Hey {{ FirstName | default: 'Friend' }} - in this email we will share:
- Celebrating National Adolescent Health Month
- Resources for Talking to Your Child About Sexual Health
- Youth Advisory Board Connection
- Exercising Outdoors
- Books About Adolescent Health
- Upcoming Events
You can always connect with DSHN in other ways, too:
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May is National Adolescent Health Month
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The Office of Population Affairs (OPA) announces National Adolescent Health Month (NAHM)! The goal of NAHM is to help young people reach their full potential by taking a holistic approach to health and wellness. OPA recognizes that making investments in adolescent health and well-being will create a triple benefit for society: investing in adolescents make healthier youth today, healthier adolescents become healthier adults, and healthier adults set the foundation for healthier future generations when they become parents, gaurdians, and caretakers.
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Join the office of Population Affairs in celebrating young people's strengths and potential, encouraging youth engagement, and highlighting key topics in adolescent health. Parents, caregivers, youth-serving professionals, and healthcare providers can empower youth to make decisions about their own health and become leaders in their communities. During NAHM, help adolescence build on their strengths, overcome barriers to accessing services and resources, and make healthy and informed decisions.
NAHM will address a different theme each week:
Week 1. Empower youth with sexual and reproductive health information and services. Ensuring adolescent health requires equipping youth with the sexual and reproductive health information and services needed to empower healthy decision-making. During adolescence youth grow physically, try new activities, begin to think more critically, and develop more varied and complex relationships. While the teen birth rate has decreased since the 1990s, in 2019, 38.4% of high school students reported they have had sexual intercourse. Additionally, adolescents age 15-24 account for nearly half of the 20 million new cases of sexually transmitted infections each year. Teen birth rates are especially high among youth in certain settings, suck as youth in foster care, youth who are homeless, parenting teens, and LGBTQ+ youth. Connecting youth to reproductive services and information can build on their strengths and and support adolescent health. It is critical to give teens the sexual and reproductive health information and services they need to make informed decisions about their health.
Week 2. Support mental health and well-being. Mental health is an essential part of overall health. Adolescents live in varied environments and face challenges that affect their mental health and well-being. Young people can face social and economic inequality, discrimination, violence, and other factors that can negatively affect their mental health. The covid-19 pandemic has compounded these issues for today's young people: unprecedented disruptions in routines and relationships have led to increased social isolation, anxiety, and learning loss. Supporting adolescents' mental health can help address societal concerns, strengthen their resilience, and mitigate negative impacts on mental health.
Week 3. Encourage physical health and healthy decision-making. Adolescence is the time for youth to form positive habits that will improve their long-term health and well-being. As adolescents begin taking more responsibility and making more choices about their health, it is important for them to make healthy food choices, be physically active, limit social media use, and fully participate in their own healthcare, including making appointments with health care providers and staying up-to-date on vaccinations. Parents, caregivers, and youth-serving adults can encourage and support physical health and healthy decision-making during adolescence by providing teens with education, skills-training and coaching in how to navigate the healthcare system and solve problems. Supporting healthy behavior today can strengthen health for adolescents into adulthood.
Week 4. Sustain equitable, accessible, youth friendly services. Youth need access to friendly, high-quality healthcare services. Unfortunately, many young people stop healthcare visits after leaving pediatric are because they do not have the support they need to transition to the adult healthcare system. Young people, especially those with chronic conditions and disabilities, can experience serious gaps in healthcare as they get older. Young people who experience homelessness, foster care, and the juvenile justice system, and those who live in mixed-immigration status households can have a difficult time obtaining healthcare. Access to healthcare services is essential, and it is important for parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers to help adolescents learn to use the healthcare system and obtain the services they need.
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Young people should be empowered to make decisions about their own health, and they should have access to the skills, tools, and resources they need to make informed decisions. During NAHM and all year long, we must strengthen relationships with young people and connect them to services and opportunities that support and promote their health and well-being.
The Office of Population Affairs offers a newsletter, the OPA Bulletin, which shares timely information on adolescent health, sexual and reproductive health, and OPA grant programs. If you'd like to receive their updates, you can register for the OPA Bulletin here.
