RSEI News + Updates
Sept 2020: RSEI Goes Virtual
RSEI educators spent the summer gearing up for a virtual year. We’ve made adaptations to our individual lessons for a live virtual classroom and for asynchronous learning. While we still love teaching in real time, the virtual classroom has its own set of challenges for sex education. For more information on how to address those challenges, please read our blog post Virtual Sex Education: Where to Start? We’ve found that asynchronous sex ed can benefit students by allowing them to access the information on any device, stay engaged via clickable activities, avoid discomfort from sex ed sessions happening in shared at home learning environments, and access resources through links instantly. Our asynchronous sex ed lessons cover the same range of individual lesson topics our educators offer in person or via live virtual sessions. To learn more about any of our programs or schedule a sex ed session for your student, visit our Direct Ed page.
Aug 2020: RSEI at Home
The most influential factor is a young person’s life is the people they live with. Young people are receiving a lot of messages whether or not families and caregivers are having intentional conversations about sex and sexual health. Starting these conversations early and often can help young people make healthy decisions throughout their lives. This can feel uncomfortable or downright impossible for some families. We’re here to help. Read our recent blog post, Tips for talking about sex education at home, for support. RSEI educators also spent the summer finalizing our Talk is Power Workbook. This workbook brings together readings, activities, and resources that will help caregivers begin and/or improve communication about sex, sexual health, and sexuality with their families. This self-guided workbook is divided into seven sections that can be completed in any order, including: Sexuality 101, Exploring Values, Healthy Relationships, LGBTQ, and Sex & Tech. Some of the readings and worksheets are for caregivers to complete on their own and others are activities to do as a family. Be on the look out for more family engagement opportunities from RSEI!
MAY 2020: New resources from the Sex Education Collaborative
As remote learning continues for much of the country, members of the Sex Education Collaborative (SEC), including the Responsible Sex Education Institute have created a new online Training Hub with a wide variety of professional development offerings for educators and school administrators.
The SEC envisions a world in which all young people’s right to comprehensive, high-quality sex education is recognized and fulfilled. This vision can only be realized if educators have the knowledge, training, and support to effectively deliver sex education.
SexEducationCollaborative.org gathers trusted trainings and resources from national, regional, and state-based sex education organizations for access wherever educators and administrators are working. In addition to this newest offering, members have jointly created the Professional Learning Standards for Sex Education, released last year.
FEB 2020: Healthy Bodies, Healthy Boundaries Video Series
The Responsible Sex Education Institute partners with the SAVA Center and the Arc of Larimer County to provide education for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities in a series called Healthy Bodies, Healthy Boundaries.
As supplemental materials for this series, we also partnered to create videos starring people with I/DD who have a passion for acting. We build discussion questions in to help folks process the video scenarios and develop their social skills and awareness around these topics.
Check the videos out here!
SEPT 2019: We Wrote a Book!
In Case You’re Curious: Questions about Sex from Young People with Answers from the Experts was released in September of 2019. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out, we highly recommend you do so! It is available for purchase in our shop, as well as at online retailers like Target, Bookshop, and Barnes & Noble.
MAY 2019: HB 19-1032
In May of 2019, Colorado passed an updated sex ed bill, HB 19-1032. We have heard from folks that they would like an infographic that outlines the expectations for Colorado districts, schools and educators. You can check out the infographic here. Please reach out with any questions!