We understand: sex education can feel uncomfortable and overwhelming to talk about: What do you say? What do you NOT say? What do you explain? How do you explain it? Eyes Open Iowa (EOI) is here to support you in answering these questions and to help foster open conversations around sexual education.
EOI is a non-profit dedicated to empowering communities through “comprehensive sexual health information and services to make healthy and informed decisions about sex and relationships, both now and in the future.” Incorporated into various state-wide education programs including no-cost services for schools, trained and certified EOI staff are able to reach over 200,000 young adults annually, helping to prevent teen pregnancy, lowering the risks of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, and guiding teens through creating their own stronger and healthier boundaries in relationships.
We all know that education leads to empowerment, which is why EOI has created specific resources for teens, parents, young parents, care-givers, teachers, health professionals, and older adults. Each set of resources contains guidance and information that specifically answers questions that commonly appear within these age groups. For example, teen resources include The Boost, a website providing support for young parents, and ASK TxTINA, a virtual chat assistant run by EOI staff who answer questions related to sex, relationships, bullying, and birth control.
But we know this is not enough. Parents, care-givers, and trusted adults significantly influence teens’ decisions on sexual relationships: “teens say that their parents influence their decisions about sex even more than their friends, their siblings or the media” and “teenage girls who have ‘The Talk’ are less than half as likely to get pregnant as those who don’t.” For parents who may not know where to begin with “The Talk”, EOI has created a list of tips for when to start “The Talk”, how to keep the conversation awkward-free, and ways to discuss other elements of healthy relationships like boundaries and love.
For teachers and professionals, EOI has compiled a list of national learning standards as well as information from the Iowa Department of Education and links to the Professional Learning Standards for Sex Education (PLSSE). All information is free and available for use.
Teachers who are looking to receive additional training on how to implement sex education more effectively into their school programs, EOI has created the Eyes Open Academy with high-quality trainings aligned with PLSSE and hosts multiple events throughout the year with valuable information on managing tricky topics and controversial conversations.
We acknowledge that sex education can be an awkward, but we know that it is necessary. Time and time again data, reports, and statistics have proven how common sense sex education empowers teenagers and young adults to make healthier choices about their bodies and in their relationships. Sex education is no different than being educated on any other important life skill. In fact, it is arguably one of the most important conversations we have in our lives.