Training
Michigan Sex Education Policy and Law: Best Practices for Sex Education in Michigan
This training will walk participants through current Michigan law and policy as it relates to sex education in K-12 schools. We will review content requirements and spend time on Sex Education Advisory Boards (SEABs), the groups that set goals and objectives and review and recommend curriculum for their local school districts. We will share the most up-to-date, evidence-based information on sex education - content specifics, facilitation strategies, scope and sequence, outcome indications, and more. Finally, we will discuss best practices for SEAB establishment and functioning.
In this training, participants will:
- Review relevant and current data on sex education.
- Review state laws and requirements for sex education.
- Review state laws on Sex Education Advisory Boards (SEABs).
- Review SEAB logisitics, including meetings, membership, and curriculum review.
- Understand the scope of the SEAB's power and influence in a school district.
- Identify resources and next steps for SEABs.
- Discuss evidence-informed best practices for sex education programming.
- Review sex education resources and ways participants can get involved in improving sex education in their community.
In person Online
Age Group(s) - Grades K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-10, Grades 11-12
Topic(s) - Contraception, pregnancy, and reproduction, Creating an inclusive and affirming learning environment, Effective teaching strategies, Healthy relationships, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases/infections, LGBQ+ identities, Racial and reproductive justice, Transgender and gender expansive identities, Sex education in schools, Values
Professional Learning Standards for Sex Education (PLSSE) Indicators
Contraception, Pregnancy, and Reproduction Indicators - Indicator 6 (6-12): Identify three federal and/or state laws that impact young peoples’ access to effective reproductive and sexual health care (e.g. age of consent for services, confidential access to health care services, and access to condoms)
Creating and inclusive and affirming learning environment Indicators - Indicator 1 (K-12): Demonstrate three techniques to create an inclusive and affirming learning environment. (S)
- 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)
Effective Teaching Strategies Indicators - Indicator 5 (K-12): Describe three effective strategies for practicing skills with students.
- Indicator 6 (K-12): Describe three strategies for actively involving parents, caregivers, and other trusted adults in a sex education program.
- 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)
Healthy Relationships Indicators - Indicator 4 (K-12): Describe three strategies for incorporating the positive and negative impacts of communicating through technology into lessons on healthy relationships.
- Indicator 5 (K-12): Describe three ways to help students set and respect personal boundaries in relationships.
HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases/infections Indicators - Indicator 7 (6-12): Identify three medically accurate and youth-friendly resources for STD/STI and HIV prevention, testing, and treatment
LGBQ+ Identities Indicators - 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)
Racial and Reproductive Justice Indicators - Indicator 2 (K-12): Name three sexual health inequities and some of their systemic causes (e.g., African American women living with HIV have expressed mistrust toward healthcare professionals, in part, as a result of systemic racism).
- 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.
Sex Education In Schools Indicators - 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.
Transgender and Gender Expansive Identities Indicator - Indicator 9 (K-12): Demonstrate three strategies that can be used to make lessons affirming for transgender and gender expansive people. (S)
Values Indicators - Indicator 1 (K-12): Explain the differences between personal and universal values relating to sexuality.
Training
Sexual Violence in the Media
The media plays a huge role in how we think about sex and sexuality. Using TV clips, movie scenes, ads and songs, we will explore how the media portrays sexual violence. We will also discuss how we can use the media to have constructive conversations regarding sexual violence in our daily lives.
In person Online
Cost - Please contact alexandra@gcapp.org for details
Age Group(s) - Grades K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-10, Grades 11-12
Topic(s) - Consent and interpersonal and sexual violence, Healthy relationships
Professional Learning Standards for Sex Education (PLSSE) Indicators
Consent, Interpersonal and Sexual Violence Indicators - Indicator 3 (K-12): Differentiate between situations in which sexual consent is and is not present.
Healthy Relationships Indicators - Indicator 3 (K-12): Describe three strategies for teaching students communication skills.
- Indicator 4 (K-12): Describe three strategies for incorporating the positive and negative impacts of communicating through technology into lessons on healthy relationships.
