Category: Sex ed resources

Provider Spotlight: Video Productions for Youth, by Youth

The CAPP Team from Northwell Health LIJ/CCMC is proud to present our latest student-led videos. To reduce barriers to sexual health services, our project is lucky to partner with Connected Health Solutions to support students in creating their own PSA-style video for our school-based health centers. The project began in February 2020 and was cut short with school closures in March 2020. Once it was clear that NYC schools would mostly operate virtually, we made adjustments to the script and filming process to be virtual and safe for student actors and crew.

EC Video

For the film on Emergency Contraception (EC), our male students expressed their curiosity about EC and how it is used. It was important to our group to encourage male partners to take an active role in supporting their partners’ birth control choices – even if not completely informed, as in our video! And using humor is always a great way to get a message across!

Emergency Contraception video

Online Safety Video

For our longer middle school film, each student was filmed separately and cut together to look like one continuous screen capture. This was a new process not only for our students, but for our team and the director! The students were explicit about their desire to have a film that didn’t have a happy ending – they felt it would be inauthentic and cheesy. After the film “premiered” at the school assembly, our site educator, Anne van der Veer, played the video for every advisory class and facilitated a group discussion about being safe online. It prompted conversations about online learning, social media, sexting, and safety. Anne found that each grade took away a different lesson based on their age and maturity level – so we were happy to see the film was suitable for different ages.

I See You video

More Resources

We are so proud of our students’ contributions and are grateful for the support we received from the schools to complete this project. Please check out our library of videos on YouTube along with the two main videos above! If you are interested in the facilitation guide for “I See You,” please email Amanda Ferrandino (aferrandin@northwell.edu).

~ Amanda Ferrandino

Shared Resources from the Pregnancy Prevention Work Group – 7/9/20

Lauren Jones: How to Use Factile

Project SAFE, NYU Langone

In this session, Lauren introduced Factile, a platform that allows you to create a Jeopardy-style quiz game board online. Thank you, Lauren!

Pregnancy Prevention work group meeting – 7/9/20 (recording)
Lauren’s presentation starts at 8:32

How to Use Factile (slides)Download

Virtual Implementation of EBPs: Clarifying a Few Points

Many of you joined us for our web meeting last week on virtual implementation of EBPs. At this point there is still a lot of uncertainty about whether and how we can reach young people to engage them in sexuality education. School re-opening may look very different in each community or city borough. It is also not certain that school staff, administrators, or teachers, are interested in working with you this school year given the complexity of re-opening schools safely. However, together we are moving ahead with planning virtual implementation so that we will have something to offer young people and teachers soon.

Asynchronous vs. Synchronous Learning

We will form work groups for three EBPs: Be Proud Be Responsible, Making Proud Choices, and Making a Difference. (TOP and Project AIM developers have provided us with virtual implementation guidelines and material. We will be meeting with providers who selected TOP and Project AIM separately.)

We propose to develop one template for asynchronous learning and one for synchronous learning.

  • Asynchronous learning refers to providing curriculum via platforms such as Google Classroom or Schoology where young people will study online following teacher instructions. They can do this individually at their own pace, working and submitting responses online using the platform.
  • Synchronous learning refers to providing curriculum live online via platforms such as Zoom or Skype where young people sign in at the same time and participate in activities online.

The material we develop in the work groups will be available on the website. Once you know if and how you can access young people in schools or through community-based organizations, you can tailor these materials for your site. We will develop fidelity guidelines and will ask you to submit your online curriculum for review before you implement.

Develop online EBP material on your own?

You are welcome to work with your local project team to develop online material for any of the EBPs you usually implement. As mentioned above we will develop fidelity guidelines and ask you to submit your online curriculum for review.

Documentation in the ORS? Entry and exit surveys?

We are still working on adjusting the Online Reporting System (ORS) to the different virtual implementation processes. Similarly, we are still discussing how to administer the entry and exit surveys required for PREP contracts.

Incentives for virtual implementation?

If implementation is not part of a virtual school classroom, CAPP and PREP providers may use incentives. You may be able to recruit young people through teachers for synchronous, live implementations outside the virtual school structure. You can use incentives for virtual implementation for community-based agencies and afterschool settings. At this time incentives are not allowed in the SRAE initiative. We will advocate for incentives for virtual implementation for SRAE contracts.

Continue current virtual efforts (non EBP-based)?

