Puberty and adolescent development

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.

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.

In this training, participants will gain a general understanding of reproductive health as it relates to teen pregnancy prevention. Topics include reproductive anatomy and physiology, adolescent growth and development, HIV/STIs, and contraceptives.

This training is designed for: 

• Educators new to teaching sex education
• Anyone who wants a refresher on the basics
• Health care professionals

By the end of this lesson, participants will gain knowledge and develop skills required to have an open conversation with teens about their sexual and reproductive health.

This training is designed for:

• Parents
• Clergy
• Community Workers

After this workshop, participants will be able to explain appearance ideals that students encounter and where pressure to achieve them comes from. 

This training is designed for:

• Teachers
• Substitute Teachers
• Counselors
• Coaches
• Parents
• Clergy
• Community Workers
• Educators 

Participants will be reminded of normal patterns of development during adolescence and discuss strategies for maintaining professionalism with adolescent students.

This training is designed for: 

• Teachers
• Substitute Teachers
• Counselors
• Coaches
• Educators

Cardea offers training on a range of content and skills to support effective sexual health education implementation. Training options include existing training modules or customized training to support the needs of your faculty or staff.

Topics can include:

This dynamic training is a fun way to learn about puberty, reproductive anatomy, and contraception. Participants will learn how to teach and discuss these topics by engaging in fun and adoptable activities. Participants will leave this training with a better understanding of the topic and resources to be used with youth.

This workshop will help sex education instructors use research on adolescent social, cognitive, and biological development to improve the way they communicate with adolescents. Participants will learn techniques for engaging with adolescents and building buy-in to messages about behavior.

This training covers the content knowledge that sex education instructors need to feel competent leading discussions about puberty, anatomy, contraception, STIs, HIV, healthy relationships, consent, LGBTQ youth, and more.