Web links

These links are provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only. Teenwise Minnesota has no control over the content of linked sites or over the information changing.


The Adolescent Sexual Health Web Resources Listing (PDF) is updated periodically, incorporating links from below, as a printable list of current websites that provide factual information on adolescent sexual health topics.

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Advocacy/Public Policy

American Civil Liberties Union – Reproductive Freedom

Their mission is to ensure that every person can make informed, meaningful decisions about reproduction free from government intrusion. Through litigation, advocacy, and public education, they aim to protect access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care, from sexuality education and family planning services, to prenatal care and childbearing assistance, to abortion counseling and services.


Advocates for Youth

This site offers information for advocating for adolescent reproductive and sexual health. Links are given to additional resources and ways to get involved in advocacy.


CLASP

The Center for Law and Social Policy conducts research and policy analysis on diverse topics related to improving the lives of low-income people. Topics include economic security, family stability for low-income parents, teen parents, children and youth.


Guttmacher Institute

The Guttmacher Institute provides research information about sexual and reproductive health policy issues including an online archive search function for Guttmacher Policy Reviews.


The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

The Foundation is a non-profit, private operating foundation and a source of facts and analysis for policymakers, the media, the health care community, and the general public.


Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S. (SIECUS)

SIECUS develops, collects, and disseminates information, promotes comprehensive education about sexuality, and advocates for the right of individuals to make responsible sexual choices.


 

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Faith Based Resources

FaithTrust Institute

Using a leadership development model, FaithTrust Institute provides in-person training, consultation and video, Internet and print resources. FaithTrust Institute provides in-depth analysis, sets the agenda and calls on religious and secular organizations to address and prevent sexual and domestic violence.


Minnesota Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice

The Minnesota Religious Coalition is dedicated to great respect for the value of potential human life, while remaining committed to women as responsible moral decision makers, with a focus on reducing abortions by educating and empowering individuals to prevent unwelcome pregnancies. Opposing efforts to establish by law one religious perspective on reproductive choice above all others and thereby limit the free exercise of religion by all. The Minnesota Religious Coalition supports comprehensive sexuality education, family planning, contraception, and other reproductive health services, as well as maintaining that abortion can be a morally responsible choice.


Religious Institute

Founded in 2001, the Religious Institute is a multifaith organization dedicated to advocating for sexual health, education, and justice in faith communities and society.


Our Whole Lives

Our Whole Lives is a sexuality education curriculum developed by the that equips participants with accurate, age-appropriate information in six subject areas: human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behavior, sexual health, and society and culture.


 

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Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender

Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN)

GLSEN is the leading national organization fighting to end anti-gay bias in K-12 schools by striving to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.


Hetrick-Martin Institute

This organization serves gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth through education, counseling, homeless outreach, training and resources.


National Youth Advocacy Coalition

The mission of this organization is to advocate for and with young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender in an effort to end discrimination against these youth and to ensure their physical and emotional well being.


Oasis Magazine

The National Coalition for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Youth serves the needs of these young men and women by providing advocacy, information, resources, and support.


OutFront Minnesota

OutFront Minnesota is Minnesota’s GLBT online community center. This organization serves the GLBT and allied communities of Minnesota with a wide variety of programs and services. Information about their individual programs and activities is available through this site.


Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)

PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten the public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights.


 

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HIV/AIDS/STIs

Academy for Educational Development

This site provides a list of publications about HIV/AIDS prevention, as well as topics centered on education and youth.


AIDS

This organization provides ways for people to communicate with each other, and to share HIV information and personal experiences in the battle against AIDS. They aim to educate, raise awareness, and build community.


American Medical Association-HIV and AIDS

This site provides updates of the latest HIV/AIDS information, with the most important aspects of HIV/AIDS infection, transmission, and treatment.


The American Social Health Association (ASHA)

The mission of ASHA is to stop sexually transmitted diseases and their harmful consequences to individuals, families and communities. This site provides facts about HIV/STDs as well as information about programs, resources, and legislative advocacy.


The Body: The Complete HIV/AIDS Resource

The Body’s mission is to use the web to lower barriers between patients and clinicians; demystify HIV/AIDS and its treatment; improve patients’ quality of life; and foster community through human connection.


