“What can my organization do to support Let’s Talk Month?”
During the month of October, professionals around Minnesota will be promoting parent-child dialogues about healthy sexuality and relationships. Teenwise Minnesota supports these efforts by providing resources on our website and co-sponsoring events for parents and professionals.
We invite you to become a Let’s Talk Month 2010 Partner!
See below for more information on what it means to be a LTM Partner and how to sign up!
Training Event for Professionals
Table of Contents
- Understand the Research
- Access Resources, Links and Logos
- Ideas for Activities and Events
- Creating Community Awareness
- Fact Sheets
- Información en español
Understand the Research
We look to research to determine what works best to promote healthy adolescents. One thing is clear; parents and primary caregivers have a large impact on adolescents’ sexual attitudes and behaviors. Below you will find a fact sheet that explains the research on parent-child communication and its effect on healthy sexuality.
- What the Research Says About Family Communications and Connections (PDF)
- Let’s Talk…The Power of Parents! (PDF, PowerPoint Presentation)
- Parent-Adolescent Communication about Sex in Latino Families: A Guide for Practitioners (PDF)
- Parent-Child Connectedness: Paving the Way for Parents to Communicate Effectively With Their Teens (PDF)
- Parent Power: What Parents Need to Know and Do to Prevent Teen Pregnancy (PDF) – This easy-to-use guide brings together all the latest research on the influence of parents and provides clear and specific advice based on that research. Produced by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.
Access Resources, Links and Logos
Marketing Tools
Provided are links to graphics and templates you can download in order to create materials to be used to promote LTM and any activities or events you have planned.
- Let’s Talk Month Planning Guide (PDF)
- LTM “Talking Heads” Logo Graphic – no text
- LTM “Talking Heads” Logo Sticker Sheet of 6 (PDF)
- LTM “Talking Heads” Logo – no date / tag line
- LTM “Talking Heads” Logo – with tag line only
- LTM “Talking Heads” Postcard
- LTM “Talking Heads” Poster 8½” x 11″
- LTM “Talking Heads” Poster 11″ x 17″
- LTM “4 Seasons” Logo English
- LTM “4 Seasons” Logo Spanish
- LTM “4 Seasons” Poster English (PDF)
- LTM “4 Seasons” Postcard (PDF)
Resources
Provided are links to websites that contain information and resources that can be used to plan and implement LTM activities and events.
Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign – Shoulder to Shoulder is a campaign for Minnesota parents of teens. They provide real advice for real parents about how to navigate through the teen years, and by connecting parents together to share stories and swap tricks of the parenting trade. Minnesota professionals can access campaign materials and find out local events by visiting the website.
- Shoulder to Shoulder Parent Booklet Order (PDF)
- Advocates For Youth – Let’s Talk Month Planning Guidebook (PDF)
- The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy
- The Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S. (SIECUS)
- ETR – RECAPP Associates
Ideas for Activities and Events
Let’s Talk Month is a great to time to focus on parent-child communication and encourages parents and teens to talk with their families about sexuality. Find a way this month to encourage the parents and teens that you work with to share their thoughts, values and feelings about sexuality. Some possible activities and are provided below.
Recommended Activities
If you want additional activity suggestions, please use the following resources to find fun interactive ideas to promote conversations about healthy sexuality.
- Sample Activities for Let’s Talk Month Groups (PDF)
- Let’s Talk Tins by Tri-City Partners
- Schedule a Health Educator to Speak to Your Parent Group
- The Talk: An Intercourse on Coming of Age
Around the State
Creating Community Awareness
Spread the word, families should start talking today!
Below are links to templates you can download and use to raise awareness among parents and other adults within the communities you serve.
Your community needs to know that the messages parents and primary caregivers share with their families can impact adolescent sexual behaviors.
Community Educators
Faith Community Leaders
- Sexuality Education and Religion (PDF)
- 10 Tips on Raising a Sexually Healthy Child (PDF)
- Communicating With Children About Sex: General Tips (PDF)
- Let’s Talk Month Poster – Talking heads version (PDF)
- Parents as Sexuality Educators Recommended Reading List (PDF)
- Sample Newsletter Article (PDF)
Media
Public Officials
- Sample Proclamation (PDF)
- Proclamation from the City of St. Paul, 2009 (PDF)
- Proclamation from the State of Minnesota, 2009 (PDF)
- Proclamation from the Ramsey County Board, 2008 (PDF)
- Proclamation from the City of Minneapolis, 2008 (PDF)
Fact Sheets
- 2003 – 2009 Minnesota Adolescent Sexual Health Report
- Commonly Asked Questions by Young Children & Children (PDF)
- Advocates for Youth – Resources for Families on Parent-Child Communication (PDF)
- Advocates for Youth – Sex Educator Resources
- Advocates for Youth – Tips for Healthcare Providers
- Communicating With Children About Sex: General Tips (PDF)
- Don’t Be Puzzled – English (PDF)
- Parents as Sexuality Educators Recommended Reading List (PDF)
- Sexual Violence Resources (PDF)
- 10 Tips on Raising a Sexually Healthy Child (PDF)
Información en Español
- Ambiente Joven
- Don’t Be Puzzled – Spanish (PDF)
- El poder de los padres (Parent Power – Spanish Version) (PDF)
- Padres de Adolescentes (PDF)