SIECUS receives phone calls, letters, e-mails, and faxes on many subjects. The following are some of our most frequently asked questions. We will add new ones bimonthly.
As you will notice, many of the questions ask for medical or personal advice. SIECUS is unable to answer these questions. We will, however, refer them to organizations that can answer them.
QUESTIONS
Do you know of a video that I can use to address name-calling and bullying?
Let’s Get Real is an anti-bullying film in which young people in grades six through nine talk about the racial tension, anti-gay taunting, and sexual harassment they face in the classroom. Intended for a variety of audiences—including students in middle and high school; teachers, counselors, and administrators; parents; and college students who are completing course work in education, adolescent health, social work, or related topics—the video encourages young people to develop mutual respect and empathy for one another. A comprehensive curriculum guide is included. It’s also closed captioned and available in Spanish.
2003; 35 minutes; New Day Films; Phone: 888/367-9154; Order online at http://www.newday.com
The SIECUS guide On The Right Track, is a publication designed to help youth development professionals recognize the need to address sexuality with young people, understand how sexuality education and youth development can complement each other, and determine ways in which youth development programs can begin to incorporate this important topic. To order this publication, call SIECUS at 212/819.9770 x 327. The publication costs $10.
First, it is important to be aware of what your children are watching and watch with them whenever possible. Television can bring up many issues about sexuality whether your children are watching the news, commercials, sporting events, night-time soap operas, or music videos. These “teachable moments” can provide daily opportunities to share your messages and values about these important issues.
For more information about how to talk with your children about sexuality, visit http://www.familiesaretalking.org. On the site you will find Talking With Your Children About What They See On Television and Volume 1, Number 2 of Families Are Talking.
Doug Kirby, Ph.D. a senior research scientist at ETR Associates has identified ten characteristics of an effective sexuality education program. Research shows that effective sexuality education programs:
Adapted from D. Kirby, Effective Curricula and Their Common Characteristics (Santa Cruz, CA: ETR Associates, http://www.etr.org/recapp/programs/effectiveprograms.htm). For more information call ETR Associates at 831/438-4060.
To evaluate a sexuality education program, Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education: Kindergarten-12th Grade can help. It identifies six key concept areas that are included in a comprehensive sexuality education program. It also provides age-appropriate information and messages for 36 sexuality-related topics.
For a free copy of the Guidelines, go to http://www.siecus.org/pubs/guidelines/guidelines.pdf. A free copy of the Spanish version, Guía Para Una Educación Sexual Integral Para La Juventud Hispana/Latina: Kindergarten - 12 Grado, is available at http://www.siecus.org/pubs/Hispanic-Latino_Guidelines_spanish.pdf.
The Mary S. Calderone Library has over 1,000 sexuality and family life education curricula in its collection, and you are welcome to make an appointment to visit our New York office to examine them. For information on making library appointments, please see http://www.siecus.org/library/libr0000.html. For those who cannot view these materials in person, our annotated bibliography, "Sexuality Education Curricula," provides an overview of available curricula programs to help you choose a program that is right for your needs.
Many of our other annotated bibliographies contain information about curricula as well, including the following:
In addition to the resources described in our bibliographies, the following publishers/organizations consistently create quality curricula products. New resources are being created and made available for purchase all the time. Contact them directly for current catalogues and ordering information.
In addition, Advocates for Youth and Sociometrics have created an online tool to identify those programs within the Program Archive on Sexuality, Health & Adolescence (PASHA) that work to prevent adolescent pregnancy, HIV, and sexually transmitted diseases. With the selection tool, you can find a curriculum that matches your program's aims, audience, and setting.
SIECUS’ Family Project began in 2000 to empower parents and caregivers to communicate with their children about sexuality-related issues, to provide tools to help families communicate about these issues, and to encourage parents, caregivers, and young people to become advocates on the local, state, and national levels for sexuality-related issues including comprehensive sexuality education programs in the schools.
It is our hope that the Family Project will serve as a valuable source of information for families to talk about sexuality-related issues, helping to build a foundation for young people to become sexually healthy adults.