To make a healthcare appointment for an adolescent in Virginia:
UVA Teen and Young Adult Health Center; Charlottesville
434.982.0090
Health Center Website
UVA Teen and Young Adult Transgender Clinic; Charlottesville
434.982.0090
Transgender Clinic Website
Virginia League for Planned Parenthood; locations across Virginia
800.230.7526
Planned Parenthood Appointments
Teen Wellness Center; Alexandria
800.230.7526
Teen Wellness Center Website
Child Developmental Disorders Clinic; Southwest Counties
276.386.3803 OR 276.386.8010
Child Developmental Clinic
To find a healthcare clinic for an adolescent nationwide:
OPA National Clinic Locator
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Talking with Your Child About Sexual Health
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Please reach out to dshn@jmu.edu to share resources that would be useful for folks in our network, or for more resources on any specific topic.
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Talking with your child about sex and reproductive health can seem stressful and overwhelming, but we're here to help! Below you will find lots of resources that'll empower, encourage, and prepare you to be your child's number one health advocate. Being better informed will make you more comfortable and confident when talking with your child, and being open, honest, and non-judgemental will ensure your child feels comfortable talking with you.
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Resources throughout the newsletter are labeled as follows:
[t]=text [v]=video [a]=audio [l]=list [w]=website
[w] [v] Having the Talks 6 videos about how to start the conversation with your child, covering topics like porn, puberty, relationships, and masturbation
[w] [v] Parent Guide to Porn Videos and resources to help you start the conversation about porn and sexualized media/social media content
[w] [v] Talking about Sexual Orientation Videos to help you understand and communicate about the topic of sexual orientation
[w] [v] Pregnancy and Reproduction Videos all about pregnancy, reproduction, puberty, and contraception
[w] [v] STDs and HIV Videos to help you understand more about, and how to talk about sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS
[w] [v] Talking about Gender Identity Videos to help you understand and communicate about the topic of sexual orientation
[w] Accessing Sexual Healthcare for Young People A parent/caregiver guide to understanding and accessing sexual healthcare for your child
[w] How to Approach Awkward Conversations Offers concrete advice on how to have those awkward conversations
[w] How Pregnancy Happens nuanced discussion of the silent epidemic of sexual violence against people with disabilities
[w] Taking Care of Your Body During Puberty How to have loving and supportive conversations about puberty, self care, and hygiene
[w] Disability and Sexuality How to start conversations about puberty, relationships, and boundaries in youth with disabilities
[w] Sex Positive Families Provides education and resources to help families raise sexually healthy families
[w] Talk with Your Kids Education, resources, and advice to help you talk with your kids about sex, relationships, puberty, and development during adolescence
[t] Talking with Your Teen about Sexuality Tips to have positive conversations with your child about sex
[t] Just the Facts Research, facts, and statistics about teen sexual behavior and parent-child communication
[t] Parent's Checklist A checklist for parents to help support their children's sexual education
[w] Sexual Health FAQs Virginia Department of Health answers to frequently asked questions surrounding adolescent sexual healthcare in Virginia
[w] Tips for Parents and Caregivers of Teens OPA offers advice about talking with your child about sex and reproduction related topics
[w] Planned Parenthood Parents Resources, advice, videos, and education for parents to learn how to talk to their children about sex
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Tip: Use YouTube's media player controls to make videos more accessible. Find out how at the links below:
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Youth
Advisory
Board
Connection
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Content for this section of the newsletter provided by the Disability-inclusive Sexual Health Network Youth Advisory Board
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CAREGIVING AND RELATIONSHIPS CHECKLIST
This checklist has been developed by a Youth Advisor who uses a wheelchair for mobility and requires assistance with various activities of daily living. This is the checklist that she wishes she had to give to her caregivers when she was in a relationship. It would not be unusual for your client to be in a relationship, which makes it important to understand best practices and your client's wishes before providing care.
As with any person, disabled or nondisabled, there are certain questions that people may feel as off limits until they get to know you. There are also certain things that are outside of your need-to-know or responsibilities as a caregiver. Clients may request privacy, which needs to be respected.
