Parent Resources

Safe

• Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress - Restoring a Sense of Safety in the Aftermath of a Mass Shooting: Tips for Parents and Professionals
• The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) is the first national hotline dedicated to providing year-round disaster crisis counseling. Click here for more information.

Healthy

• The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrant Healthy Living Toolkit is designed to educate refugees and immigrants so they can become proactive health consumers and health promoters in their communities. The toolkit presents material in a culturally appropriate manner and is intended to help health care-related professionals to more effectively assist refugees and immigrants and reduce the health disparities among these populations.
• Here are family resources having to do with all things sexual health, its provided by Colorado Youth Matter
• Promotion of Healthy Relationships and Sexuality for Individuals with Disabilities (PDF)
• Healthy bodies toolkit for boys and girls (PDF)
• Get the Sex Facts Sex, etc.: The United Way of Greater Milwaukee’s Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative is trying to stomp out myths like: if you do jumping jacks after having penile-vaginal sex, you won’t get pregnant. They are making sure teens get accurate information through a website called Getthesexfacts.com. This is a portal to video quizzes and resources for parents and teens to help start the conversation.
• STI Quick Reference Guide (PDF)
  Association of Reproductive Health Professionals: With 20 million new cases each year, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to be a significant public health challenge in the United States. This quick reference outlines key facts and typical symptoms for the most common STIs and offers clinical pearls on screening, diagnosis, treatment, and management for each condition.
• Teen Pregnancy and Childbearing (PDF) Child Trends: The percentage of teens who get pregnant or give birth has gone down almost continuously since the early 1990s. Still, an estimated 18 percent of 15-year-old adolescent females will have given birth by the time they turn 20. This Adolescent Health Highlight describes key research findings about teen pregnancy and childbearing, including prevalence and trends, teens’ attitudes about teen pregnancy, racial and geographic differences in teen birth rates, and the role and responsibilities of males in the context of teen pregnancy.
• Get the Sex Facts
  Sex, etc.: The United Way of Greater Milwaukee’s Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative is trying to stomp out myths like: if you do jumping jacks after having penile-vaginal sex, you won’t get pregnant. They are making sure teens get accurate information through a website called Getthesexfacts.com. This is a portal to video quizzes and resources for parents and teens to help start the conversation.
• Communication Skills Building for Parents of Preteen Girls
  Office on Women’s Health: This program is designed to offer tools to help community leaders work with parents to improve communication - on topics such as dating, self-image, internet dangers, and peer pressure - with their preteen and teenage girls. The materials include a Facilitator’s Guide, online videos, and a Tip Sheet for Parents, all of which show parents and caregivers ways to effectively communicate with their daughters.
• Moving to Young Adult Life: A Legal Guide for Parents of Youth with Mental Health Needs (PDF)
  A​ ​new ​groundbreaking guide, Moving to Young Adult Life, covers topics such as financial decisions, health care options, guardianship and transition from special education.​ ​Part of it is specific to Massachusetts but the rest is applicable to all. Order a hard copy.
• THRIVE App: A Critical New Resource for Parents of Teens and Young Adults
  The Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM) offers a free mobile app, THRIVE (Teen Health Resources, Information and Vaccine Education).

Gender and Sexual Health Series

Our new series “Gender and Sexual Health” begins with an introduction to gender and gender equality, explains how rigid gender norms affect sexual health, and provides evidence for transforming gender norms through curriculum-based programs. Author Lori Rolleri has designed a variety of reproductive and sexual health curricula for young people, and served as a technical advisor at EngenderHealth.

Part 1: Understanding Gender and Gender Equality (PDF)

Part 2: Gender Norms and Sexual Health Behaviors (PDF)

Part 3: Can Gender Norms Change? (PDF)

Office of Adolescent Health - Dept. of Human and Health Services