The Family Project includes:
For more information contact siecus@siecus.org or call 212/819-9770, extension 303.
There are many days, weeks, and months that are devoted to promoting specific health topics. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion has compiled a list of these observances for 2004. It is available on the Internet at http://www.health.gov/NHIC/Pubs.
Some of the observances include:
| December 1 | World AIDS Day |
| February 14 | National Condom Day |
| March | National LGBT Health Awareness Week |
| April | National Sexually Transmitted Disease Awareness Month |
| April | Sexual Assault Awareness Month |
| May | National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month |
| June 27 | National HIV Testing Day |
| October | National Family Sexuality Education Month | October 11 | National Coming Out Day |
Where can I find national statistics on sexual behavior in the United States?
Is there research that supports condom availability?
SIECUS often provides these citations which supports condom availability. All of these resources are available at SIECUS’ Mary S. Calderone Library.
What sexuality Web sites are appropriate for teens?
There are many Web sites on the Internet that provide sexuality information to adolescents. This list consists of sites that provide age-appropriate, unbiased sexuality information. For additional sites, click on the “Other Organizations” button above.
What is emergency contraception?
Emergency contraception is a method of preventing pregnancy after unprotected vaginal intercourse or failure of a barrier method (including condom, cervical cap, diaphragm, or sponge) during vaginal intercourse. For more information, contact The Emergency Contraception Hotline 800/584-9911. This hotline provides information as well as names and phone numbers of health care professionals in your area who can provide emergency contraception. In addition, you can find more information about emergency contraception at: http://not-2-late.com
Where can I find the most current statistics on HIV/AIDS?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes a semiannual report "HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report" which documents reported cases of HIV/AIDS. It can be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/stats/hasrlink.htm
I am looking for research that supports sexuality education.
(Updated with statistics for 2000)
SIECUS often provides these citations which support that sexuality education is effective. All of these resources are available at SIECUS’ Mary S. Calderone Library.
Who can I contact to answer my personal sexuality questions?
If you have access to the Internet, "Go Ask Alice!" at http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/ is a question and answer Internet service that contains over 14,000 detailed responses to questions sent, anonymously. You can e-mail your questions to Alice or view the questions that have already been addressed.
Is there a hotline for survivors of sexual assault?
Most communities have rape crisis centers. To find the phone number for your local rape crisis center, dial 411 and ask for the listing. You can also look in your local telephone book.
If you cannot reach a rape crisis center, The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) operates America's national hotline for survivors of sexual assault. The hotline 1-800-656-HOPE, offers free, confidential counseling and support 24 hours a day from anywhere in the country.
I am unable to visit the Mary S. Calderone library, is it possible for me to access the database?
Our database is currently not available online. You can, however, request a data search for $10 per topic. We will send you citations for books or journal articles. You can then look for them at your local public or university library. If you are unable to find them, we can photocopy the information for you for a fee.
If you are interested in requesting a data search, please call the SIECUS librarian at 212/819-9770, extension 303, or the SIECUS Associate Librarian at 212/819-9770, extension 328.
How do I find a sexuality therapist?
Although SIECUS does not provide the names of specific therapists, we do refer individuals to the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT), an organization that certifies such professionals.
For a list of certified therapists near you, visit http://www.aasect.org/ or write to AASECT at P. O. Box 1960, Ashland, VA 23005-1960. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. AASECT does not accept phone inquiries.
SIECUS does not provide sexual health care or treatment information. If you think you have been exposed to an STD or HIV, you should immediately call your primary care physician, the CDC National STD Hotline at 800/227-8922, or the CDC National AIDS Hotline at 800/342-2437 (English), 800/344-7432 (Spanish), or 800/243-7889 (TTY). They will answer your questions about testing and treatment, and address your concerns about transmission and prevention.
The Mary S. Calderone Library does not collect audiovisuals. If you are looking for videos on birth control, abstinence, teen pregnancy or other sexuality related topics, we suggest you request a catalog directly from the following distributors:
ETR Associates, P.O. Box 1830, Santa Cruz, CA 95061-1830; Phone: 800/321-4407; Web site: http://www.etr.org.
