ODE Sexuality Education Updates 

Reminder: Funding Opportunity for Openly Licensed K-5 or 9-12 Comprehensive Sex Ed Lessons--apply online NOW

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) is seeking applications from school districts and charter schools, other non-profit groups, or consortias, to develop openly licensed lessons that cover Oregon’s Sexuality Education Laws & Health Education Standards to be made available on the Oregon Open Learning (OOL) Hub. This project will provide small one-time grants (~$10,000-$20,000) to teams developing free and openly licensed health and sexuality education lessons for grades K-5 or 9-12 for optional use in Oregon schools.  Applications will require a short project plan and budget. Application due date is January 19, 2021! 

For more information, please check out our recorded info-session. Or, reach out to Sasha Grenier at sasha.grenier@state.or.us or Andrea Bibee at andrea.bibee@ode.state.or.us with questions.

OHA/ODE Sexual Violence Prevention and Sexuality Education Map and Survey

ODE is partnering with Oregon Health Authority to update data on the Oregon Sexual Violence Prevention and Sexuality Education map and ensure it accurately reflects all of the critical work schools and districts are leading across Oregon, as well as identify the areas where schools and districts need support. Please complete this 10-minute survey to help keep our students safe and the data accurate in our mapping process. Thank you!

Letter from Governor Brown regarding Health Metrics Updates and Covid-19 next steps

Governor Brown has shared the most recent guidance and requirements on Covid-19 impacts on the education community. Teachers, students, and school boards are advised on how to move Oregon safely towards in person instruction and disease prevention. Please review the letter to stay up to date on the Covid-19 metrics. 

Sex Ed Data & Research 

Health and sexuality education holds an important responsibility to reflect the lived experiences of students and staff in Oregon and in the United States. Below, please find some local and national research and data that tell the stories of young people, especially as it pertains to experiences within educational environments. 

• But is it Comprehensive? Unpacking the ‘comprehensive’ in comprehensive sexuality education, Health Education Journal, May, 2020.

Sex Ed News & Resources 

Teaching inclusive sexuality education is a critical piece in our equity work. While we know the Oregon Human Sexuality Education OAR 581-022-2050 requires the use of “inclusive materials, language, and strategies that recognizes different sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expression” that must also be “culturally inclusive,” this work cannot happen overnight. ODE is committed to supporting school districts to provide sexuality education that allows all students to feel safe, seen, and valued. 

• Moving Forward as a Community: SEL4OR has created this helpful resource on applying a trauma-informed equity lens in the pursuit of classroom community, especially designed for response and action during the Covid-19 pandemic. They provide a racial equity and social justice approach to helping all of us navigate and stay resilient while we move forward together through these challenges. 
• Virtual Sexuality Education Programming for 5th-8th graders, provided to students by Planned Parenthood of Southwest Oregon.
• Virtual Sexuality Education Curriculum for 5th-12th graders, Provided for educators by Planned Parenthood of Southwest Oregon.
• NHES/CASEL Crosswalk. The Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) has created an extensive review of how the National Health Education Standards (NHES) aligns with Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) core competencies. 
• Teaching Sensitive Topics via Distance Learning. California Health Education in Practice shares their adaptations for transitioning to teaching sexuality education online and best practices that have emerged through that process. Their website includes additional research, resources, and tools to support sexuality and health education. 
• CASEL and Oregon Health Education Standards Overlay. Portland Public Schools is coordinating an initial meeting to discuss a CASEL Overlay with Oregon Health Education Standards. The goal is to elevate awareness of how CASEL competencies live throughout Health Education instruction. Please complete this short survey (5-minutes max) to let us know if 1) your district is interested in a CASEL and Oregon Health Education overlay, 2) if you can attend the initial meeting on January 14th at 11:00am-12:00pm. A meeting agenda is listed in the survey. Email questions to Vanessa Pena-La Torre, Health for K-5 Program Manager at Portland Public Schools@ vpenalatorre@pps.net.
• The One at Home Program allows Oregon residents to receive a free envelope of sexual wellness supplies delivered discreetly to their door, up to twice per 30 days. For questions, please contact Alicia.t.knapp@dhsoha.state.or.us.

