Copy
Healthy Teen Network Egram
View this email in your browser
Healthy Teen Network logo

Egram

May 19, 2020

Week 4 of Sex Ed for All Month:
Policy Priorities and Demands for Sex Ed

May is Sex Ed for All Month, and this week, we’re focusing on engaging policymakers on how federal funding and policies supporting sex ed and sexual health services can help young people, including a call to action for federal, state, and local legislators.

We have several resources to support you in your education and advocacy efforts:
Building Support for Sex Ed in Schools: Communications & Messaging Strategies
A free learning resource to help you practice building effective messages using evidence-based communication techniques
Adapt these statements to fit your program development and public policy advocacy efforts.
Finding Common Ground: An Overview on Key Conservative Principles to Support Shared Goals for Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
An issue brief providing insight into ways to communicate effectively with conservatives and to identify potential areas for common ground in support of adolescent sexual and reproductive health
Navigating the Politics of Public Health: Finding Common Ground in Support of Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
This 4-part webinar series covers strategies for knowing your audience, opportunities for finding common ground to work toward a shared goal, leveraging media to increase your public awareness, and tactics for identifying and cultivating champions for your programs and services

Headlines of the Week

How to Talk to Kids About Porn

When raising a child, there will be conversations that people don’t know quite how to navigate. Even parents and caretakers who feel well-prepared to talk with their kids about sex may struggle when it comes to one important area: porn. Kids start developing curiosity about their bodies and topics relating to sex and gender as early as three years old. With some kids having access to cell phones, iPads, and other technology from a very young age, they also have access to all types of media (including sexual media). Children might stumble upon porn or intentionally seek it out as a way to learn about their bodies or about sex. While this behavior shouldn’t be shamed—it’s a side effect of curiosity—it does mean that caretakers should be having conversations about media literacy, anatomy, and consent early and often. (Rewire News, 5/121/2020)


Home but Not Safe, Some LGBTQ+ Young People Face Rejection From Families in Lockdown

Staying home and sheltering in place can be stressful for everyone. But for some college students who identify as LGBTQ+, returning to family environments can be very difficult and even psychologically damaging. "A lot of young people when they make it to college are able, for the first time, really, to live their truth," says psychologist Megan Mooney, who works with children, teens, and young people and specializes in preventing and treating trauma in LGBTQ+ youth. Now, many young people are forced to stay in a home setting that forces them to hide their identity again. And even when stay-at-home orders start to lift, most dorms are closed, and colleges may stay closed for summer and even fall terms. For many of these young people, Mooney says, college is a refuge from years of rejection and discrimination in high school and even from family members. "The vast majority of LGBTQ+ youth in high school experienced name-calling on a regular basis, the kinds of names I don't even like to repeat because they are so offensive," Mooney says. In addition, school policies often prohibited the type of clothing they wanted to wear, the restrooms they could use, athletic events they could take part in, as well as participation in special celebrations like prom with their partners. (NPR, 5/17/2020)


Masturbation Is Sexual Health

It's May again, which was dubbed as “Masturbation Month” in the 1990s by a clever purveyor of sex toys. And yet in 2020 talking about masturbation is still taboo in most of society. And that’s a shame, literally and figuratively, because for most people it’s a healthy and normal activity. There is actually a term these days for those who prefer masturbation over other forms of sex: solosexual. Many people have the idea that in order to call something “sex,” it must meet the “gold standard,” that is, penetration that probably ends with an orgasm. Many people downplay and devalue the idea that having sex with oneself is normal—even though nearly everyone does it—and is somehow shameful. Joe Kort, Ph.D., LMSW, a sex and relationship therapist and Co-Director of Modern Sex Therapy Institutes, explains why solosex is healthy and outlines some things to consider about masturbation. (Psychology Today, 5/15/2020)


Administration Erases LGBTQ+ Questions From Foster Care Data Collection

The Trump administration has finalized a one-third reduction in the amount of data the government must collect about youth in foster care and their parents, sparking an outcry from advocates who charge that the changes are politically driven and will be bad for already-vulnerable kids. The announcement of the new policy, which slims down Obama-era data-collection rules on this population, marks the formal implementation of the Trump administration’s 2019 proposal to reduce the number of data points to be collected from 273 to 181. The biggest changes made to the original Obama plan include a dramatic reduction in the number of data points about Native American youth involved in child welfare and the elimination of all data collected about the sexual orientation of youth in foster care and their parents. “Stripping sexual orientation data from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System is a huge mistake that will harm the children we serve,” said Christina Wilson Remlin, Lead Counsel for Children’s Rights, adding that “thorough and accurate data are critical” to children’s well-being. ”This latest onslaught against facts puts politics over the best interests of children and makes LGBTQ+ youth and their outcomes invisible.” (The Chronicle of Social Change, 5/9/2020).


