True You Maryland

What It Is

True You Maryland brings together partners in six rural Maryland counties—Allegany, Washington, Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester. Together, we’re working to advance the sexual health and well-being of youth here at home.

We know it takes more than just one program or one campaign to make change. That’s why all True You counties rely on diverse teams, bringing together young people, parents, health departments, local school systems, universities, community programs, and systems not typically engaged in adolescent health initiatives.

Key partners include:

• Adolescent Health Initiative 
• Allegany County Health Department
• Allegany County Public Schools
• Dorchester County Health Department
• Dorchester County Public Schools
• Girls Inc. of Washington County
• Healthy Teen Network
• Johns Hopkins Center for Adolescent Health
  Bloomberg School of Public Health
• Maryland Department of Health
• Maryland Rural Health Association
• Maryland State Department of Education

• OnTrack Washington County
• Planned Parenthood of Maryland
• Salisbury University
• Somerset County Health Department
• Somerset County Public Schools
• University of Maryland Eastern Shore
• Washington County Health Department
• Washington County Public Schools
• Wicomico County Health Department
• Wicomico County Public Schools
• Worcester County Health Department
• Worcester County Public Schools
• YMCA of Cumberland, MD

Why It Matters

All young people have the right to the information and skills they need to protect their health. They deserve age-appropriate, medically accurate information. Young people deserve answers to their questions about sex and relationships, free of shame and stigma no matter who they are, where they live, or what their income is.

Decades of research has found that in addition to helping to improve sexual health outcomes (such as reducing STIs and unplanned pregnancies), sex education can help prevent child sex abuse, create safer school spaces for LGBTQ young people, increase healthy relationships, reduce relationship violence, improve social-emotional learning, and increase media literacy.

High-quality sex education can contribute to dismantling barriers to social and racial justice by promoting equity and inclusion in classrooms and school environments.

Research also has shown that sex education can have a transformational impact on school climate by utilizing intersectional approaches that affirm race, gender, and other aspects of identity. High-quality sex education can contribute to dismantling barriers to social and racial justice by promoting equity and inclusion in classrooms and school environments.

The partners of True You Maryland, together with our youth advisory board and peer educators, have joined efforts to advance the sexual health and well-being of youth in six rural counties across the state.

 True You Maryland Resources

What We Found

Did you know parents and adolescents support sex ed in schools regardless of their political affiliation?

In one 2017 study, 93% of parents reported supporting sexuality education in schools.

In one 2017 study, 93% of parents reported supporting sexuality education in schools. And the vast majority wanted classes to cover puberty, healthy relationships, abstinence, sexually transmitted infections, and birth control. These are the topics True You Maryland champions.

 What’s Next

True You Maryland intends to reach 4,378 high school youth, 876 youth in the community, and 438 parents/caregivers/trusted adults in Year 1 (2020-2021).

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