You can continue your current social media efforts to engage youth with sexual and reproductive health and healthy relationship information as well as continue Component 2 virtual programming. Again, we recognize that some of you may not be able to work with the schools to deliver EBPs virtually. Schools may set different priorities at this time.

ETR Resources

Online learning requires different techniques to keep young people engaged and motivated to learn. ETR, the purveyor of many EBPs including Be Proud Be Responsible, Making Proud Choices, Making a Difference, Reducing the Risk, and Cuídate, has made available a set of resources / tip sheets to guide the translation of EBPs to virtual platforms.

Adapting Teaching Strategies for a Virtual Environment

Adapting Trauma-Informed Practices to a Virtual Environment

Alternative Video Guidance

Jutta Dotterweich

~ Jutta

Sharing Pride: All it Takes is One Video

Guest writer Lumesh Kumar is Senior Health Educator for CAPP/SRAE Programs at BronxWorks.

I have been working remotely from home and unable to facilitate the CAPP program to teens in person. My team and I were tasked with creating videos related to a variety of health topics. This was a unique opportunity to step away from the evidence-based intervention and have a bit of freedom and ability to put my spin on what I was presenting.

In June, National Pride Month, I wanted to create a video that would increase young people’s knowledge on the topic of LGBTQIA+. I created two videos: the first was an overview of the acronym LGBTQIA+ and the second was a history and trivia game. I was content with my audience being adolescents but I thought “why not expand this to the adult population?”​

As the co-chair of the Health Committee at BronxWorks, I was able to secure a spot with the training department to facilitate my live webinar as a professional development webinar open to all staff. ​

In the live webinar for BronxWorks, I provided a brief overview of each letter in the acronym LGBTQIA+, including symbols and flags associated with the acronym. I discussed gender, gender identity, gender expression, and biological sex just to name a few. After that, I played a trivia game where the staff learned about LGBTQIA+ history. ​

The staff who attended the webinar enjoyed and learned a lot of new information. Staff in the training commented on how informative this webinar was and wanted it to be something that all staff members were required to complete. The training department is considering this webinar to be part of the on-boarding process for new staff!​

When creating these videos I intended to reach youth to increase their knowledge on what the LGBTQIA+ acronym means. Unknowingly I was able to reach 40+ staff at my organization with the potential of reaching all new incoming staff.  ​

Below are my two recorded videos (temporarily hosted on the ACT for Youth Vimeo account). Please feel free to share with staff, parents, and teens!​

Where’s Your Pride: A Guide to LGBTQIA+

Test Your Knowledge: LGBTQIA+ Trivia

Thank you​.

~ Lumesh Kumar

Educators: Are You Certified?

CHES© and MCHES©, or Certified Health Education Specialist and Masters of Certified Health Education Specialist, are national and international certifications for health educators. CHES is for entry-level health educators and MCHES is designed for specialists with at least five years of experience. These certifications are offered by the nonprofit organization National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC), whose mission is to “enhance the professional practice of Health Education by promoting and sustaining a credentialed body of Health Education Specialists.”

To become certified, one must pass an examination that assesses one’s competence in the possession, application, and interpretation of Seven Areas of Responsibility:

Area I: Assess Needs, Resources, and Capacity for Health Education/Promotion
Area II: Plan Health Education/Promotion
Area III: Implement Health Education/Promotion
Area IV: Conduct Evaluation and Research Related to Health Education/Promotion
Area V: Administer and Manage Health Education/Promotion
Area VI: Serve as a Health Education/Promotion Resource Person
Area VII. Communicate, Promote, and Advocate for Health, Health Education/Promotion, and the Profession

Once certified, one must pay an annual $55 renewal fee and obtain 75 continuing education contact hours every five years for recertification.

Who is eligible?

Basic requirements to be eligible for the exam include:

  • Official transcript clearly showing health education major

OR

  • Official transcript reflecting at least 25 semester hours or 37 quarter hours with specific preparation addressing the Seven Areas of Responsibility and Competency for Health Education Specialists.

Should I become certified?

This national credential lets others know that you have competencies beyond just a degree. You understand the responsibility and accountability in being a high quality health educator. Certification can be appealing to employers looking for health education experts and may be required for some careers in the field.

How can I become certified?

Exams are offered biannually in April and October. Check out the NCHEC exam overview  for more information on registering for the next exam!

