Cardea provides a range of TA services to support school districts in the adoption and implementation of sound sexual health education policies and procedures. Through direct services, training, and capacity building, Cardea assists districts in adopting best practices, building the capacity of their faculty and staff, and engaging their parents and community. TA begins with the dissemination of policy, research, practices, and resources through peer-learning communities/communities of practice. Additional individualized district TA supports system changes, capacity building, training and education that results in significant changes to practices within a district and changing community perceptions and norms.
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 86 - 90 of 154Affirmative Consent
Cultural perspectives, organizational policies, and local and national laws are changing to embrace the principle of Affirmative Consent. A culture of consent is one in which it is the norm, not the exception, for all persons to obtain consent prior to sexual experiences. Many educators feel this policy shift is a step in the right direction and has the potential to create positive change.
Affirmative Consent policies can:
- Build communication skills
- Construct a respectful frame about personal choice
- Help prevent sexual assault
- Address negative, outdated gender roles
Objectives of this training:
- Explain how Affirmative Consent contributes to changing youth norms and attitudes around sexual relationships.
- Deliver a pitch to advocate for the inclusion of Affirmative Consent content in educational settings.
- Develop strategies for addressing youth criticism of Affirmative Consent.
- Describe the key messages, critical talking points, and different activities included in the Teaching Affirmative Consent supplement's lesson plan.
- Describe at least three ways to reinforce Affirmative Consent messaging within related activities and classroom discussions.
- Indicator 2 (K-12): Demonstrate the ability to effectively respond to three different types of challenging questions. (S)
- Indicator 1 (K-12): Describe three health (e.g. physical, social and/or emotional) and/or academic benefits of sex education for young people
SIECUS is well poised to provide policy support as we are the only organization whose sole mission is to advance sex education policy at the federal, state, and local levels. For the past 55 years, SIECUS has advocated for the rights of all people to comprehensive sexuality education, and the full spectrum of sexual and reproductive health services. SIECUS is more committed than ever to the fight for the equitable provision of comprehensive sexuality information to vulnerable and marginalized populations especially people of color and LGBTQI identifying youth—and for the elimination of all barriers to access to quality reproductive health services, for reproductive justice to be actualized.
SIECUS equips state and local leaders with the knowledge they need to be confident and powerful advocates. Our staff conduct workshops and trainings around the country and provide one-on-one technical assistance by phone and email. Our policy support helps state and local leaders become stronger advocates for their missions and empowers them to addresses the root cause of key reproductive justice and sexual rights issues, moving us toward a society where issues like gender equity, sexual and reproductive health, racial justice, LGBTQ inclusion, consent, personal safety, and autonomy are well—established as part of our normal reality. Our website is a place where advocates can search our robust collection of toolkits, fact sheets, reports, and our signature report, the SIECUS State Profiles, as well as connect with a team member for one-on-one technical assistance.
LGBTQ+ Inclusivity
In this training, participants will:
- Describe the ways in which discrimination in the school setting can lend to unfavorable health outcomes for LGBTQ+ youth.
- Identify concrete steps to respond to bullying on the basis of gender or sexual orientation.
- Describe specific strategies for being inclusive of LGBTQ+ youth in the classroom and school setting.
- Indicator 1 (K-12): Demonstrate three techniques to create an inclusive and affirming learning environment. (S)
- Indicator 3 (K-12): Describe three elements of a trauma-informed approach to sex education.
- 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 7 (K-12): Identify three credible, medically accurate, youth-friendly resources that can provide information or support related to sexual orientation.
- 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): Describe three health (e.g. physical, social and/or emotional) and/or academic benefits of sex education for young people
SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change has provided trainings to thousands of individuals and nonprofit organizations across the country. SIECUS’ policy team is uniquely positioned to offer trainings for all types of policy activity and engagement at all levels of government–federal, state, and local. Our trainings our developed to enhance participant understanding of influencing public policy, learn what it takes to engage in effective advocacy, and strategically mobilize to advance sex education laws and policy.
Our trainings are designed for advocates, educators, policymakers, health care providers, parents, and youth to aid in efforts to advance sex education in every community across the country.
Trainings and workshops can be customized and combined depending on your organization’s or community’s specific needs and the intended audience.
After your training, you can follow up with any questions you may have as part of our free technical assistance program. Please email us at info@siecus.org.
- Indicator 2 (K-12): Describe state and/or district laws, policies, and standards that relate to sex education where one teaches.
Additional Trainings offered by out-of-state organizations
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Trauma-Informed Sexual Health Education
We never know what traumas someone has experienced or what could trigger a trauma response for someone. As more and more research has come to show that many young people are experiencing high levels of trauma, it's essential that we work to create safer spaces for young people in schools. This includes ensuring that sex education will not become a re-traumatizing experience for survivors.This training will cover the basics of trauma, small “t” vs. big “T” trauma, and how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can play a part in 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 3 (K-12): Describe three elements of a trauma-informed approach to sex education.
- Indicator 4 (K-12): Demonstrate three strategies of a trauma-informed approach to sex education (e.g. giving trigger warnings before content on sexual assault and allowing students the right to pass as appropriate, etc.). (S)
- Indicator 4 (K-12): Explain the roles and responsibilities of a mandated reporter.
- Indicator 5 (K-12): Explain the state- and district-mandated reporting requirements and procedures.
- Indicator 3 (K-12): Explain the differences between positive vs. shaming approaches to teaching sex education.
- Indicator 7 (K-12): Demonstrate the ability to analyze and tailor lesson plans to match the age, developmental stages, cultural backgrounds, and other identities of students. (S)
- Indicator 4 (K-12): Describe three strategies for incorporating the positive and negative impacts of communicating through technology into lessons on healthy relationships.
- 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 2 (K-12): Describe state and/or district laws, policies, and standards that relate to sex education where one teaches.
- 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
- Indicator 3 (K-12): Explain the importance of educators refraining from sharing their personal values when implementing sex education.