As the Supreme Court Considers Birth Control Access, America's Workers Have the Most to Lose

Millions of people across the country have settled in for a second month of isolation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a sobering time. Tens of thousands have lost their lives, and so many millions more now face unemployment. Even for those privileged enough to work remotely, life amid crisis already means a narrowing of certain choices and opportunities. This is exactly the wrong time to take one more thing away from working people in this country. But on May 6, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania. The Court will decide whether the Trump administration can allow employers and universities to take health insurance coverage of birth control away from their employees and students. Back in 2017, the Trump Administration announced "interim final rules" that would authorize virtually any employer to opt-out of providing birth control coverage to employees for religious or moral reasons—that is, for almost any reason. These rules would gut the historic Affordable Care Act requirement that plans cover a full range of contraceptive methods, services, and counseling at no cost, which saved women and families in this country more than a billion dollars. If the Court decides in favor of the Trump administration rules, birth control access won’t evaporate overnight for most people, but hundreds of thousands of people could lose their birth control coverage just when they need it most. (Teen Vogue, 5/7/2020)

This Week on Our Blog

What Pandemics Can Teach Us about Food and Eating, and Sexual Activity, Too

My first days living during the declared coronavirus public health emergency were spent in terror—not wanting to leave my house or even open its doors. That frame of thought quickly led to a principal activity of daily living consideration—how was I going to go about eating. Many questions bubbled up but my rapid assessment led me to conclude that I would be okay for about three weeks, if I depended solely on dry goods and frozen foods already in stock. But, I like fresh things too… raw vegetables, eggs, milk, cheese (definitely cheese!). And my body benefits from fresh things, too. And because I don’t plant a garden, maintain a chicken coop, or live on a dairy farm, I’m grocery-store and farmer’s-market dependent. And, I like chocolate chips too. Those were not going to automatically appear as manna from heaven. Read more...
How can we help? We tailor our training & support to meet your unique needs.

Funding & Other Opportunities

Celebrating Everyday Change-Makers in Child Welfare

May 28, 2020
2:00 PM ET

Join All Children - All Families for the release of the 2020 edition of Celebrating Everyday Change-Makers in Child Welfare, their annual report spotlighting the organizations and professionals working every day to ensure LGBTQ youth and families are safe and healthy. During this challenging time, this event will share messages of hope and resilience from these change-makers and the youth and families they serve. 


Estimating the Impact of Domestic Violence on Local Communities in a Post-COVID Environment

May 28, 2020
1:00 PM ET

COVID-19 may be a common enemy, but it doesn’t mean everyone is experiencing it the same way, especially those trapped at home with their abusers. While it is unknown what the future holds for COVID-19 as America reopens to the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, one thing is certain, the horrifying surge of domestic violence won’t let up anytime soon. One of the biggest challenges for local domestic violence organizations is communicating how supporting shelters and services is not only essential for survivors and their families but also a good value for the money. This concern, of course, takes on added importance in these uncertain times. The ability of advocates to tell captivating stories (with compelling local data) about their community impact—and not just reuse national statistics—will be more critical than ever. This webinar, hosted by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, will walk participants through a case study—authored by Carol Wick and Ariadna Parada of Sharity, Inc.—that shelters can use as a template to show the effect intimate partner violence has on the local economy and the value of their services beyond those individuals served.


Call for Speaker Proposals for Recognizing (Y)Our Power

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCAD) conferences provide a forum for one of the nation’s largest gatherings of victims and survivors, advocates, service providers, and other professionals working to address domestic violence. The presentations chosen at each NCADV conference serve as a critical component in the collective effort to address domestic violence. At Recognizing (Y)Our Power, NCADV will be focusing on presentations that provide, model or incorporate solutions and/or successful best practices to address domestic violence and the intersections of domestic violence.
Deadline: June 2, 2020


Charting a Course for Economic Mobility and Responsible Parenting

The Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) invites application submissions to develop interventions to educate teens and young adults about the financial, legal, and emotional responsibilities of parenthood. The primary goal of the grant projects is to leverage the child support program’s expertise on the legal and financial responsibilities of parenting to educate and motivate teens and young adults to postpone parenthood until after they have completed their education, started a career, and entered a committed relationship. The target populations for these three-year grant projects are teens and young adults ages 13-25, including unmarried parents and those who have not yet started families. The grant project design should identify existing public and private entities serving similar populations and establish and/or leverage partnerships to connect educational and motivational programs to additional supportive services promoting economic stability and healthy family formation. Grant project designs will build on, adapt, and enhance existing responsible parenting, paternity, and child support awareness models as well as develop new educational materials and tools. Grantees are expected to collaborate with state or tribal universities to evaluate their projects and to share project materials and resources, intervention lessons, and promising practices for outreach developed as part of the grant project with other state and tribal IV-D agencies.
Deadline: 6/29/2020
Power Through Choices Training-of-Facilitators | July 20-22, 2020 | Register Now