ACT for Youth now offers contact hours

ACT for Youth has recently become a Designated Provider of continuing education contact hours with NCHEC. This means we can now help those of you who are already certified get those 75 credit hours! Any webinar or training we offer that addresses at least one of the Areas of Responsibility will be eligible for contact hours (don’t worry – we will make it clear if a webinar or training does not qualify). If you attend and successfully complete these events, you will need to get in touch with me (mas597@cornell.edu) as soon as possible to receive a special evaluation form to be completed. Once we’ve received your evaluation form, we will submit it to NCHEC for you. We are excited to be able to offer this new service to help further your career as a certified health educator!

Divine Sebuharara  – Divine Sebuharara, MS, CHES

Unexpected Situations! What’s an Educator to Do?

So, you’ve gone to all of the ACT Training of Educators, you’ve taken the online implementation training, you’ve even gone to a training on facilitation, but what if the “WHAT IF” happens?  We train educators how to deal with sensitive questions, but what about dealing with sensitive situations that come up in your programs?

Picture this scenario.  While implementing your program in a typical classroom setting, you’re facilitating a module that includes a game centered around STDs.  It’s one of the more engaging activities and participants usually have a lot of fun doing it, but this time, one of the students gets really upset and begins to get teary.  What do you do?

As educators, we can never really plan for EVERYTHING, but we try to be as prepared as possible.  In the case of this scenario, having a participant cry during the session can really rattle an educator, but it’s important to remember that we’re dealing with issues that can bring up a lot for people.  A strategy for dealing with issues like these is to put that out there up front.  Let participants know at the beginning of the cycle what you will be covering, and be explicit.  They may not know when you will cover a particular topic, but at least they know what to expect.

Also, let them know about the different strategies that you’ll be using.  Inform them from the start that there will be role plays involved, but the decision to participate as an actor is completely voluntary.  There will be games involved, but it doesn’t mean that the program or you, as the educator, think topics like HIV/AIDS or negotiating sex are funny or don’t take them seriously.

Without putting them on the spot, check in with them, ask if they’re OK or if they need to take a break (possibly step out of the class/group setting).  This will require you to find out the policy of the school/agency regarding students’ leaving the room.  It’s also helpful if you have another adult in the class (a co-facilitator, teacher, etc.) who can support you so that you can tend to the class and they can assist with the student.  Also, note that checking in with them may require a longer conversation and possibly disclosure of a bigger issue.  Be aware of who the social worker, counselor, or on-site support is, if needed.

Lastly, self-care is important.  Remind them that your workshop is a safe space.  You have to go over all of the material, but if something being discussed is too much for them or hits too close to home, let participants know that they can do whatever is necessary to take care of their needs.  Make sure to give them examples (e.g. step out, take a water break, mentally check out, write/doodle/draw in their notebooks, etc.)

This was one example of a challenging or sensitive situation that may arise, but I’m sure there are many more.  What are some examples you have from the field of difficult situations that have arisen in your programs, and how have you dealt with them?

  – Michele

Educators: How confident are you with sex ed content?

How much do you know about the menstrual cycle and fertility? How about the way different contraceptives work? Do you know how the major STDs affect the body? Can you explain the difference between sex and gender? Many CAPP and PREP projects are based in organizations that do not specialize in human sexuality. If you are not sure that you could comfortably and confidently answer a wide range of questions on sexual health, you may want to take advantage of the many resources available for your professional development.

Assessment

Self-assessment is an excellent place to start. Healthy Teen Network has developed a self-assessment tool (PDF) for sexual health educators, much of it focused on content. Rate yourself so that you have a good sense of where your weaker areas are – the content areas where you could use a booster.

In-Person Training

Planned Parenthood of NYC Training Institute
A wide variety of topics are offered in PPNYC’s Training Institute. Continuing education contact hours, including Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) contact hours, are available at no additional cost. Your local Planned Parenthood affiliate may also be able to provide in-service training.

National Sex Ed Conference
Sponsored by the Center for Sex Education, this annual conference offers workshops for new and seasoned sex education professionals. (Were you there last week? Tell us how it was!)

CAI (Cicatelli Associates Inc.)
CAI is a training center for NYS DOH AIDS Institute.

Online Training and Webinars

Answer (Rutgers University)
Answer offers online training and capacity building for sex education professionals, including topics such as “Sexuality ABCs” and “Sexual Anatomy and Response,” among many others.

CAPP and PREP Webinars
Find recorded webinars here. Remember to check the CAPP and PREP Training Calendar for upcoming webinars.

