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Confessions of a Sex Ed Mom

March 7, 2014

If you are expecting a blog post chock-full of shockingly juicy confessions, this one is NOT for you. Those will have to wait until my memoir is published posthumously (which, I hope, is no time soon). However, I do want to share few tidbits that—dare I say—help me be the best “Sex Ed Mom” to…

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9 Tips to Create a Safe Space for Teachable Moments

February 27, 2014

A teachable moment is a situation where opportunity knocks—a time at which a person, especially a child, is likely to be particularly disposed to learn something or to be particularly responsive to being taught or made aware of something. Teachable moments can make initiating conversation about sex and contraception easier and more comfortable for everyone…

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Supporting Change through Motivational Interviewing

February 19, 2014

Motivational interviewing (a.k.a. MI) is gaining a robust evidence-base and practitioners are enthusiastically integrating it in program implementation. According to Miller and Rollnick (2013) “Motivational interviewing is a collaborative conversation style for strengthening a person’s own motivation and commitment to change.” (Miller W. R. & Rollnick, S. (2013). Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change, 3rd Ed.…

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Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

February 12, 2014

Well, it’s just about that time of year again: Valentine’s Day.  Everywhere I turn, I am bombarded by sappy love songs, ruby hearts, and images of smitten couples. Even one of the nation’s most respected news networks entices me to click a link so I can ponder if the movie “The Notebook” causes breakups. And…

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Lisa Carter: Victory and Triumph

January 30, 2014

“Her journey, though wrought with obstacles nearly every step of the way, speaks victory and triumph.” This short excerpt from a nomination letter for Lisa Carter, the 2013 Outstanding Teen Parent Awardee, paints just one small part of the picture, but tells so much. When she was nominated for the award that she ultimately ended…

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What Is ESHE…and Do I Really Need Another Acronym in My Life?

January 23, 2014

The field of sexual health, like so many others, is loaded with acronyms. To describe programs, we have EBI (Evidence Based Interventions), EBP (Evidence-Based Programs), and CSE (Comprehensive Sex Education), just to name a few. And now we have a new one in the mix: ESHE, or Exemplary Sexual Health Education. It’s worth learning this…

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Sharing Information Online in the Age of Apomediation

December 13, 2013

Whether you know it or not, you’re living in the age of apomediation. According to Dr. Dan O’Connor, apomediation means: “mediated by people to the side of you or all around you, from the Latin ‘apo’ meaning to stand by… It describes the morass—the extraordinary number of voices, sites, blogs, tweet feeds, etc.—that are available…

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All EC ≠ All Female Bodies

November 27, 2013

The name of the game is to make “the healthy choice, the easy choice.” And we’re excited women can (finally) buy emergency contraception (EC) over the counter! More options, more resources, and removing barriers = awesome, right?! Not so fast. We talk about EC as a workable option for just about anyone who wants it.…

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Who Should Do the Telling?

November 25, 2013

“You know, it’s a really sensitive subject. And it’s really hard news for people to get.” So says Anna Halloran, who works for Spokane Regional Health District in eastern Washington. For patients who have tested positive for gonorrhea, the health department now offers a service to provide anonymous notification to their former sexual partners. “People don’t necessarily do…

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How & Where Healthy Teens Live, Learn, & Play: A 360° Approach

November 14, 2013

When researching the effective characteristics of sexuality education programs, Dr. Douglas Kirby noted that while programs addressing individual knowledge, attitudes, and skills are important, they are not sufficient in reaching positive health outcomes: “Communities should not rely solely on these programs to address problems of HIV, other STIs, and pregnancy but should view them as…

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