Youth 360⁰Teens Are Working as Essential Workers While Going to High School

“It’s just scary being around so many people knowing there is a pandemic going on and I’m at risk,” 18-year-old Sanaia says about working as a grocery store cashier as COVID-19 spreads. Sanaia, a high school senior who lives in New Orleans, says her mother is out of work due to the pandemic, so Sanaia got this new job in April. Sanaia is just one of many teens who are working “essential” jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the federal government has advisory guidelines for which jobs are deemed essential during this pandemic, the particulars vary on a state-by-state basis. Although there don’t appear to be official figures for exactly how many essential workers there are right now, various news reports say that number is in the millions. While the youth experience and perspective is often sidelined in conversations about labor rights, many teens are taking the same risks as adults. With their daily routines and social support network upended, some young workers are struggling as much as any adult. Youth workers make up a significant portion of the U.S. workforce, especially during the summertime when school is typically out of session. From April to July of 2019, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that 21.2 million people between the ages of 16 and 24 were employed. Among the most common jobs for youth last summer are some that have been deemed essential in many states, including food service and health and education services. The employment rate for Black and Latinx young people last summer was about 58% each, around 45% for Asian youth, and 64% for white youth, according to the same BLS report. Many undocumented youth are also employed and are even more vulnerable to exploitation. Read more...

Research

Sexual Health in the SARS-CoV-2 Era

More than 200 000 people have died of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, leading to widespread concern regarding physical morbidity and mortality. The sexual health implications, however, have received little focus. On the basis of existing data, it appears all forms of in-person sexual contact carry risk for viral transmission because the virus is readily transmitted by aerosols and fomites. This has resulted in broad guidance regarding physical distancing, with substantial implications for sexual well-being. Given the important role of sexuality in most people's lives, healthcare providers should consider counseling patients on this topic whenever possible. This is an unprecedented and stressful time for healthcare providers; facilitating brief conversations and referrals to relevant resources can help patients maintain sexual wellness amid the pandemic. This article, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, outlines suggested best practices for health care providers.


Emerging Issues in Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Care for Young Men

Pediatricians are encouraged to address adolescent sexual and reproductive health for young men on a regular basis, including taking a sexual history, discussing healthy sexuality, performing an appropriate physical examination, providing patient-centered and age-appropriate anticipatory guidance, and administering appropriate vaccinations. These services can be provided to adolescent patients in a confidential and culturally appropriate manner, can promote healthy sexual relationships and responsibility, can and involve parents in age-appropriate discussions about sexual health. The 2011 American Academy of Pediatrics clinical report on adolescent sexual and reproductive health care for young men discusses specific issues related to sexual and reproductive health care in the context of primary care, including pubertal and sexual development, sexual behavior, masturbation, consequences of sexual behavior, and methods of preventing STIs (including HIV) and pregnancy. This revision, published in Pediatrics, provides updated information and recommendations since the 2011 clinical report.


The Experiences of Foster Youth During COVID-19

The Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice, & Research recently closed their online survey, “The Experiences of Foster Youth During COVID-19," and have posted the preliminary results. This study examined the experiences of 18-23-year-old youth in foster care and aged out of foster care during the COVID-19 crisis in April 2020 living in 32 states and Washington, DC. Youth aging out of foster care are a vulnerable population, and with the COVID-19 crisis sweeping across the nation, these young people are among those bearing the heaviest burden of its economic and social consequences. Their goal was to gain a clearer picture of these burdens by deploying a national online survey over one month of the crisis.

Resources

Resources for LGBTQ Communities and Advocates Navigating COVID-19

The Arcus Foundation has provided a curated list from their parters of practical tools, opportunities to connect, and information from experts who view the pandemic through a queer lens.


Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential (GCAPP) Parent Toolkit

The Parent Toolkit provides practical information, tips, and strategies to help parents, guardians, mentors, (and anyone else) improve everyday communication with young people. The toolkit helps navigate situations that all families face and social challenges young people are likely to encounter, including ones that are complicated and hard to talk about. Open, honest parent/adult-child communication is critical. 


Supporting Safety of LGBTQ Children and Youth: Risk Factors of Child Abuse and Neglect During COVID-19

In this issue brief, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation summarized how LGBTQ people could face disproportionate economic and health risks amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. As the virus continues to affect communities across the globe, growing attention has been given to the safety risks facing children and youth. The following research brief provides information about the risk that LGBTQ children and youth, of which there are at least two million in the United States alone, will face amidst COVID-19, as well as resources available to them as they navigate these times.
Facebook
Facebook
Twitter
Twitter
Instagram
Instagram
YouTube
YouTube
LinkedIn
LinkedIn
Website
Website
Email
Email
Do you have news or resources to share with fellow Healthy Teen Network Members? 
Send us an email for consideration for inclusion in the Egram.
Healthy Teen Network
1501 St. Paul Street | Suite 114 | Baltimore, MD 21202
410.685.0410
www.HealthyTeenNetwork.org
 
Disclaimer: Healthy Teen Network does not endorse any item or organization listed in the Healthy Teen Network Egram.
 

update your preferences | unsubscribe from this list