Sexual Health Workshop for Teens (2020-2021)
Desert AIDS Project (DAP) and Boys & Girls Club of Palm Springs, with the support of a generous grant from Anderson Children’s Foundation, are collaborating to provide an interactive sexual health educational workshop for youth ages 13-18, in spring 2021. DAP brings to this collaboration over a decade of providing sexual health information sessions in Coachella Valley middle schools and high schools, and at youth-oriented events.
Boys & Girls Club Palm Springs is experienced in meeting the educational needs of youth including sexual health. This is a mission-driven project for these collaborating organizations. DAP’s mission is to enhance and promote the health and well-being of our community. The mission of Boys & Girls Club Palm Springs is to enable and inspire all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Youth will benefit from age-appropriate sexual health information, educational materials and resources to obtain sexual health care.
The workshop will include an educational slide presentation identifying sexually transmitted infection symptoms; community resources for sexual health care and treatment; avoiding sexual health risks (prevention methods, including abstinence); empowerment training; anonymous question and answer session; and an interactive activity to reinforce material presented. Open to middle school and high school students, youth will participate in small groups aligned in their age groups. DAP’s Community Health youth educators will facilitate the workshop and guide the activities.
With the goal to promote open dialogue between parents and youth about youths’ sexual health needs, a concurrent session for interested parents will be presented by DAP’s Community Health educators to provide materials and community resources for youth sexual health, including a question and answer session. The importance of Anderson Children’s Foundation support for this project is to create a safe space outside of school that brings youth and parents together to discuss youth sexual health. From this workshop, youth will be empowered with the knowledge and resources they need to responsibly and proactively protect their sexual health during their teen years and as they mature into adulthood.
