|
     
Rights. Respect. Responsibility.®: What Youth-Serving
Professionals Can Do
Research indicates that when youth feel connected to community and family
and have access to sexual health information and services, they are better
able to delay sexual initiation and to use contraception, including condoms,
when they eventually initiate sexual intercourse. Young people need opportunities
to discuss issues important in their lives, to feel safe and valued, and to
contribute to their communities.
Regardless of the policy environment in your community, there are things
you can do to help young people feel valued and safe and to become sexually
healthy adults. Encourage youth to value themselves and promote the values
of tolerance, equity, and responsibility among the youth you serve. Involve
youth as full partners in the design, planning, and implementation of projects
intended for youth. Encourage youth to be educated, active, and involved.
How can you bring the values of Rights. Respect. Responsibility.® to
your program or project?
- Hang the Rights.
Respect. Responsibility.® posters.
Click here to order additional, or larger,
copies.
- Demonstrate respect
for youth's abilities by partnering
with them in creating and running programs.
- Encourage youth to
identify achievable goals—including academic, artistic, vocational/career,
and interpersonal goals—and the steps to achieving those goals.
- Give youth a genuine
voice in policies within the agency and opportunities to advocate for
public policies that affect them.
- Actively oppose gender
discrimination and gender-based violence.
- Outspokenly oppose
discrimination and violence directed at youth of color, at gay,
lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) youth, and at youth who
may be perceived as GLBT.
- Avoid making assumptions
about youth's abilities, history, or sexual orientation. Avoid making
assumptions based on youth's appearance, race/ethnicity, or gender.
- Give youth a safe space
for discussing issues of importance to them and bring in experts when
a topic is beyond your expertise.
- Encourage youth to
search out and post teen-friendly sources of accurate information and
youth-friendly services, such as Web sites, hotlines, substance abuse
treatment centers, and crisis centers.
- Post a list of free
and low-cost health care providers in the community offering confidential
services to teens.
- Provide travel vouchers
to enable teens to access health and social services in the community.
- Sign the petition, "I
Support Young People's Right to Be Responsible."
|
Send this page to a friend