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 116 - 120 of 154Understanding the Adolescent Brain
During this session, participants will learn about neuro-biological findings from adolescent brain research as they apply to cognitive and behavioral changes, such as risk taking, relationship building and social development. The facilitators will describe findings in emerging fields informed by neuroscience, such as the effects of sleep, technology and stress on the developing brain. Based on the findings outlined, participants will explore some unique teaching and learning strategies for reaching adolescents, all linked to cognitive engagement, impulse control, and decision making. They will identify a set of adult behaviors and attitudes that might best engage, influence, and motivate teens, and are strongly encouraged to make a shift in how they think about and approach the adolescent learner.
Objectives of this course:
- Describe the unique developmental features of the adolescent brain and the implications for adolescent cognition and behavior.
- Describe current research on factors that influence the developing adolescent brain, including sleep, substances, stress, and technology.
- Identify strategies that draw upon brain research to engage the adolescent learner in avoiding risk behaviors.
- Implement a personal plan of action for refining their skills in effectively engaging adolescent learners.
Visit ETR's Training & TA Form to submit your request and receive cost information.
- Indicator 2 (K-12): Demonstrate three student-centered instructional approaches that support a variety of learning styles. (S)
- Indicator 5 (K-12): Describe three effective strategies for practicing skills with students.
- 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 2 (K-12): List three physical, three social, and three emotional changes that occur during puberty.
Creating a Comfortable Climate
This training helps sex education instructors ensure they are using best practices when it comes to setting the tone for discussions, answering questions, preventing challenging situations, and managing them effectively if they do occur.
- 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 1 (K-12): Describe the importance of teachers’ maintaining professional boundaries when teaching sex education.
- Indicator 2 (K-12): List three factors to consider regarding personal disclosure when teaching sex education
- Indicator 4 (K-12): Explain the roles and responsibilities of a mandated reporter.
- Indicator 1 (K-12): Explain three reasons why it is important to respond to every question students ask when teaching sex education.
- Indicator 1 (K-12): Describe three health (e.g. physical, social and/or emotional) and/or academic benefits of sex education for young people
- Indicator 2 (K-12): Describe state and/or district laws, policies, and standards that relate to sex education where one teaches.
- 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
- 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)
Advocates staff provides technical assistance, training and resources to national, state, and local organizations regarding youth-centered reproductive and sexual health/rights/justice public policy and communications. Policy staff draft model legislation and policy briefs, track and provide in-depth policy analysis, and can support partners in building out advocacy strategies to improve policies and practices at the federal, state, and local levels. In addition, communications staff can assist with talking points, public speaking training, and training regarding media outreach. Staff is also available to assist organizations wishing to raise the visibility of young people and their experiences and needs through social or traditional media. For more information about public policy assistance contact Diana@advocatesforyouth.org. For more information about communications assistance contact Emily@advocatesforyouth.org
Virtual PD - Culturally Responsive Instruction When Teaching Sex Education
Virtual Professional Development is a simulated classroom where teachers can practice teaching student avatars using short scenarios and support from an instructional coach, so they can quickly learn and master the skills they most need to be effective. With upper elementary, middle and high school classrooms, Virtual PD has scenarios for teachers of all grade levels across a wide range of topics aligned with the Professional Learning Standards for Sex Education (PLSSE). You can watch the video here (link is external) to learn more about Virtual PD.
Using the Virtual Professional Development classroom simulator, the educator will practice Culturally Responsive Instruction When Teaching Sex Education with the student avatars. In this scenario, the educator is teaching a lesson on different kinds of families with their students. After allowing students time to list their own ideas, the educator asks students to engage in a think/pair/share activity to see if they can add to their lists. They then facilitate a brainstorm activity about different kinds of families. In this simulation with five students, the participant will need to demonstrate three strategies for creating culturally responsive classrooms.
- Indicator 2 (K-12): Demonstrate three strategies for creating culturally responsive classrooms. (S)
Additional Trainings offered by out-of-state organizations
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Accessible Sex Ed Training for Facilitators
This workshop is designed for sex ed and family life educators who want to make their programs more accessible to people with a variety of disabilities, particularly autistic people and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Adding these skills to your toolbox makes affirming, inclusive education more accessible for all participants..
“Accessible Sex Ed” also covers how to talk with caregivers about the importance of complete, fact-based education for all people, especially neurodiverse folx.
- 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)




