Recorded presentation

Amy B. Levine, MA, Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS), 130 West 42nd Street, Suite 350, New York, NY 10036-7802, 212.819.9770, extension 303, alevine@siecus.org

In today’s society, young people are bombarded with mixed messages about sexuality. The high rates of pregnancy and STDs suggest that young people are not getting the clear, accurate information that they need about sexuality-related issues. More than ever, parental involvement is crucial in laying the foundation for young people to become sexually healthy adults. In this workshop, participants will look at the impact of programs designed to increase communication about sexuality between parents and other primary caregivers and their children. Program categories include: Programs for parents and their children; programs for parents only; programs for parents of students in sexuality education classes; sexuality education homework assignments; college sexuality education courses for adults; home-based programs for parents and their children; grassroots community organizing; and media campaigns. This workshop will also look at 10 innovative approaches to parent-child communication and examine examples from the 45 programs that SIECUS have identified. By sharing these approaches, participants will realize that they can play an active role in raising awareness, providing support to parents, and ultimately helping parents and children have ongoing conversations about sexuality issues.

Learning Objectives: