SIECUS Youth Development

On the Right Track

Young people who become infected with HIV, contract a STD, or face an unintended pregnancy often lack opportunities to receive accurate information and build critical skills. In recent years, youth development programs have been viewed as a panacea for risk behaviors among youth. However, most youth development programs lack sexuality and sexual/reproductive health education components that prepare young people to lead sexually healthy lives.

For vulnerable young people who have little or no support from their families, schools, and communities, youth development programs are critical to the formulation of their futures. These hard-to-reach and underserved youth include those who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender; live with mental or physical disabilities; come from low-income families; are in foster care, treatment centers, or group homes; are addicted to drugs and/or alcohol; and drop out of school.

This is why SIECUS embarked on a new and exciting project to build bridges between the worlds of youth development and sexuality education.

Publications

In 2004, SIECUS published a guide to help youth development professionals use SIECUS' Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education in practical ways to expand their programs. Our On the Right Track publication explains why it is important to incorporate sexuality and HIV-prevention education in youth development programs and provides the information youth development organizations need to begin to cover this important topic.

Workshops, Trainings, and Speeches

SIECUS reaches key audiences to encourage youth development organizations to infuse their existing programs with sexuality education and HIV prevention components. SIECUS has facilitated workshops and trainings on the intersection between youth development and sexuality education for:

The Minnesota Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Prevention, and Parenting
Planned Parenthood of Western Washington
Project Exploration's 3rd annual Girls Health and Science Day
Hollywood Teen Community Program
New Jersey Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance
Los Angeles Bridges program
Berea College
The National Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Prevention, and Parenting
The American Youth Foundation

If you are interested in having us come to your location to provide a workshop or training, please email us at: siecus@siecus.org.

Technical Assistance

We provide specialized technical assistance to youth development organizations reflecting areas of the country that have high rates of HIV infection, STDs, and unintended pregnancies among young people. We provide materials, guidance, trainings and workshops, models of success, and support to advance program efforts. Email us at siecus@siecus.org if we can be of assistance.