Training
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. We will cover six key principles of trauma-informed sex education and work on strategies to implement in the classroom. This training will have interactive small and large group discussions and provide opportunities for participants to work through scenarios to practice principles they learned in the session.
In this training, participants will:
- Define trauma.
- Review relevant and current data on trauma.
- Examine how trauma relates to sex education.
- Learn key principles for trauma-informed sex education.
- Discuss concrete strategies of a trauma-informed approach in the classroom.
- Practice applying a trauma-informed approach to sex education curriculum analysis and tailoring.
- Share age-appropriate strategies for infusing consent into sex education.
- Determine other preparations and next steps.
In person Online
Age Group(s) - Grades K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-10, Grades 11-12
Topic(s) - Consent and interpersonal and sexual violence, Creating an inclusive and affirming learning environment, Disclosure, Effective teaching strategies, Healthy relationships, LGBQ+ identities, Sex education in schools, Values
Professional Learning Standards for Sex Education (PLSSE) Indicators
Consent, Interpersonal and Sexual Violence Indicators - Indicator 1 (K-12): Define consent.
- Indicator 2 (K-12): Explain why consent is a fundamental right for people of all ages.
- Indicator 3 (K-12): Differentiate between situations in which sexual consent is and is not present.
- Indicator 4 (K-12): Identify three youth-friendly resources to assist survivors of sexual assault, abuse, incest, or domestic violence.
- Indicator 6 (K-12): Explain bodily autonomy and how it relates to consent and sexual abuse prevention.
- Indicator 7 (K-12): Explain the impact of childhood trauma on the decision-making and sexual health of students.
- Indicator 9 (K-12): Describe three strategies to help students identify a trusted adult.
Creating and inclusive and affirming learning environment Indicators - 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)
Disclosure Indicators - 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.
Effective Teaching Strategies Indicators - 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)
Healthy Relationships Indicators - Indicator 4 (K-12): Describe three strategies for incorporating the positive and negative impacts of communicating through technology into lessons on healthy relationships.
LGBQ+ Identities Indicators - 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.
Sex Education In Schools Indicators - Indicator 2 (K-12): Describe state and/or district laws, policies, and standards that relate to sex education where one teaches.
Values Indicators - 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.
Training
Coping Skills in the Classroom
Coping skills are strategies we use to manage unpleasant emotions, decrease stress, and establish order in our lives. They can be used in the classroom both by students and teachers. Participants will not only learn practical skills to use in their daily lives but also how to teach these skills to their students.
In person Online
Cost - Please contact alexandra@gcapp.org for details
Age Group(s) - Grades K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-10, Grades 11-12
Topic(s) - Creating an inclusive and affirming learning environment, Effective teaching strategies
Professional Learning Standards for Sex Education (PLSSE) Indicators
Training
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. This workshop allows the audience to reflect on how fatphobia is normalized and shows up in their lives, discuss how fatphobia is explicitly tied to every other system of oppression, and tie fat liberation to queer and trans liberation as we advocate for ourselves and our communities in the fight against fatphobia.
In this training, participants will:
- Discuss how fatphobia is normalized and how it occurs in daily life, and unlearn myths about health and thinness.
- Gain an understanding of how fatphobia is tied to all other systems of oppression and how fat liberation is connected to queer and trans liberation.
- Examine their own internalized fatphobia and identify strategies for self-advocacy and community advocacy.
- Share local and national resources on fat positivity and liberation.
In person Online
Age Group(s) - Grades K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-10, Grades 11-12
Topic(s) - Conscious and unconscious bias about race, ethnicity, and culture disclosure, Creating an inclusive and affirming learning environment, LGBQ+ identities, Racial and reproductive justice, Transgender and gender expansive identities, Values
Professional Learning Standards for Sex Education (PLSSE) Indicators
Conscious and unconscious bias about race, ethnicity, and culture Indicators - Indicator 1 (K-12): Define conscious and unconscious bias and explain how they could influence one’s teaching of sex education.
Creating and inclusive and affirming learning environment Indicators - 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)
LGBQ+ Identities Indicators - 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)
Racial and Reproductive Justice Indicators - 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.
Transgender and Gender Expansive Identities Indicator - 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)
Values Indicators - 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
