Sexual Health Links

Model Programs & Best Practices

Promising Practices Network (PPN)
www.promisingpractices.net/

Description: The PPN Web site highlights programs and practices that credible research indicates are effective in improving outcomes for children, youth, and families. This site provides useful information for decisionmakers, practitioners and program funders who must choose among many possibilities for improving results for children, youth, and families.

Information Available: Proven and promising programs, research briefs and information about strengthening service delivery.

Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS)
www.siecus.org/inter/inte0008.html

Description: SIECUS, founded in 1964, develops, collects and disseminates sexuality information; promotes comprehensive education and advocates the right of individuals to make responsible sexual choices.

Information Available: Step-by-step outline to develop guidelines for comprehensive sexuality education programs; suggestions for distribution and advocacy; School Health Education Clearinghouse; resources for policy makers and advocates, the media, for parents and other adults, for teens and for religious institutions; library and information services; publications and a thorough set of organizational links.

Federal Government:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention (NCHSTP)
www.cdc.gov/nchstp/od/nchstp.html

Description: The NCHSTP is organized into an Office of the Director and the following four divisions: 1) The Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention--Surveillance and Epidemiology, 2) The Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention--Intervention Research and Support, 3) The Division of STD Prevention and 4) The Division of TB Elimination.

Information Available: The Prevention Connection newsletter; STD treatment guidelines; Prevention Strategic Plan through 2005; revised guidelines for HIV counseling, testing and referral; HIV spotlights; TB spotlights; latest news, events and research; disease links; hotlines; Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) and links to each of the four divisions.

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS),
Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS),
Office of Population Affairs (OPA)
opa.osophs.dhhs.gov

Description: The OPA serves as the focal point to advise the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary of Health on a wide range of reproductive health topics, including adolescent pregnancy, family planning and sterilization, as well as other population issues. The OPA also provides policy and administrative direction for Title X Family Planning Program and the Title XX Adolescent Family Life Program.

Information Available: Links to the Office of Family Planning and the Office of Adolescent Pregnancy Programs, data and statistics, publications, legislation, funding opportunities, research grants, special studies and the OPA Clearinghouse.

MEDLINEplus-Health Information
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/sexualhealthgeneral.html

Description: MEDLINEplus, sponsored by the National Library of Medicine, includes a vast amount of health information on over 600 diseases and conditions. The site offers authoritative, up to date and appropriate health information for both health professionals and consumers.

Information Available: Latest news concerning sexual health, general information, diagnosis and symptoms, specific conditions, statistics, specific populations and links to other MEDLINEplus pages related to sexual health.

Missouri Government:

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services-
Communicable Disease Surveillance/STD Prevention
www.dhss.mo.gov/CommunicableDisease/ or www.dhss.mo.gov/HIV_STD_AIDS/

Description: Responsible for protecting and promoting the health of the state through the assessment of the population's health, identification of health threats and needs, development of policies and priorities and the assurance of appropriate responses. These core public health functions are implemented through community relationships with public and private entities, communities and citizens.

Information Available: HIV/AIDS care programs, STD/HIV prevention programs, STD/HIV/AIDS community involvement, STD/HIV/AIDS manuals and maps, disease and statistical data, as well as STD/HIV/AIDS informational links.

National Organizations:

Advocates for Youth
www.advocatesforyouth.org

Description: Advocates for Youth creates programs and advocates for policies that help young people make informed and responsible decisions about their reproductive and sexual health. The organization provides information, training and strategic assistance to youth-serving organizations, policy makers, youth activists and the media in the U.S. and the developing world.

Information Available: Sex education programs that work; fact sheets; programs and initiatives; publications; training, technical assistance and workshops; latest news and events; facts and figures; specific topics and issues (i.e. cultural competency, advocacy, adolescent sexual behavior and contraceptive use, GLBTQ youth, peer education, teen pregnancy prevention and youth of color); resources for parents and teens; links to population specific web sites; action alerts and lesson plans.

The Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI)
www.guttmacher.org

Description: AGI focuses on sexual and reproductive health research, policy analysis and public education. The Institute attempts to protect the reproductive choices of all women and men in the U.S. and throughout the world and supports their ability to obtain the information and services needed to achieve their full human rights, safeguard their health and exercise their individual responsibilities in regard to sexual behavior and relationships, reproduction and family formation.

Information Available: Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health; The Guttmacher Report on Public Policy; latest research and analysis; state fact sheets; state policies in brief; national trends; state data; specific topics such as abortion, law and public policy, pregnancy and birth, prevention and contraception, sexual behavior, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and youth; periodicals; State Center; Media Center; Tablemaker and presentation tools.

Campaign For Our Children, Inc. (CFOC)
www.cfoc.org

Description: The mission of CFOC is to develop research-based prevention messages and abstinence educational media campaigns which encourage healthy, responsible sexual decisions among early-adolescent youth; promote a more informed support system for youth; and raise public awareness about adolescent preventative health issues.

Information Available: Educational materials, mass media education, Parents Resource Center, facts and statistics, community action, Educator Resource Center, a Teen Guide, Media Campaign Toolbox and recent research.

The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF),
Youth and HIV/STDs
www.kff.org/youthhivstds/index.cfm

Description: KFF, an independent philanthropy, focuses on the major health care issues facing the nation. The Foundation is an independent voice and source of facts and analysis for policymakers, the media, the health care community, and the general public.

Information Available: Specific topics such as abortion, contraception, STDs, HIV/AIDS, adolescent health and sex education; fact sheets; issue briefs; surveys; Kaiser Media Resource Project; state health facts online; Consumer Resource: "It's Your (Sex) Life" and "Talking with Kids about Tough Issues"; survey snapshots and news releases.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America
www.plannedparenthood.org

Description: Planned Parenthood provides comprehensive reproductive and complementary health care services in settings which preserve and protect the essential privacy and rights of each individual; advocates public policies which guarantee these rights and ensure access to such services; provides educational programs which enhance understanding of individual and societal implications of human sexuality; promotes research and the advancement of technology in reproductive health care and encourages understanding of their inherent bioethical, behavioral and social implications.

Information Available: Resources for educators, parents and advocates; latest news and articles; action network; basic sexual health information on topics such as birth control, STIs, pregnancy, teen issues and women's health; find a health center; Ask Dr. Cullins; legislation and fact sheets.