Center for AIDS Prevention Studies

This Web site provides information on research and model programs on HIV prevention, as well as fact sheets and prevention tool kits for HIV/AIDS prevention.


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) STD Resources in Spanish

STD information in Spanish is now available on CDC’s website, including translation of fact sheets, a STD hotline for Spanish-speakers, and Spanish STD links.


The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

The Foundation is a non-profit, private operating foundation and a source of facts and analysis for policymakers, the media, the health care community, and the general public.


HowStuffWorks—AIDS

AIDS is one of the deadliest human diseases ever, killing many people each year. Learn more about how the HIV virus attacks the immune system and how it causes AIDS.


Minnesota AIDS Project (MAP)

MAP’s mission is to meet the challenges of the AIDS epidemic through compassionate services, prevention education and persistent advocacy on the local, state and national levels.


Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) STD Fact Sheet (PDF)

This fact sheet provides information on the signs and symptoms, transmission, complications, prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases. It also provides resources for further information.

Fact sheets are also published in:

  • Spanish (PDF)
  • Amharic (PDF)
  • Oromo (PDF)
  • Somali (PDF)

Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) STD Statistics and Reports

This site provides statistics on sexually transmitted diseases and other demographic breakdowns in Minnesota. This resource also contains a MDH report about the prevalence of STDs, pregnancy, and contraceptive use among female adolescents, as well as a Disease Control Newsletter and a report on Twin Cities Men’s Health.


Project Inform

This organization provides vital information on the diagnosis and treatment of HIV disease to HIV-infected individuals, their caregivers, and their healthcare and service providers, and advocates to facilitate research towards a cure and for appropriate policies, legislation and funding for HIV research, treatment and care.


Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention

This site provides information on HIV/STD prevention in rural America. The center develops and evaluates educational materials and approaches and provides prevention resources to professionals and the public.


University of Minnesota Youth and AIDS Projects (YAP)

The goal of YAP is to help high risk youth prevent HIV and to care for young people and families living with HIV infection.


Advocates for Youth: HIV and STI Resources

This site offers information for youth about prevention, testing, transmission, and resources. Links are given to additional resources and ways to get involved in HIV/STI prevention.

  • HIV
  • STI

 

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Parent/Youth Communication

About Health: Real Kids, Smart Choices, Growing Up

Stories, observations, and tips are included in this web site on how to talk to children about sexuality. Links to resources such as DVDs, books, and workshops are offered.


Minnesota Fathers & Families Network

A site dedicated to building the profession of fatherhood practitioners and other family support service providers, increasing public awareness of fatherhood involvement, and strengthening Minnesota’s families through the increased involvement of fathers in the lives of children.


Publications from SIECUS: “Families Are Talking”

This site contains numerous newsletters with information to help parents and caregivers talk to their children about sexuality and related issues. Some topics include: Family Diversity, Puberty, Sexuality Education, the Media, Abstinence, and Sexual Orientation.


The Resource Center for Fathers and Families

Provides resources that will help men become better parents and better parenting partners regardless of marital status, and to provide the model that all children deserve.


Talking with Kids About Tough Issues

This national initiative by Children Now and the Kaiser Family Foundation encourages parents to talk with their children earlier and more often about tough issues like sex, HIV/AIDS, violence, alcohol, and drug abuse. This site can help by offering practical, concrete tips and techniques for talking easily and openly with young children ages 8 to 12 about these issues.


 

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Parenting

Child Care Aware

A non-profit initiative dedicated to resources to help you find childcare and support in your community.


Child Welfare League of America

Seeks to promote pregnancy prevention and support for teen parents through research, standards of best practice, training institutes, conferences and publications.


Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement

Free information on child support.


National Center for Youth Law

The National Center for Youth Law uses the law to protect children from the harms caused by poverty, and to improve the lives of children living in poverty.


National Child Care Information Center

Contains topical newsletters and publications about child care, and a resource guide to organizations related to child care.


National Parenting Center

The National Parenting Center offers books and resources specific to parenting as well as articles on communication and sexuality issues.


