National Family
Sexuality Education Month

Birds, Bees…& Butterflies
Do the birds and bees give you butterflies? Children and teens are bombarded daily with images of sex and sexuality. They have watched thousands of hours of TV, dozens of movies; they’ve listened to hundreds of song lyrics, and seen countless ads in magazines, newspapers, and on the Internet. The content of many of these media messages is sexual – and a lot of it is unrealistic or unhealthy.

But many parents are uncomfortable with the idea of talking to their children about sex, or are not sure what to discuss, but they do want their children to be able to separate the facts from the fantasy.

Last October we held informal discussions on two evenings, co-facilitated by a local pediatrician and a local marriage and family therapist. Although you missed these discussions, we will hold the event again in October 2010. If you'd like help and talking tips now, they are available at www.advocatesforyouth.org, or by visiting the local libraries (for a list of books, click here), or by ordering the free pamphlets below.

NFSEM history
Since 1975, a national coalition of more than 50 organizations has promoted family communication about sexuality, called National Family Sexuality Education Month (NFSEM).  As Planned Parenthood stated in one of their 2002 NFSEM articles, “Studies show that family connectedness plays a prominent role in preventing too-early pregnancy. Young people who feel close to their families are more likely to postpone intercourse, and when they finally have sex, they have fewer sexual partners, and use contraception more effectively. In fact, a recent poll found that 67 percent of teens who had talked openly with a parent about sex would speak to a parent first if they were considering beginning a sexual relationship.”

To coincide with the NFSEM, Nevada County Citizens for Choice decided to become part of the effort. Although we did not hold the event in 2008 and although Planned Parenthood no longer has NFSEM events, we have decided to continue holding this event annually in October. Besides the open discussions, we will have available a vast array of pamphlets, and displays in libraries and businesses.

ILibrary Book Displays
We'll have many books available for parents and kids on growing up, sexuality and healthy development at local libraries..

Request Pamphlets
Call 530.274.3331 or email us to request free copies of the pamphlets listed below for parents and teens on sexual health and responsibility. We will mail these pamphlets to your home.

For talking with younger children:
Our Children's Self-Esteem
Peer Power!

Other pamphlets:
Abstinence & Self-esteem"
Encouraging Abstinence: Ten Tips for Parents
Sexual Responsibility: Talking with Your Teen
Teaching Your Teen About Sexual Responsibility
Birth Control: Talking with your Daughter
Birth Control: Talking with your Son
Birth Control: Talking with your Parents
20 Ways to Respond to Sexual Pressure
Sex, Communication and Respect
50 Things Men Need to Know About Sex and Responsibility
50 Things You Need to Know About STDs
Sex Now? Talking with Your Partner
Getting What You Want from your Parents
Chlamydia

We also encourage families to visit the websites of health education companies such as ETR Associates and Journeyworks Publishing to view and request free samples of many additional pamphlets not available through Citizens for Choice.

Now Hiring! We are looking for a qualified Outreach Education Coordinator.

President Obama to exclude abortion coverage for high-risk women! Tell him NO!

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Read the review for Carole Joffe's book, Dispatches from the Abortion Wars.

Fake clinics, or "crisis pregnancy centers" give you one choice - theirs. NARAL has just completed a two-year study on CPCs, Unmasking Fake Clinics. You really need to read this.

Read about our local CPC

Comprehensive Sex Education California law says it's mandatory that schools teach HIV/AIDS classes twice and if they choose to teach sex education, it must be comprehensive and must follow the guidelines in the California Education Code. How is Nevada County holding up to this legal requirement?

The Guttmacher Institute Media Update: California shows that sound policy is crucial in reducing teen pregnancy.

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Are you pregnant and need a ride to your counseling or abortion appointment? ACCESS can help!

Questions about HPV (human papillomavirus)? This Nantional Cancer Institute Fact Sheet is a good source!

Abstinence-only education still doesn't work.