Adolescent Health
What’s Next in the Endless Attack on Our Rights and Freedoms? 

What’s Next in the Endless Attack on Our Rights and Freedoms? 

Our freedom, our rights, are being restricted by a radical minority that does not represent the majority of Americans. By Gina Desiderio June 27, 2022Like many of you, here at Healthy Teen Network, we’re feeling the weight of the Supreme Court decision last week to...

Would you like FRIES with that?

Would you like FRIES with that?

Sexting and digital consent are important topics to discuss with young peopleBy Allison Tomai Felsen February 17, 2022A study published in 2018 by JAMA Pediatrics found that sexting is becoming a more common practice among youth: about 1 in 7 adolescents reported that...

3 Instagram Accounts to Follow to Learn about Reproductive Justice

3 Instagram Accounts to Follow to Learn about Reproductive Justice

Social media can be more than algorithms and explore pages—it can be a spring board into action, a connecting place for activists, and a place for inspiration and growth.  By Sam AkersFebruary 3, 2022As a Gen Z’er who has been scrolling Instagram for years, I’ve come...

Activate Releases New Resources for Youth-Supporting Professionals

Activate Releases New Resources for Youth-Supporting Professionals

If your work touches the lives of young people, these resources are for you.January 27, 2021W hen professionals have research-backed approaches handy, they can focus on what matters—encouraging young people to make healthy choices about their sexual and reproductive...

Get the Shot(s): HPV Vaccine Resources for Parents

Get the Shot(s): HPV Vaccine Resources for Parents

HPV vaccine resources to break down science with humor and honest answersBy Gina Desiderio January 20, 2022When it's time for their annual physical, the first question my kids ask me is if they have to get a shot. It's been a while since they've been due for one of...

We Found Love in a COVID Place

We Found Love in a COVID Place

Alexa, play We Found Love by Rihanna ft. Calvin HarrisBy Mariah CowsertJanuary 13, 2022It all started with a message on a dating app. Once our conversations got longer, we moved from messaging in the app to texting then after a fun phone call about life and how we...

Say Hello to Sam!

Say Hello to Sam!

Join us in welcoming Sam to the Healthy Teen Network family! By Deborah Chilcoat, MEd September 2, 2021How is it possible that rays of sunshine actually radiate through my monitor when I have Zoom meetings with our newest staff person, Sam Akers? Sam AkersSam joined...

I’m Just a Bill: The Untold Story

I’m Just a Bill: The Untold Story

I’m Just a Bill covers how a legislative bill makes its way to law. As a public policy advocacy practitioner for over 30 years, let me just say that how a bill becomes a law is more complicated than the short film conveys.  By Bob Reeg, MPA, CVA June 3, 2021The I’m...

Adolescents & the COVID-19 Vaccine

Adolescents & the COVID-19 Vaccine

Well visits are a good venue for routine and COVID-19 vaccinations, as well as a variety of important screenings and assessmentsMay 19, 2021 With the decline in routine pediatric immunizations and well-child visits during the COVID-19 pandemic, Healthy Teen Network...

Welcome, Mariah!

Welcome, Mariah!

Mariah brings an artistic lens to nonprofit communications, along with a passion for inclusive health education and access.  January 26, 2021We are just so excited to announce our newest staff member: Mariah Cowsert joins Gina and Allison in our...

Welcome, Tonyé Fohsta-Lynch!

Welcome, Tonyé Fohsta-Lynch!

Tonyé brings a lot of energy, a commitment to centering youth voices, and multiple dimensions to her work.January 12, 2021We are stoked to welcome Tonyé Fohsta-Lynch as our newest staff member. Tonyé Fohsta-LynchSituated in the Capacity Building and Evaluation...

What’s the Deal with Porn?

What’s the Deal with Porn?

We know young people are watching porn. But, what are they learning from it? How can sex ed equip young people to make informed decisions about the porn they watch?August 27, 2020Bring up pornography in any conversation, and you may just get an awkward silence…bring...

Help Young People Make a Game Plan for Their Health with Volt20

Help Young People Make a Game Plan for Their Health with Volt20

We wanted to create a virtual tool that educators and students love. The goal is to help young people create a plan for a healthy future.March 26, 2020Looking for a way to engage the young people you work with while maintaining social distancing? Consider using Volt20...

Influencers are Leading the Online Sex Ed Revolution!

Influencers are Leading the Online Sex Ed Revolution!

Young people are leading in delivering quality content and health information to their peers.By Genevieve Martínez García, PhD September 22, 2020Sex education is everywhere—in schools, in clinics, in places of faith, and of course on your screen. Sex ed in digital...

Let’s See: Pulse Short-Term Impact Results

Let’s See: Pulse Short-Term Impact Results

Here's what we found from our six-week short term follow-up survey.By Elizabeth Cook, Research Scientist from Child TrendsBy Nicholas Sufrinko By Milagros Garrido, MS, PMP March 6, 2020From 2016 to 2019, Child Trends conducted a randomized control trial with 2,317...

It’s time for sexual health to get a little bit kinky.

It’s time for sexual health to get a little bit kinky.

Here are some of the things we have learned from having conversations about sexual health with young people.By Nicholas Sufrinko February 7, 2020Washington, DC’s premier leather, kink, and fetish event known as “Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend (MAL)” concluded last...

Why do we NEED to talk about technology and sexuality?

Why do we NEED to talk about technology and sexuality?

We need to update our sex ed to address more questions about sexuality, including the role of technology.By Ella Dorval Hall January 30, 2020How are young people using technology to tend to their sexuality? How is technology shaping young peoples’ intimacy? And how do...

This Earth Day, Consider a Green Sex Ed

This Earth Day, Consider a Green Sex Ed

Let's celebrate this Earth Dat with a green sex ed — a holistic appproach to well-being outcomes in addition to risk reduction.By Nicholas Sufrinko April 22, 2019I have long maintained that sex education in the United States is too science-centric, too focused on...

The Professional Learning Standards for Sex Education Are Here!

The Professional Learning Standards for Sex Education Are Here!

The Sex Education Collaborative is delighted to share their first product to help existing sex education teachers become more effective.By Valerie Sedivy, PhD April 15, 2019Have you ever wondered why we have student standards for sex education in schools, guidance...

Because Where We Learn Matters

Because Where We Learn Matters

Today is National Healthy Schools Day, sponsored by Healthy Schools Network to raise awareness of issues of environmental health at school.April 2, 2019Today is National Healthy Schools Day, sponsored by Healthy Schools Network to raise awareness of issues of...

How to Prioritize Your Mental Health in College: Tips from a Senior

How to Prioritize Your Mental Health in College: Tips from a Senior

College can sometimes be an overwhelming experience. Arsha Pinson is sharing her tips on prioritizing mental health as an undergrad senior.By Arsha PinsonMarch 21, 2019 I never imagined how fun but challenging college would be, but now being in my final semester of...

5 Tips to Help Your Child Set Good Healthcare Habits

5 Tips to Help Your Child Set Good Healthcare Habits

The habits we develop when we’re young set the tone for our habits as adults. Preventative healthcare could save a lot of heartache.By Alex EislerMarch 14, 2019The habits we develop when we’re young set the tone for our habits as adults. Many of us could improve how...

What is Endometriosis?

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a common yet often misunderstood disease. Read more about the cause, the symptoms, the pressing issues, and what we can do.By Allison Tomai Felsen March 8, 2019Endometriosis, often referred to as “endo,” is a common health problem that can affect...

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