Upcoming Training Opportunities for Educators 

• ODE’s Oregon Teacher Training Institute (OTTI).   Registration is now open for the 4-part virtual teacher training series by the Oregon Teacher Training Institute (OTTI): K-5 Comprehensive Sexuality Education (February 12, 19, 26, and March 5 from 1-4pm PST) 
  • The series is implemented in partnership with ODE, OHA, DHS, and other local partners.
  • This series is for educators and administrators to deliver comprehensive sexuality education as part of health instruction, focusing on healthy relationships, socio-emotional learning, child abuse prevention education, and healthy sexuality throughout the lifespan in alignment with ODE’s rules and standards and Oregon Law.
  • Please note:
    • Registration includes all 4 modules included in this training series. Each session builds upon the last and is designed to be shared by the same group of participants.
    • Each session is highly interactive and will require use of Zoom technologies, including video participation.
    • Sub costs will be covered for teachers.
    • Registration is free, but available on a first come first served basis.

Other training opportunities

• Fundamentals of Sex Ed, begins February 12, 2021. For educators, hosted by Planned Parenthood of Southwest Oregon. This includes circles of sexuality, answering challenging questions, and teaching in a virtual environment. This training is also available for schools/school districts directly who can email education@ppsworegon.org to schedule.  
• The Respect Online Course is a free online training series hosted by the American Psychological Association.
• Ally/Advocate Training Camp for Families & Caregivers (January 13-15: 12-5 PM ET/ 9AM-2 PM PT)
• Ally/Advocate Training Camp - Open to All (Jan 19-21: 10 AM-5 PM ET/7AM-2 PM PT)
• Ally/Advocate Training Camp - Open to All (February 6-7: 10 AM-5 PM ET/7AM-2 PM) 
• Certificate in Adolescent Sex Education Basics by Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology.
• Facilitating Sex Education, by Spark ED (January 26-March 5; March 30-May 5) In this six session, 18-hour virtual instructor-led course, you'll learn to deliver sex education using a social justice and racial equity lens. We'll concentrate on the skills you'll need to take your work to the classroom and the community. You'll finish the course with some some hands-on virtual practice of your sex ed facilitation skills. The self-paced Teaching Sexuality training is included as part of this course. 
• Facilitating from a trauma informed lens, by Spark ED (January 19-February 19; March 16-April 16) In this five session, 15-hour virtual instructor-led course, you'll build on the content you learned in the self-paced course. Emphasis is placed on practicing how to create a trauma-informed learning environment and the skills to facilitate trauma-informed sex education. You'll finish the course with some hands-on virtual practice of your sex ed facilitation skills. The self-paced Trauma-Informed Sex Ed training is included as part of this course.  
• Facilitation Skills, by Spark ED (March 31-April 30) This five session, 12-hour virtual instructor-led course focuses on growing your skills to artfully deliver sex education in your community. Delivered through four weekly two-hour sessions, the course warps up with a hands-on practice session.
• Teaching Sexuality & Answering Questions, Asynchronous SPARK Training by Washington State OSPI
• Sexually Transmitted Infections, Asynchronous SPARK Training by Washington State OSPI
• Teaching from a Trauma-Informed Lens, Asynchronous SPARK Training by Washington State OSPI
• Sexual Anatomy and Reproduction, Asynchronous SPARK Training by Washington State OSPI

Note: Unless hosted or facilitated by The Oregon Department of Education (ODE), these training opportunities have not been endorsed by ODE, but are being shared as relevant and high quality opportunities for sexuality education professionals to consider. 

Job Openings and Volunteer Opportunities

• Latino Network has an opportunity for a Health and Wellness Coordinator and a Sexuality Educator

Listserv Submission Process

We welcome your submissions to ODE's Sexuality Education ListServ! If you have announcements, job postings, or general questions for your colleagues, you can submit them to Sasha Grenier at sasha.grenier@state.or.us or to Andrea Bibee at andrea.bibee@ode.state.or.us.

In an effort to streamline Listserv messages, we are now planning to send out ListServ messages once a month, during the first week of the month. To accommodate this change and to ensure that we can equitably share announcements from everyone, we're now asking that you submit your Listserv posts no later than the 25th of each month.

Questions? Connections? Please reach out to us: 

Sasha Grenier, MPH, CHES (she/her/hers) Sexuality Education and School Health SpecialistOregon Department of Education | Office of Teaching, Learning, and Assessmentsasha.grenier@state.or.us | www.oregon.gov/ode 

Angie Foster-Lawson, MEd (she/her/hers) Sexuality Education Analyst Oregon Department of Education | Office of Teaching, Learning, & Assessment angie.foster-lawson@state.or.us | www.oregon.gov/ode 

Andrea Bibee, JD, MA (she/her/hers) Temporary Program Analyst Oregon Department of Education | Office of Teaching, Learning, & Assessment andrea.bibee@state.or.us | www.oregon.gov/ode