Shoulder to Shoulder

Shoulder to Shoulder is dedicated to helping make parenting easier by connecting fellow parents and caregivers, and sharing the insight of those who have been there before.


University of Minnesota Extension Service – Youth and Family Development

Youth and Family Development programs address parenting skills, childcare, youth development, family economic stability, finances, consumer education, divorce transition and change and stress.


 

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Sexual/Reproductive Health

Alan Guttmacher Institute

A non-profit organization focused on reproductive health research, policy analysis and public education. Information can be found on abortion, law/public policy, pregnancy, birth, prevention and contraception, sexual behavior, HIV/STIs, and youth.


Birds and Bees

This web site, sponsored by Minnesota-based Pro-Choice Resources, provides information needed to make informed decisions about sexual health, including information on birth control, STIs and discussions on the realities of abortion, adoption and parenting.


HRSA Information Center, Maternal and Child Health

Serves as a national information center for maternal and child health by distributing publications and providing referrals.


Kinsey Institute

Provides research in sexuality, gender issues, and reproduction, and supports interdisciplinary research and the study of human sexuality.


Minnesota Department of Health – Adolescent Health Care Web Page

Access to current information and resources about teen health.


Minnesota Department of Health – Office of Minority and Multicultural Health

Provides information and resources to address health disparities among populations of color.


NOAH: New York Online Access to Health

NOAH seeks to provide high quality full-text health information that is accurate, timely, relevant and unbiased. NOAH currently supports English and Spanish. Information can be found on AIDS/HIV/STD, pregnancy, sexuality and men’s and women’s health.


Youth Embassy

Youth Embassy attempts to provide the information and resources young people may need to grow and develop as happy, healthy, responsible and successful individuals. Youth Embassy is dedicated to providing youth with access to science-based, realistic responses to questions regarding sexuality, health and human development.


 

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Sexual Violence

The Aurora Center for Advocacy and Education

The Aurora Center offers trainings and educational presentations on numerous issues related to sexual and domestic violence, healthy relationships, respectful dating, and stalking. The center also offers crisis intervention and has a 24-hour hotline. The web site includes information presented in fact sheets and resource links.


Choose Respect

This website’s aim is to help adolescents form healthy relationships to prevent dating abuse before it starts. It gives teens and parents a resource so they can learn more about how to have healthy dating relationships and prevent dating abuse.


Love is Not Abuse

This website offers a curriculum to follow, abuse survey results, information about relationship abuse, a special section for teens, and a resource for providing an environment of support within companies.


Men Can Stop Rape

Men Can Stop Rape empowers male youth and the institutions that serve them to work as allies with women in preventing rape and other forms of men’s violence. Through awareness-to-action education and community organizing, they promote gender equity and build men’s capacity to be strong without being violent.


Minnesota Center Against Violence and Abuse (MINCAVA)

MINCAVA is an electronic clearinghouse dedicated to disseminating information about violence online. It covers a wide range of topics such as drugs and violence, men and violence, workplace violence, and many other topics. Information is presented in various forms such as articles, reports, and fact sheets.


Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Violence (MNCASA)

The web site for the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MNCASA) includes pages that are designed to be a resource for MNCASA, its member programs, and anyone interested in finding more information, or locating programs, dealing with sexual violence.


Minnesota Department of Health Sexual Violence Prevention Program

This program is designed to help people and organizations find effective ways to prevent sexual violence. One of the resources provided is A Place to Start: A Resource Kit for Preventing Sexual Violence.


Stop It Now!

Stop It Now! provides on-line information and resources for anyone concerned about sexualized behaviors towards or between children. Stop It Now! gives information on preventing the sexual abuse of children before a child is harmed and before an adult, youth or child acts in a sexually inappropriate way toward a child and helps support collaboration of those who work with children and families.


Rape Abuse & Incest National Network-RAINN

The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) is the nation’s largest anti-sexual assault organization. RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE and carries out programs to prevent sexual assault, help victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice. The site provides statistics, counseling resources, and prevention tips.


 

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Sexuality Resources for Teens

411 About Sex

Features thorough explanation of all birth control methods, effectiveness, advantages and disadvantages, where to get them, how to use them and costs.


