the COVID-19 Vaccine
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...
10 Ways to Help Young People Become Good Sexual Citizens: How Myth Busting and Youth Empowerment Increases Safety
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....
Sexual and Reproductive Health Policies Affecting Youth: A Look at What’s Ahead
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...
Welcome, Mariah!
Mariah brings an artistic lens to nonprofit communications, along with a passion for inclusive health education and access. January 26, 2021We are just so excited to announce our newest staff member: Mariah Cowsert joins Gina and Allison in our...
Welcome, Tonyé Fohsta-Lynch!
Tonyé brings a lot of energy, a commitment to centering youth voices, and multiple dimensions to her work.January 12, 2021We are stoked to welcome Tonyé Fohsta-Lynch as our newest staff member. Tonyé Fohsta-LynchSituated in the Capacity Building and Evaluation...
ReSHAPING Launches Partnership with Healthy Teen Network and New Website
Looking for the latest research on sexual health and adolescent parents in out of home care? We have it for you on ReSHAPING’s brand new website.By Claudette Grinnell-Davis, PhD, MS, MSWBy Bryn King, PhD, MSWOctober 27, 2020Do you know where you can find the latest...
What’s the Deal with Porn?
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...
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