Creating an inclusive and affirming learning environment

Participants will learn how to be values-expansive when facilitating sex education. They will explore common types of questions that arise in sexual health classes and gain tools and strategies to respond to challenging questions in affirming and de-stigmatizing ways. The session includes hands-on practice using these tools. Adults will leave with practical resources and increased confidence in addressing sensitive questions while honoring the diverse values students may bring to the classroom.

This 5-week course is designed to give educators the skills and information they need to facilitate sex ed effectively. We will meet twice a week for 5 weeks and participants are expected to complete 15-30 minutes of pre-work before each live session. Click here to see a course overview.

Looking for expert trainings tailored to your needs? The offerings in the image below showcase our custom training services, designed to address the specific needs of your school or organization. From leading sexual health curriculums to creating inclusive learning spaces, our dedicated training team is here to ensure your goals are comprehensively met.

Learn about best practices for designing and implementing a teen-friendly clinic. Learn what you can put in your clinic and how your clinic staff can be welcoming to young people. 

Support your adolescent healthcare practice with TALK: Toolkit for Adolescent Care’s resources and training. TALK provides skills, scripts, and examples that can be put to immediate use, and can adapt to your team’s needs. Training is customizable and can range from a one-hour “Lunch and Learns” to a multi-week series of one-hour interactive sessions. format. A multi-session format builds participants’ Motivational Interviewing skills – and opportunities to apply them – using supportive one-page TALK tools. 

Connections Matter is a training designed to engage community members in building caring connections to:

• Improve resiliency,
• Prevent childhood trauma, and
• Understand how our interactions with others can support those who have experienced trauma.

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.

Each of us has experienced some type of trauma, whether it is collective trauma- like a natural disaster- or a personal trauma- like sexual abuse. In the classroom, trauma can show up in ways that look like behavior issues and actions that require discipline. Participants will learn small changes that can make a big difference in the classroom for students who have experienced trauma.

Self-care is more than just bubble baths and facials; it is vital to our mental health and can include everyday activities, like walking and breathing. School staff can model healthy self-care and pass it along to their students. We will discuss what self-care can look like in your classroom both virtually and in-person.

Many students in our schools identify as a gender or sexual minority. A 2020 survey found that 40% of LGBTQ respondents seriously considered attempting suicide in the past twelve months, with more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth having seriously considered suicide (Trevor Project, 2020). Participants will identify ways to support gender and sexual minorities in their schools and learn skills for being a more inclusive educator.