These are different ways that you can preserve your client's safety and dignity. Not following these steps could potentially cause harm to your client.
1. Remember that people with disabilities have just as much interest in romantic and sexual relationships as anyone else.
2. Respect that your client's values are their own and they may not share your values. Ask permission before sharing advice.
3. Build trust before asking questions.
4. Give your client space for privacy and intimacy when they are in a relationship.
5. Remember not to make assumptions about your client's life. You only see what is going on in your client's relationship during your shift.
6. Before entering your client's room, please knock on the door.
7. Remember that people in inerabled relationships are equal partners, and neither is a burden to the other.
8. Remember that ultimately the client is the one who decides who assists them in the activities of daily living. Sometimes this could be a partner.
9. Make sure your caregiver responsibilities are completed whether or not a partner is present.
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Special thanks to our YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD!
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Exercising outdoors is not only good for your physical health, but improves mental and emotional health as well. Activities like walking, running, hiking, biking, and even just relaxing outside have been shown to have the same mental and emotional affects as practicing meditation. So let's go outside!
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Take a Walk
Walking is a great low impact exercise that can be done almost anywhere. Walking is the number one exercise chosen by those with limited mobility.
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Visit an Inclusive Park
There are many parks and playgrounds that are completely accessible, and others that have some inclusive and accessible features. Check below for a directory of accessible parks and playgrounds near you.
Find an Accessible Park
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Play in Your Own Yard
There are many games that can be played in your own yard. Try bocce ball, badminton, or croquet. Or just play catch, toss around a frisbee, or kick a ball.
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Check out these books about Adolescent Health
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Click on the underlined book title to learn more!
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S.E.X.
by Heather Corinna.
Covers puberty, sex, relationship dynamics, social and emotional health, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sexual abuse.
New York Magazine's Psychologists' Pick for Top 10 Best Books About Adolescence
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In Case You're Curious
by Planned Parenthood.
Questions about sex from young people, with answers from the experts. This book offers comprehensive and non-judgemental answers meant to educate adolescents without the uncomfortable silences.
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Talk To Me First
by Deborah Roffman.
For any parent who wants to become and remain the most credible and influential resource about sexuality in their children's lives.
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Why Do They Act That Way? by David Walsh, PhD.
This book goes beyond raging hormones and peer pressure to explain adolescent behavior and what parents and caregivers can do to help.
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Every month we will highlight a few events relevant to disability-inclusive sexual health and education. Follow our Google Calendar to view these and many more events, updated often!
Are you aware of or hosting an event you think would be relevant? Send/forward event info to dshn@jmu.edu!
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Shenandoah LGBTQ Center
Picnic in the Park
- Join us for a socially distanced walk and picnic to celebrate the Shenandoah LGBTQ Center
- May 11, 10am-12pm
- Shenandoah LGBTQ Center facebook
- Jordan's Point Park on Stono Lane in Lexington, Va
Mad Hatter Wellness
Elevatus
Break Down the Walls
- This live, virtual training is designed for advocates, sexuality educators, and professionals to better support the LGBTQ+ people with intellectual and developmental disabilities they work with, care about, or teach.
- May 17, 11am-6pm EST
- Elevatus registration
NAMI Virginia
Lunch and Learn
- This online presentation is for parents and caregivers of youth. Presented by parent leaders and/or partners from other organizations. Past topics have centered around trauma, self-care, covid, school, and more.
- May 31, 12-1pm EST
- Contact nanjum@namivirginia.org for more information
Children's Challenging Behaviors
- This online workshop is for parents and caregivers of children 18 or younger. Provides education and support to parents of children living with mental health challenges.
- May 28, 30 & 31, 6-8:30pm EST
- NAMI Workshop Registration
Family Support Group
- This online support group is for parents and caregivers of children 17 and under living with mental health challenges. NAMI offers a confidential space to share and gain sincere, uncritical acceptance from others with similar experiences.
- May 4, 7-8pm EST
- May 18, 7-8pm EST
- NAMI Workshop Registration
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