Our Thoughts on Why Sex Ed Matters By Sam Akers February 23, 2023 “What do you do?” I was asked by my family when I went home… “Well, I work in sex ed!” *Brace for impact* “and I LOVE what … Read More
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
Bring Your Amazing Ideas and Work to #HealthyTeen23
How are you taking care and taking action in 2023? February 17, 2023 This 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 … Read More
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
Calling all Artists, Designers, Makers, Studios, and Collectives to #HealthyTeen23 in Portland, OR
You’re invited to submit an installation for this year’s conference in Portland, Oregon February 1, 2023 Healthy Teen Network is inviting artists, designers, makers, studios, and collectives to #HealthyTeen23. This year as we Take Care and Take Action, we’ll host … Read More
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
Treat Yourself to Protection from HPV & HPV-related Cancers
Happy HPV Prevention Week and Cervical Cancer Prevention Month! Here’s your reminder to treat yourself (and your kids) with protection from HPV and HPV-related cancers! By Mariah Cowsert January 27, 2023 Irecently went in to get my annual flu shot … Read More
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
Conversations Between Grandparents and Grandchildren: Love, Relationships, and Human Sexuality
Generation to generation, we can all learn from each other’s stories and experiences By Deborah Chilcoat, MEd January 13, 2023 I Googled “grandparents as sex educators” today. I wanted to write about the role grandparents play in educating their grandchildren about … Read More
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
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, 2023 Talking about sexuality in the classroom can be awkward! We’ve all been … Read More
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
Help Us Bring the Next Generation of Sex Educators to #HealthyTeen23
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
Talking to Your Dog about Sex: 5 Reasons to Prepare for Human Conversations with a More-Forgiving Furry Friend
If you are a dog parent, or ever had a loving pet in your life, you already know how responsive they are to our emotions. By Deborah Chilcoat, MEd December 15, 2022 As I was passing my pups laying on … Read More
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
How the Dobbs Decision Affects Youth in Care and Recommendations for Providers
How a post-Roe world affects youth in care: some general thoughts and suggestions for practitioners and researchers. December 12, 2022 The United States has seen a dramatic reduction in the rates of both unintended pregnancy and childbearing among people of … Read More
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
This Year, We’re Thankful for our Team
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
Where the Wild Things Are: 5 Reasons to Embrace the Playful, Outrageous, and Make-Believe at Work
Why a fun, outside-of-the-box scheme might be just what your brand, product, or campaign needs. “That very night in Max’s room a forest grew and grew—and grew until his ceiling hung with vines and the walls became the world all … Read More
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
Daring to Dream at #HealthyTeen22
Thank you for daring to dream with us in Miami! November 4, 2022 During our staff meeting before the conference, we asked everyone to share one thing they were excited about for this year’s conference. Every single person mentioned they … Read More
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
Welcome, Saumya!
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
Picture it, Miami 2022.
Check out the sights and bites on our Must-Do list while we’re at #HealthyTeen22. By Shanise Taylor October 3, 2022 Miami is not only the setting for one of pop culture’s favorite television shows, Golden Girls; it’s also the setting … Read More
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
Intern Spotlight: Welcome, Mariam!
We’re excited to have Mariam Delgado join our team as a Graphic Design Intern! September 19, 2022 Mariam Delgado is a bright designer looking to make an impact in the sexual and reproductive health field! We were drawn to the … Read More
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
imi to Receive 2022 Healthy Teen Network Innovation Award
imi is an innovative free, digital tool designed with and for LGBTQ+ youth explore and affirm their identity and learn to cope with stress…and it’s proven effective! August 26, 2022 Healthy Teen Network is pleased to announce imi as winner … Read More
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
Jessica “J.R.” Chester to Receive 2022 Healthy Teen Network Outstanding Former Young Parent Award
With her background as a sexual health educator and her lived experience as a former repeat teen parent, J.R. has made it her life’s mission to help individuals and families achieve optimal pre-conception, pregnancy, birth, and parenting experiences. August 26, … Read More
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
Zander Moricz to Receive Healthy Teen Network 2022 #Standing Strong Award
As a champion for all young people, Zander Moricz is #StandingStrong to create a world where every young person can realize their right to live their authentic sexuality. August 25, 2022 H ealthy Teen Network is pleased to announce Zander … Read More
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
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, 2022 True You Maryland brings … Read More
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
I Have Monkeypox—Here’s Where I’m Getting the Public Health Information I Need
Finding affirming, sex-positive, complete, and up-to-date information on monkeypox isn’t easy. Here’s a story about some of my sources, expected and unexpected, and the power of queer friendship. By Nicholas Sufrinko August 11, 2022 Information that’s as incomplete as it … Read More
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
Navigating Sexuality + Faith for Better Sex Ed
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
Dr. Elizabeth Aparicio Awarded the ECPN John Reid Early Career Award
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
What We’re Watching this Pride Month (and beyond!)
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
How Youth Development Professionals Might Want to Address “Parent Rights”
Perhaps these rebuttals to central themes in the “parent rights” movement will be useful to you By Bob Reeg, MPA, CVA May 26, 2022 (To be clear, I am not assailing the rights of parent’s writ large. This is a … Read More
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
The Power of the Anonymous Question Box
There’s a reason just about every sex ed program uses a question box. By Mackenzie Piper May 12, 2022 The first session of each new sex ed program typically looks the same—an ice breaker of some sort, creating and signing … Read More
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
Welcome, Patricia!
We’re excited to have Patricia Natalie join Mila and Nick in our Innovation & Research department. April 7, 2022 Patricia Natalie is a curious learner who loves to ask questions and find patterns. If you look closer, you might think … Read More
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
SEARChing to Address Dyslexia–Capes Not Required
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
Grab Your Sunscreen & Get Ready for #HealthyTeen22
Welcome back, friends. And welcome to Miami. March 3, 2022 In just two years’ time, the world was made anew. We reinvented the ways we live, the ways we love, the ways we learn, and the ways we work. As … Read More
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
Would you like FRIES with that?
Sexting and digital consent are important topics to discuss with young people By Allison Tomai Felsen February 17, 2022 A study published in 2018 by JAMA Pediatrics found that sexting is becoming a more common practice among youth: about 1 … Read More
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
Storms & Blossoms: Navigating Parenting During the Pandemic
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
We Found Love in a COVID Place
Alexa, play We Found Love by Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris By Mariah Cowsert January 13, 2022 It all started with a message on a dating app. Once our conversations got longer, we moved from messaging in the app to texting … Read More
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
Does it Matter if Facilitators of Evidence-Based Interventions are Trained In-Person or Online?
Using previously collected process evaluation data, we were able to ask a critical question about how to move forward with one of the big changes in our new COVID world—training facilitators. By Katie Massey Combs, PhD By Marian Håbesland, MPH … Read More
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
Say Hello to Mackenzie!
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
5 Sexual and Reproductive Health Podcasts that You Should Be Listening to
A list for you to tune into while working out, getting work done, or simply lounging around! By Mariah Cowsert November 23, 2021 While it may seem that there is a podcast about anything these days, it’s incredible to have … Read More
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Meet Our Newest Board Members
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
Adultier Adults Not Raking Leaves in a Forest Fire
As helping professionals, we should be the ones that are looked to when someone is looking for “someone more successfully adulting.” By Lisa Schelbe, PhD, MSW November 4, 2021 As the country is dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, civil unrest due … Read More
Author Archives: Mariah Cowsert
Reflections on #HealthyTeen21
We encourage you to think about what fills your cup and how we can reset the balance in order to show up for our young people. By Janet Max, MPH, CHES October 28, 2021 We were so happy to have … Read More