Coalition for Positive Sexuality

This site includes information in both English and Spanish for teens who are sexually active or who are thinking about becoming sexually active. It provides a forum for teens to chat, to find information on sexuality issues, and to ask questions of sexuality experts.


GirlsHealth.gov

Provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, featuring materials, information and products for girls, parents and caring adults.


Girls Incorporated

This national youth organization is dedicated to helping every girl become strong, smart, and bold through advocacy, research, and education.


Go Ask Alice!

This site uses a question-and-answer format to provide information on relationships, sexuality, sexual health, and other health topics. Visitors can search the database for anonymous questions.


It’s Your (Sex) Life

A project of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, this site provides information about pregnancy, contraception, HIV/STDs, and related issues.


Iwannaknow

This site provides a safe and fun place for teenagers to learn about sexual health.


KidsHealth/TeensHealth – The Nemours Foundation

KidsHealth has separate areas for kids, teens, and parents – each with its own design, age-appropriate content, and tone. There are literally thousands of in-depth features, articles, animations, games, and resources – all original and all developed by experts in the health of children and teens.


MTV: Protect Yourself Sex Quiz

Take a pop quiz on sex and health.


My Sistahs

This site, created by and for young women of color, provides information on HIV/AIDS, STIs, dating violence, pop culture, and body image.


Planned Parenthood – Info for Teens

A resource for teens providing information about sexual health.


Scarleteen

This site provides sexual health and sexual education information which includes two targeted areas for males and females – Pinkslip for girls, and Boyfriend for boys. Both sites are targeted to ages 14-18, and provide advice and articles about sexuality.


Sex, etc.

This site, sponsored by the Network for Family Life Education, includes articles on a variety of sexuality topics. The editorial board and writers of this site are all teens.


 

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Sexuality Education

Minnesota Sexuality Education Resource Review Panel (MSERRP)

Coordinated by Teenwise Minnesota, this site offers written reviews of sexual health, curricula, videos and other materials.


SexEdLibrary

The SexEdLibrary is the most comprehensive online sex ed resource in the nation, featuring up-to-date human sexuality research, lesson plans, and professional development opportunities. This new resource was created by SIECUS, the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States.


Sociometrics/PASHA

Develops research-based products and services for practitioners working in the areas of teen pregnancy and STI/HIV/AIDS prevention, including program evaluation.


 

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Teen Pregnancy Prevention

Academy for Educational Development

This site provides a list of publications about HIV/AIDS/STD prevention, as well as teen pregnancy prevention.


Emergency Contraception

This site provides accurate information about emergency contraception and where to get it in the U.S. and Canada. Information is available in English, Spanish, French, or Arabic.


ETR Associates

The Resource Center for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention compiles best practices in pregnancy prevention education, information on evidence-based programs and current research.


Healthy Teen Network (HTN)

This website has links to grassroots reproductive health professionals throughout the nation, has information on policy, advocacy, education, and training, and covers a range of health issues impacting teens and young families including pregnancy prevention, pregnancy, parenting, male involvement issues, violence as it relates to sexual and reproductive health, HIV integration, teen sexual health and more


Minnesota Coordinated School Health Initiative

Assists school districts and local public health organizations in providing prevention and education services to Minnesota students.


Minnesota Education Now and Babies Later (MN ENABL)

The Minnesota Department of Health’s ENABL (Education Now and Babies Later) website provides information on the program, which has as its goal to prevent teen pregnancy by promoting abstinence.


Minnesota Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Prevention and Parenting (Teenwise Minnesota)

Teenwise Minnesota’s mission is to strengthen policies and programs related to adolescent pregnancy, prevention and parenting in Minnesota.


National Abortion Federation

Professional association of abortion providers provides facts about pregnancy and abortion, as well as links to publications and relevant research.


The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

Their mission is to improve the well-being of children, youth, and families by reducing teen pregnancy. The Campaign’s goal is to reduce the rate of teen pregnancy by one-third between 1996 and 2005.