Cardea eLearning Courses
While Cardea’s online courses are primarily for clinicians, educators may find value in courses such as “Family Planning Basics,” “Gender Diversity 101,” and “STD 101.”

Office of Adolescent Health: Online Learning Modules
OAH offers several online learning opportunities for organizations in the teen pregnancy prevention and expecting and parenting teen fields, including “Talking with Teens about Reproductive Health” and “Adolescent Development.”

Brushing Up: Brief Reading and Videos

For a more comprehensive list, download the Directory of Professional Development Opportunities in Sexuality Education (Word) from Future of Sex Ed.

Recommendations?

If you have resources to suggest, please comment (or you can email me directly at ks548@cornell.edu).

 

Karen Schantz   – Karen

Contraception Basics for Educators: New Resources, Inclusive Language

Earlier this summer, Dr. Taylor Starr presented the information-packed webinar “Contraception Options for Adolescents: Basics for Educators.” While you can find the full recording (including extensive Q&A) on the Shared Resources page, we thought it might be helpful to also break it into bite-size pieces.

To find JUST the method information you are looking for, visit our Contraception page and scroll down to “Methods.” There you will find an edited version of the webinar, along with short excerpts on each method covered.

Remember, these videos are intended for YOU, not for your students. They give background on each method, including how it works, duration, effectiveness, and side effects, all from a clinical perspective. Our hope is that you can use these resources to build your base of knowledge so that you can confidently answer young people’s questions.

Another reference we’ve just updated for your use is Birth Control Methods in Brief (PDF) – just the basic facts, minus side effects. In this new edition I’ve attempted to use language appropriate to all genders. Did I succeed? What would you change or recommend? Do you have resources to share on gender-inclusive language in sex education?

Share your thoughts and resources in the comments, please! You can also direct them to me at ks548@cornell.edu. Your feedback is helpful and much appreciated.

Karen Schantz   -Karen

What Do Youth Think about Birth Control Methods?

A few years back, the Department of Health asked the ACT COE to gather young people’s perspectives on family planning services. With the help of CAPP and PREP providers, we were able to speak with 336 youth in 36 focus groups all over New York State. What we found was, for the most part, not surprising: Many had confidentiality concerns centered around the fear that parents would find out or people would know their business. Youth were afraid of being judged by clinicians and other staff; talking about sex and contraception felt awkward; and clinics did not always seem friendly to youth. There were also fears about getting bad news at a clinic visit.

No surprises there. But to me, one finding did stand out: the overwhelming negative beliefs and attitudes that youth expressed about birth control methods.

Participants were asked to name contraceptive methods that they were aware of and briefly discuss each method. Our researchers counted the number of negative vs. positive remarks made about each contraceptive method – and in nearly every case, the negative comments far outweighed the positive comments.

Negative comments most often referred to side effects they had heard about, as well as perceived lack of reliability. Emergency contraception in particular was considered dangerous – and had five times as many negative comments as positive. The only method where the good edged out the bad? Abstinence. Abstinence was not mentioned as frequently as other methods, but youth clearly understood that it is the most effective way to prevent pregnancy. (It was also largely seen as unrealistic.)

This study is several years old. More recently, researchers in South Carolina* conducted a small focus group study with black and Latina/o youth in two counties. They found many of the same themes: young people expressed the need for private, confidential services in an environment that is friendly to teens. And again, negative feelings about birth control surfaced – especially with respect to side effects. As one teen put it when talking of contraception commercials, “I hate it when they say side effects may include dizziness, drowsiness, heart disease…I say no thank you.”

We know we need to work on the perception and reality of confidential services for youth. At the same time, let’s make sure youth are getting positive messages about birth control. The good news is, they’ve received positive messages about abstinence, and these messages appear to be getting through. How can we present other methods in a positive light as well? Teens who are now or will soon be sexually active do need to know the side effects of any method they are considering, but are they also hearing about convenience, effectiveness, ease of use, and accessibility?

What are your thoughts? Do you have strategies to share? Let us know in the comments.

Karen Schantz– Karen

*Galloway, C. T., Duffy, J. L., Dixon, R. P., & Fuller, T. R. (2017). Exploring African-American and Latino Teens’ Perceptions of Contraception and Access to Reproductive Health Care Services. Journal of Adolescent Health, 60(3, Supplement), S57–S62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2016.12.006

You can find more on the ACT for Youth study here: Youth and Family Planning: Findings from a Focus Group Study (PDF)