Adolescent Health

Healthy Adolescents Become Healthy Adults

Adolescent sexual health is closely tied to the overall well-being of young people and their communities, including mental and physical health, relationships, and future opportunities. Advancing adolescent sexual health and preventing teen pregnancy, without stigmatizing, scaring, and shaming is important. Teenage pregnancy is linked with higher rates of maternal and child mortality and morbidity, lower educational attainment, and increased economic inequality.

To address these challenges, comprehensive sex education programs that are inclusive, age-appropriate, evidence-based, and culturally responsive are necessary. These programs should provide medically accurate and up-to-date information on contraception, STI/HIV, healthy relationships, communication skills, and consent, as well as promote gender equity and respect for diversity. Access to affordable and confidential reproductive and sexual health services, including contraception, testing, and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, is also essential.

Comprehensive sex education should be:

Age Appropriate
Evidence-Informed
Inclusive
Culturally Relevant
Medically Accurate
Up to Date

Comprehensive sex
education should be:

Age Appropriate
Evidence-Informed
Inclusive
Culturally Relevant
Medically Accurate
Up to Date

Topics Include:

Healthy Relationships
Communications Skills
Consent
Contraception
STI/HIV
Sex and Gender
Diversity

Topics Include:

Healthy Relationships
Communications Skills
Consent
Contraception
STI/HIV
Sex and Gender
Diversity

Topics Include:

Healthy Relationships
Communications Skills
Consent
Contraception
STI/HIV
Sex and Gender
Diversity

Efforts to advance adolescent sexual health and prevent teen pregnancy require collaboration among stakeholders from various sectors, including health care, education, and social services. Parents, caregivers, and peers also have a crucial role to play in supporting young people’s healthy sexual development.

By prioritizing adolescent sexual health and teen pregnancy prevention, we can empower young people to make informed decisions about their bodies and relationships, improve their overall health and well-being, and promote more equitable and prosperous communities.

HCET leads diverse, small and large-scale projects focused on improving adolescent sexual health across the Midwest. Our focus populations include urban and rural communities, schools, youth involved in child welfare and juvenile justice, and LGBTQ+ youth. Like all of our work, we provide our four essential services at the professional and organizational level in partnership with direct service providers.