SIECUS’ policy team brings to bear 55 years of research-based expertise on comprehensive sex education to ensure that public policies reflect best practices and current research in support of our nation’s young people. Our agenda is simple: SIECUS advances comprehensive sexuality education as a means of building a foundation for a long-term culture shift that will positively impact all levels of society, particularly issues of gender equity, sexuality, sexual and reproductive health, consent, personal safety, and autonomy. Through technical assistance to states, SIECUS’ staff support states in educating advocates and policymakers about providing rights-based sexuality information and education at the federal, state, and local levels and leading, strengthening, and developing partnerships with other organizations, coalitions, and initiatives to advance policies that promote positive sexual and reproductive health outcomes across the lifespan. Technical assistance is focused on meeting a state’s immediate needs in a timely way.
Training Hub
The Sex Education Collaborative Training Hub lists trainings for sex educators, facilitators, and other professionals on best practices for sharing important information with clients and the public. From teaching anatomy inclusively to effectively addressing bias in the classroom to addressing racial justice and equity in sex education, the Training Hub includes trainings, technical assistance, and policy support from state, regional, and national leaders in the field of sex education.
Please note: The Training Hub includes both in-person and online professional trainings. If you see a training you are interested in and it isn’t listed as virtual, please reach out directly to any of our members to find out what's possible!
Trainings Offered by State-Based and National Organizations
Displaying results 56 - 60 of 154Addressing the Needs of LGBTQ Youth
The ability to provide services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning (LGBTQ+) youth begins with an understanding of the nature of gender and sexual orientation, correct terminology, basic knowledge of the “typical” experiences of the population, and an awareness of the increased risk factors experienced by these youth. In this workshop, participants will have an opportunity to explore this important content and identify strategies for providing welcoming and affirming services appropriate for LGBTQ+ youth. The facilitator will share an overview of the theory, current issues, and research-based strategies important when working with LGBTQ+ populations. Participants will then begin to identify practices that support effective service design and delivery and will lead to the most inclusive and impactful practices. Participants also strategize ways to incorporate these practices into their services and settings.
Objectives of this course:
- Examine the key theories and terminology around gender identity/expression and sexual orientation.
- Define the stages of “coming out,” i.e. self-awareness and identity disclosure.
- Identify increased risk factors for LGBTQ+ youth.
- Strategize effective ways to work with and support LGBTQ+ youth.
- Identify resources for LGBTQ+ youth.
- Develop a personal plan of action for positively addressing the needs of LGBTQ+ youth.
Visit ETR's Training & TA Form to submit your request and receive cost information.
- Indicator 1 (K-12): Demonstrate three techniques to create an inclusive and affirming learning environment. (S)
- Indicator 1 (K-12): Explain how availability of supportive school staff, presence of Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs), LGBQ-inclusive curricular resources, and the presence of comprehensive, enumerated anti-harassment school policies are related to improved school climate for students of all sexual orientations.
- Indicator 4 (K-12): Demonstrate the use of inclusive and affirming language. (S)
- Indicator 5 (K-12): Demonstrate the ability to intervene effectively in homophobic and other bullying comments and actions. (S)
- Indicator 6 (K-12): Explain three ways that LGBQ+ youth are at disproportionate risk for health disparities.
- Indicator 8 (K-12): Explain why it is essential to include positive portrayals of LGBQ+ people in lessons.
- Indicator 9 (K-12): Demonstrate three strategies that can be used to include positive portrayals of LGBQ+ people in lessons. (S)
- Indicator 1 (K-12): Explain how availability of supportive school staff, presence of Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs), gender-inclusive curricular resources, and the presence of comprehensive enumerated anti-harassment school policies are related to improved school climate for students of all gender identities.
- Indicator 2 (K-12): Demonstrate the use of inclusive and affirming language. (S)
- Indicator 5 (K-12): Demonstrate the ability to intervene effectively in transphobic, sexist, misogynistic and other gender-related bullying comments and actions. (S)
Managing Sensitive Issues: Effectively Responding to Controversy
Educators and others who work with youth often feel anxious about addressing sensitive issues—such as topics associated with strong personal values—in the classroom, whether they are part of a curriculum or surface in a general class discussion. Sexuality, alcohol and other drugs, politics, race, and bullying are just a few examples of issues that, if not handled sensitively, could result in alienated students or angry parents contacting the school or agency. The most common topic targeted in this training is sexuality education, but the focus can be adjusted based on participants' needs. Participants identify the sensitive topics they face in their workplace and have the opportunity to assess their personal values, consider student diversity, and build the skills needed to answer difficult questions. The facilitator shares a set of proven strategies for responding to questions related to sensitive topics and harassing/bullying statements, and participants practice effective responses to build their skills.
Objectives of this course:
- Identify a range of personal and community-based values.
- Explore a set of effective facilitation techniques for addressing difficult issues.
- Practice using the techniques to effectively answer a variety of difficult questions.
- Practice using the techniques to effectively respond to harassing/bullying comments.
- Develop a personal plan of action to master the facilitation practices.
Visit ETR's Training & TA Form to submit your request and receive cost information.
- Indicator 1 (K-12): Demonstrate three techniques to create an inclusive and affirming learning environment. (S)
- Indicator 1 (K-12): Demonstrate the ability to build rapport with students. (S)
- Indicator 2 (K-12): Demonstrate three student-centered instructional approaches that support a variety of learning styles. (S)
- Indicator 3 (K-12): Explain the differences between positive vs. shaming approaches to teaching sex education.
