For Educators

The California Healthy Youth Act was enacted January 1, 2016. This law integrates the instruction of comprehensive sexual health education and HIV prevention education in public schools in accordance with Education Code Sections 51930-51939. Comprehensive sexual health education must be taught once in middle school and once in high school. All instruction in all grades must be age-appropriate and medically accurate. Comprehensive sexual health education must address the needs of students of all gender and sexual orientations. Parents must be notified that their student will receive sexual health and HIV prevention education and be allowed to view the materials prior to instruction. Instruction must be appropriate for students with disabilities, English language learners, and students of all races, ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

For Parents

Talking honestly and openly with your kids about sex and relationships is important. Your support can help them make healthy choices and avoid risks as they grow up. It’s never too early to start the conversation. It may be hard to know where to start, especially if your parents didn’t talk to you about sex when you were growing up.

Parents are the most important influence on a teen's decisions about sex and relationships — even more important than friends, siblings, or the media. Most teens say that it would be easier to make decisions about sex if they could talk openly and honestly with their parents.

Having regular conversations sends the message that these topics are important enough to keep bringing up and are a normal part of life. Teens who talk with their parents about sex are more likely to put off having sex until they're older. They're also more likely to make healthy choices.

Talking with your teen about sex

Parents have an impact when they talk to their teens about healthy relationships, pregnancy prevention and sexually transmitted infections (STI's). Having a good relationship with your teen allows important conversations about family values, beliefs and setting boundaries. Talking with your teen will provide you insight on the everyday pressures they encounter in today's world. Be patient, be flexible and listen to understand.

For Students

Pregnant and parenting teens often face challenges balancing their school, work and home lives with being a new parent. Teen parents are at increased risk for dropping out of school, unemployment, poverty, mental health issues and child care concerns. Ensuring teen parents receive adequate social, emotional, medical, and academic support is essential to the parent and the baby’s future. Our community partners at Teen Success are dedicated to building teen mother’s confidence in herself by giving her the knowledge and support needed to make positive changes for herself and her child. They provide strong, interpersonal relationships in a judgement-free environment.

For Medical Providers

There are many ways parents can help assist teens to build trusting relationships with medical providers by talking about sensitive issues such as their sexual and mental health. Our community partners at Fresno EOC provide free educational classes to reduce high rates of teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. The staff at Fresno EOC provides numerous resources and understands the importance to treat all students with respect and confidentiality.

We are all in this together

It takes a village to raise successful students. A key role is helping students understand their health and well-being are not a matter of chance, but a matter of choice. Together we can all make a difference in our youth in creating a safe and brave space for them to talk with a trusted adult. Educators, parents, and medical providers all play a vital role in advocating for our youth.

Central Valley Teen Parent Conference

The Central Valley Teen Parent Conference is held annually and offered specifically to pregnant and parenting teens. The conference allows young parents to come together, share experiences, network and gain resources that will help empower their journey of parenting.