ODE Sexuality Education Newsletter 

November 5, 2021 

Dearest colleagues, 

Each month offers us opportunities to build allyship and support for all students, through K-12 comprehensive sexuality education. In the last month, we’ve celebrated International Pronouns Day (October 20), Intersex Awareness Day (October 26), and Ace Week (Oct 24-30). In the coming month, we want to build allyship and support for LGBTQ+ Youth during Solidarity Week (Nov 1-5th) and Transgender Awareness Week (Nov 13-19) leading up to Transgender Day of Remembrance TDOR (Nov 20) as well as honoring Native American Heritage Month. Each of these markers in time asks us to hold space for the sorrows and joys of students with system-impacted identities past and present, while reinforcing our commitment to education equity for all Oregon students. 

In this newsletter, we will share with you some announcements, research, resources, and opportunities for training by ODE, as well as other offerings by statewide and national colleagues that may be of interest to you. 

Header photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash, Newberg, OR

How do you like our new look?  You may notice in the next month that we are sending out our Sex Ed Newsletter in shorter sections, more often. We’d love to know how our newsletters are working for you! Please feel free to fill out this survey.

Sex Ed News & Resources

Teaching inclusive sexuality education is a critical piece in our equity work and we know this work cannot happen overnight. ODE is committed to supporting school districts with implementing Oregon Human Sexuality Education (OAR 581-022-2050), which 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." Our collective goal is for all students to feel safe, seen, heard, and valued. 

Please see below for related news and resources that may be relevant as you consider how to implement K-12 comprehensive sexuality education.

News Stories

• Access To Menstrual Products Poses A Challenge For Teens Facing Period Poverty, wbur, September 7, 2021 
• The Pervasiveness Of Transgender Health Care Discrimination, NPR, September 13, 2021 
• How young people convinced Oregon to put free period products in schools, Today, October 8, 2021 
• What’s it like to come out at school nowadays? Seattle’s LGBTQ+ youth speak out, Seattle Times, October 10, 2021 
• Privacy, Porn, and Parents in the Room: Sex Education’s Pandemic Challenges, EdWeek, October 12, 2021

Resources

• GLSEN Solidarity Week, Educator Guides for Elementary and Secondary, November 1-5
• Bystander Intervention for Kids! Be a Super Ally with the 5Ds, Animated Video Series, iHollaback, Asian Americans Advancing Justice AAJC, Woori Show (K-5), October 20, 2021
• Coming Out: A Handbook for LGBTQ+ Young People, The Trevor Project, 2021 
• Supporting Child and Student Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, October 2021

Sex Ed Data & Research

We have an important responsibility to health and sexuality education by reflecting the lived experiences of students, staff and school communities 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.

• Adolescents' Receipt of Sex Education in a Nationally Representative Sample, 2011–2019, Journal of Adolescent Health, November 4, 2021 
• Sex Ed Lessons from COVID-19, American Journal of Sexuality Education, October 22, 2021 
• The Inclusion Imperative: Why Media Representation Matters for Kids' Ethnic-Racial Development, Common Sense Media, October 19, 2021

Upcoming Events, Training & Conference Opportunities

All trainings are listed in Pacific Time zone unless otherwise noted. Opportunities are free unless otherwise noted.

Synchronous Opportunities

• My Future- My Choice Fall Workshop Series, Oregon DHS 
  • Emotional Intelligence & Sex Ed, Nov 10, 3:30-5pm 
  • Latinx Inclusive Sex Ed, Dec 1, 3:30-5pm 
  • Sex Ed for Youth with Disabilities, Dec 15, 3:30-5pm
• Recovering from the Pandemic: The Critical Need for the Integration of SEL and MTSS in Schools, MAEC, Nov 9, 12pm
• The Hidden Biases of Good People: Implicit Bias Awareness Training, Nov 10, 9am-12pm, $35, The Dibble Institute 
• S.L.A.M. 4 Youth Conference, Virtual, Jan 27-28, 2022, 7am-3pm, Sliding Scale 
• The 37th Annual International Conference on Child & Family Maltreatment, San Diego, In-Person and Virtual On-Demand, Jan 25-30, 2022, Paid 

Asynchronous Opportunities

• Intro to Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression (SOGIE): Affirming Approaches and Expansive Practices, Asynchronous online course, $35-40 for 1 year access, Alliance for Girls Learning Hub 
• Shifting the Narrative: A Conversation on Race & Identity in Children’s Books, Webinar Recording, University of Oregon & Eugene Public Library, Oct 2021 
• Thriving, Not Just Surviving, Support for Trans & Non-Binary Students, Webinar Series Recordings, MAEC, From June-Oct 2021 
• A Deeper Dive into LGBTQ-inclusivity in Sex Ed, SIECUS Online, Webinar Recording, Aug 2021 
• Comprehensive Means Intersectional: Moving Sex Education Forward, AMAZE Conference, Justine Fonte, Keynote Recording, Oct 2021 

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 opportunities for sexuality education professionals to consider.

Newsletter Submission Process

We welcome your submissions to ODE's Sexuality Education Newsletter and ListServ! If you have announcements, job postings, or general questions for your colleagues, you can submit them to ode.sexed@state.or.us. 

In an effort to streamline our newsletter, we are now planning to send out our newsletter twice a month, during the first week and again mid-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, for inclusion and consideration in the following month (e.g. submit October 25 for November newsletters). 

Questions? Connections?

Please reach out to us at ode.sexed@state.or.us.

Did someone forward you this newsletter? Want to stay connected with sexuality education at the Oregon Department of Education? Visit our website or subscribe to the ODE Sexuality Education ListServ today!