- Indicator 1 (K-12): Explain three reasons why it is important to respond to every question students ask when teaching sex education.
- Indicator 2 (K-12): Demonstrate the ability to effectively respond to three different types of challenging questions. (S)
- Indicator 3 (K-12): Explain the importance of educators refraining from sharing their personal values when implementing sex education.
- Indicator 4 (K-12): Demonstrate the ability to respond effectively to students’ values-based comments and questions. (S)
Sexual & Reproductive Health 101
New to teaching sexual and reproductive health education? Need a refresher? This highly interactive training prepares participants to teach sexual and reproductive health topics to youth. Participants discover new ways to engage youth in learning about anatomy, physiology, contraception and sexually transmitted infections. They also explore how values influence teaching of sensitive topics and practice answering common student questions. Facilitators also work with participants to help them understand local and state sexual health education policies and strengthen their role as a critical resource for youth.
Objectives of this course:
- Describe protective and risk factors, including stigma, associated with adolescent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
- Describe youth-friendly resources related to adolescent sexual and reproductive health.
- Communicate useful and relevant content about anatomy, physiology, contraception and sexually transmitted infections.
- Apply a variety of strategies and activities for teaching sexual and reproductive health.
- Address how values and attitudes affect teaching sexual and reproductive health.
- Implement action steps to engage with the school and community to deliver high quality sexual and reproductive education.
Visit ETR's Training & TA Form to submit your request and receive cost information.
- Indicator 1 (6-12): Explain fertilization, implantation, conception, and how pregnancy occurs.
- Indicator 2 (6-12): Demonstrate the steps necessary for effective external and internal condom use and how to access condoms. (S)
- Indicator 3 (6-12): Describe the differences in mechanisms of action and access between emergency contraception and the abortion pill.
- Indicator 4 (6-12): Explain methods of contraception, including the latest medical advances that are popular among young people.
- Indicator 5 (6-12): Describe pregnancy options, including parenting, adoption, and abortion.
- Indicator 5 (K-12): Describe three effective strategies for practicing skills with students.
- Indicator 1 (6-12): Describe HIV and three common STDs/STIs, and how each can and cannot be transmitted.
- Indicator 2 (6-12): Explain that many STD/STIs do not cause symptoms and the only way to know if you have one is to be tested.
- Indicator 6 (6-12): Describe the latest medical advances in HIV and other STDs/STIs prevention and treatment.
- Indicator 1 (K-12): Describe three health (e.g. physical, social and/or emotional) and/or academic benefits of sex education for young people
Human Trafficking 101
This is the first in a series of eLearning units focused on human trafficking. Subsequent units include content specifically for medical providers, educators, parents, caregivers, faith-based professionals, and other youth-serving professionals to better understand the role they can take in addressing sex and labor trafficking. Via an interactive, self-paced unit, participants will explore critical elements of sex and labor trafficking and steps they can take to support victims and survivors in your community. This unit promotes learning though stories, activities, and short quizzes.
Through Healthy Teen Network’s partnership with the University of Maryland School of Social Work’s Prevention of Adolescent Risk Initiative, we are pleased to share resources on human trafficking. Although these resources are focused on specifics for the state of Maryland, anyone from any state can learn about human trafficking as well.
Additional Trainings offered by out-of-state organizations
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Fat Liberation is Queer Liberation
Even within justice-oriented spaces, fatphobia, a system of oppression, is frequently normalized and ignored. Due to diet culture and body surveillance under the guise of public health, we are not often given the space to discuss liberation from fatphobia.
- Indicator 1 (K-12): Define conscious and unconscious bias and explain how they could influence one’s teaching of sex education.
- Indicator 1 (K-12): Demonstrate three techniques to create an inclusive and affirming learning environment. (S)
- Indicator 2 (K-12): Demonstrate three strategies for creating culturally responsive classrooms. (S)
- Indicator 4 (K-12): Demonstrate the use of inclusive and affirming language. (S)
- Indicator 6 (K-12): Explain three ways that LGBQ+ youth are at disproportionate risk for health disparities.
- Indicator 8 (K-12): Explain why it is essential to include positive portrayals of LGBQ+ people in lessons.
- Indicator 9 (K-12): Demonstrate three strategies that can be used to include positive portrayals of LGBQ+ people in lessons. (S)
- Indicator 3 (K-12): Describe three ways power, privilege, prejudice, discrimination, and stereotypes related to age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, socio-economic status, immigration status, and/or physical or intellectual ability can impact sexual health and reproductive justice.
- Indicator 5 (K-12): Describe three strategies educators can use to acknowledge and proactively work to mitigate the impact of bias on their students’ sexual health and multiple, intersecting identities.
- Indicator 6 (K-12): Explain three ways that transgender and gender expansive youth are at disproportionate risk for health disparities.
- Indicator 8 (K-12): Explain why it is essential to include positive portrayals of transgender and gender expansive people in lessons.
- Indicator 9 (K-12): Demonstrate three strategies that can be used to make lessons affirming for transgender and gender expansive people. (S)
- Indicator 1 (K-12): Explain the differences between personal and universal values relating to sexuality.
- Indicator 2 (K-12): Describe how verbal and nonverbal expression of personal values, and comfort with topics related to sex education, could impact one’s teaching