Lifejackets; 332 19th Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266; Phone: 800/775-0067; Web site: http://www.lifejackets.com.
Sunburst Communications, 101 Castleton Street, Pleasantville, NY 10570; Phone: 800/431-1934; Web site: http://www.sunburst.com.
SIECUS publishes a variety of brochures that you may find suitable for your waiting room. These include:
Como Hablar Con Sus Hijos Sobre El Sida (Spanish adaptation of above brochure)
You can learn more about these and other publications by clicking on the appropriate title or by browsing SIECUS’ publications catalog. You can receive a SIECUS publications catalog by calling 212/819-9770.
You may also wish to contact these companies that provide sexual health pamphlets:
ETR Associates, P.O. Box 1830, Santa Cruz, CA 95061-1830; Phone: 800/321-4407; Web site: http://www.etr.org.
Journeyworks Publishing, P.O. Box 8466, Santa Cruz, CA 95061; Phone: 800/775-1998. http://www.journeyworks.com
Planned Parenthood, Sexual Health Resources, 810 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019; Phone: 800/669-0156; Web site: http://www.plannedparenthood.org.
I think my daughter is a lesbian. What should I do?
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is an organization that provides support, education, and advocacy to parents, families, and friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered persons. It has hundreds of chapters nationwide that hold regular meetings. You can call PFLAG of click on their Web site for information.
PFLAG, 1726 M Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036; Phone: 202/467-8180; Web site http://www.pflag.org .
I am experiencing erectile dysfunction (impotence). Can you send me information?
Although, SIECUS does not provide sexual health care or treatment information, we do have some resources to help you regain your health.
To receive erectile dysfunction information materials, call The Urologic Foundation Information Hotline sponsored by the American Foundation for Urologic Disease, Inc. at 800/242-2383. They provide a pamphlet entitled The Key to Resolving Erectile Dysfunction.
In addition, SIECUS publishes two annotated bibliographies: Sexuality in Middle and Later Life and Sexuality and Health. You can learn more about these and other publications by clicking on the appropriate title or by browsing SIECUS’ online publications catalog. You can receive a SIECUS publications catalog by calling 212/819-9770.
To find a certified urologist in your state, you can contact your state medical board or state board of heath. To find a sexuality therapist, please see the answer to How to find a sexuality therapist? above.
I am looking for sexuality information for persons with disabilities. Can you help?
SIECUS publishes an annotated bibliography Sexuality and Disability. You can learn more about this and other publications by browsing SIECUS’ online publications catalog.
In addition, SIECUS’ Mary S. Calderone Library has several books, curricula, and journal articles on sexuality and disability. Please see the answer to the question "I am unable to visit the Mary S. Calderone Library, is it possible for me to access the database?" above.
Many sexuality educators find that the sexuality education curricula they are using contain gaps in one or more topic areas. There are several resources available to supplement existing curricula by providing additional lessons and activities. Please note that the following resources are NOT complete curricula or program plans. A comprehensive sexuality education curriculum is a carefully planned, scoped, and sequenced course of study that covers a wide range of sexuality topics. SIECUS' Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education: Kindergarten - 12th Grade, Third Edition (http://www.siecus.org/pubs/guidelines/guidelines.pdf) provide a model for comprehensive sexuality education that helps build the foundation for young people to become sexually healthy adults. The resources below are not comprehensive sexuality education curricula, nor do they provide such programs. They instead provide educators with supplemental teaching activities that can be integrated into existing programs.
SIECUS offers two manuals on our website:
The following organizations also offer manuals of sexuality education materials:
In addition, the following publishers and organizations offer classroom activities:
These supplemental lessons can be incorporated into existing sexuality and family life education curricula. For more information on curricula, please see the answer to How can I locate sexuality education curricula for my school/community program/religious organization/etc.? For more information on evaluating curricula, please see the answer to I want to review the sexuality education program at my child's school.
MORE QUESTIONS
Do you have questions that you want answered? If so, send them by e-mail to SIECUS’ Mary S. Calderone librarian at siecus@siecus.org.
copyright ©
1996-2005, SIECUS
Web Master: siecus@siecus.org