National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health (NCEMCH)

This site is aimed at policy makers, health professionals and researchers. It provides a guide to all of NCEMCH’s resources on adolescent pregnancy prevention as well as selected electronic and print resources found elsewhere.


Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood provides a wide range of materials on sexual health and is dedicated to the principles that every individual has a fundamental right to decide when or whether to have a child, and that every child should be wanted and loved.


Resource Center for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (ReCAPP)

ReCAPP provides practical tools and information to effectively reduce sexual risk-taking behaviors. Teachers and health educators will find up-to-date, evaluated programming materials to help with their work with teens.


 

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Youth Development

Act Now (Entra en Acción)

This Spanish-language website takes a comprehensive approach to adolescent development by allowing young adults to express themselves online while having fun as they learn about health, sexuality, nutrition, democracy, environmental conservation, drug and alcohol prevention, vocational training and life skills.


Adolescent Health Online

The American Medical Association Program on Child and Adolescent Health provides professionals, parents and teens with general information on adolescent health. Patient handouts and fact sheets are available.


Campaign for Our Children

The campaign targets 9-14-year olds by using a variety of methods to communicate adolescent preventive health messages to the teens, their parents and their communities. Their issues currently include abstinence-plus teen pregnancy prevention, child support enforcement, infant mortality prevention, adolescent sexual health and male responsibility.


Child and Adolescent Health Development – World Health Organization

The Department of Child and Adolescent Health and Development (CAH) is responsible for interventions concerning health, growth, and development for the age group of 0-19 years. The web site includes a wide variety of information supporting the two main goals of the department: To reduce illness and death among children and adolescents; To improve the health and development of children and adolescents.


Child Trends

Child Trends is dedicated to improving the lives of children by conducting research and providing science-based information to improve the decisions, programs, and policies that affect children. The web site includes research briefs and best practices in adolescent development.


Children, Youth & Family Consortium (CYFC)

The Children, Youth and Family Consortium’s web site is a bridge to a wide range of information and resources about children and families. It connects research, teaching, policy, and community practice.


Department of Health and Human Services Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB)

This site provides information about FYSB’s programs and services. FYSB also disseminates information for parents, young people and students, youth service professionals, and policymakers through its National Clearinghouse on Families & Youth and National Runaway Switchboard.


Find Youth Info

This is a nationwide effort to benefit children and teenagers by encouraging action in three key areas: family, school, and community. The website has a guide that helps communities build partnerships, assess their needs and resources, and select from program designs that could be replicated in their community. Its aim is to help community groups build strong supports for youth.


Institute for Youth Development (IYD)

Offers a comprehensive approach to helping youth avoid unhealthy behaviors. Log on and learn more about IYD and the important issues affecting today’s youth.


JoinTogether.org

Join Together helps community leaders understand and use the most current scientifically valid prevention and treatment approaches. Our surveys have shown that communities with written strategies that are broadly supported by key leaders and institutions are the most likely to be successful in reducing and preventing alcohol and drug problems.


The Konopka Institute for Best Practices in Adolescent Health

The overarching goal is to improve the health and well being of all young people in Minnesota through a strategy that frames a “healthy youth development” approach to youth health-related issues‚ a strategy that incorporates problem prevention, developmental support‚ community-based change‚ and public policy.


Minnesota 4-H Youth Development

4-H programs are committed to the positive development of young people, and their mission is to engage youth, in partnership with adults, in quality learning opportunities that enable them to shape and reach their full potential as active citizens in a global community.


The Search Institute

The mission is to advance the well-being of adolescents and children by generating knowledge and promoting its application. To accomplish this mission, the Institute generates, synthesizes, and communicates new knowledge, convenes organizational and community leaders, and works with state and national organizations.


Stop Bullying Now!

This site offers resources for youth and parents on what bullying is and what can be done to stop it. Tips and resources are given for community-based groups, members of the media, teachers, parents and health professionals.


University of Minnesota – Healthy Youth Development Prevention Research Center (PRC)

This center is a collaborative effort by the Schools of Medicine, Public Health, Nursing, and the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. It provides interdisciplinary training for pregnancy prevention researchers and practitioners.


Voices of Youth

Has news from around the globe concerning the health and well-being of youth.


 

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