ODE Sexuality Education Newsletter 

February 3, 2022 

Dearest colleagues, 

Black History Month is an opportunity for school communities to invest in intersectional support for Black and African-American students and staff through comprehensive sexuality education. Health education skills offer a platform by which all students can analyze influences to celebrate rich funds of cultural knowledge; practice communication skills such as interrupting identity-based bullying and setting boundaries; and affirm each other across differences in identity through self-awareness and peer advocacy. Below, we offer some resources for school communities to consider in order to address the impacts of anti-Black racism and nourish healing and well-being for Black students and staff.

Supports for Black Sexuality Educators 

• Women of Color Sexual Health Network (WOCSHN) 
• Space by SLAM, a Space for Sex Educators of Color; apply here 
• Black & Beyond the Binary Collective builds the leadership, healing, and safety of Black-African transgender, queer, nonbinary, and intersex (TQNI+) Oregonians 

Sex Ed & Racial Justice - Classroom Resources 

• Children’s Books to Celebrate Black History Month, PBS, 2021 
• R-E-S-P-E-C-T (Lesson), Rights, Respect, Responsibility (3Rs), Grade 2, 2021 
• What’s Racism Got to Do With It?! (Lesson), Rights, Respect, Responsibility (3Rs), Grade 8, 2021 
• The Impact of Racism and Inequality on Sexual Health (Lesson), Rights, Respect, Responsibility (3Rs), Grades 9-12, 2021 
• Reproductive Justice - Past, Present, Future (Lesson), Rights, Respect, Responsibility (3Rs), Grades 9-12, 2021 
• Racism, HIV, and AIDS - Level Two (Podcast episode), Six Minute Sex Ed Podcast, for families & teens, 2019 

Sex Ed & Racial Justice - Professional Development Resources 

• Sexual & Reproductive Justice: History, Expansion, Lessons Learned (Training), ANTE UP!, Saturday February 19, 2022 10am – 2pm PST, $175-275 
• Trans & Black: Loving Our Black Trans Fam (Training), Transgender Training Institute, Monday February 14, 2022 12-1:30pm PST, Pay What You Can Fee 
• Black and LGBTQ: Approaching Intersectional Conversations (Guide), 2021, The Trevor Project 
• Black LGBTQ Youth in U.S. Schools (Research report), Erasure and Resilience: The Experiences of LGBTQ Students of Color, 2020, GLSEN 
• Comprehensive Means Intersectional: Moving Sex Education Forward, AMAZE Conference, Justine Fonte, Keynote Recording, Oct 2021 

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

Black History Month photo by Suad Kamardeen on Unsplash

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

• Period Poverty in the United States, SIECUS Blog, January 27, 2022 
• College of Education Researcher: Rethink Our Focus on Weight, University of Oregon, January 19, 2022 
• What Many LGBTQ+ Students Worry About Most During the Pandemic, Ed Week, January 10, 2022 
• Students Embrace a Wide Range of Gender Identities. Most School Data Systems Don’t, Ed Week, January 4, 2022

Resources

• GLSEN Highlights Positive Impact of GSAs with New Resources, GLSEN, January 24, 2022
• Glossary for the Global Menstrual Movement, Madami & PERIOD., January 2022 
• Teach All Families, Teaching tools/resources for making schools inclusive of LGBTQ+ families

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.

• Indiana University Study Finds Lack of Diversity in Images in Sex Education Textbooks, The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, January 24, 2022 
• Teaching Sexual Consent to Young People in Education Settings: A Narrative Systematic Review, Sex Education, December 31, 2022 
• Understanding the Research on Condom Use & STIs Among Youth Involved In Systems or Experiencing Homelessness, Activate Collective, November 2021 
• Sex Education on TikTok: A Content Analysis of Themes, Health Promotion Practice, August 20, 2021 

LGBTQ2SIA+ Data & Research

• 92% Of Top Parental Control Apps Wrongly Block LGBTQ And Sex-Ed Sites, Forbes, January 19, 2022 
• Examining the Relationship Between LGBTQ-Supportive School Health Policies and Practices and Psychosocial Health Outcomes of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Heterosexual Students, LGBT Health, January 5, 2022 
• Multiple dimensions of safe space for LGBTQ students: school staff perceptions, Sex Education, December 31, 2022

Upcoming Events, Training & Conference Opportunities

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

• Feb 10, 4-5pm, Teachers Talk Puberty, Puberty: the Wonder Years
• Feb 14, 12-1:30pm, Trans & Black: Loving Our Black Trans Fam, Transgender Training Institute, Pay What You Can Fee
• Feb 16, 9-11am, Understanding Trans and Non-Binary Identities, Transgender Training Institute, Pay What You Can Fee 
• Feb 17, 6-9pm, InQueery: Questioning Our Approach to Gender Identity in Early Childhood Education, Online training for Early Childhood Education providers, $20 Fee
• Feb 21, 9-10:15 am, Supporting Transgender Students Coming Out, Transgender Training Institute, Pay What You Can Fee 
• Feb 24, 2022, Host An Event: Annual Jazz & Friends National Day of School and Community Readings, Welcoming Schools
• Mar 7-17, 2022, Virtual After School Programs, Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon

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.

Arts Education and Well-Rounded Education at ODE

Well-Rounded Access Program  In October 2020, Oregon received a five-year, $9.8 million grant to expand access to well-rounded education courses in STEAM, arts integration, and the arts. ODE has created a newsletter to inform the community with updates from this grant work. If you would like updates on the Well-Rounded Access Program (WRAP) grant, as well as resources about STEAM and arts integration, sign up for the Well-Rounded Access Program Listserv.

Arts Education Connections Newsletter The Oregon Department of Education’s January Arts Education Connections newsletter is focused on making connections through arts education. Shannon Johnson, ODE’s new Arts Education Specialist, creates this space to share relevant resources, opportunities, and WRAP grant updates in order to increase access to the arts for every student in Oregon. Sign up for the ODE Arts Education Listserv to connect. Photo by Tamanna Rumee on Unsplash

Grants, Job Openings, and Youth Opportunities

Job Opening: Menstrual Dignity Act Analyst (Part-time) The Menstrual Dignity Act (HB 3294, 2021) created the requirement for school districts to provide free menstrual products for all menstruating students in public schools in Oregon, including elementary, middle, and high school students. This legislation created the Menstrual Dignity for Students Program in order to address an unmet need identified by students, school leaders, and medical and public health professionals over many years. The program helps students participate actively in classes and school activities by alleviating some of the economic strain and experiences of shame that are often barriers for menstruating students accessing their education. The Menstrual Dignity Act Analyst (part-time) will administer all aspects of this program. On a regular basis this person will develop, administer, and evaluate program procedures to meet the goals of the Menstrual Dignity Act and work collaboratively with staff all across the agency to disburse funds and administer grants funded through the Menstrual Dignity Act. They will also engage with partners from local agencies, community organizations, and various schools. To apply or learn more, visit the Oregon Workday job listing, application deadline is 2/6/2022. Apply here

Funding Opportunity: U.S. Department of Education Will Award $5 Million to Support Parents and Families Informing Student Development and Academic Recovery “Parents’ voices are critical to the success of our education system. They are our children’s first, and most influential teachers,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. The program will award $5 million in grants that will provide financial support to organizations that offer technical assistance and training to state educational agencies and school districts in the implementation of effective family engagement policies, programs, and activities that lead to improvements in student development and academic achievement. Learn more on the U.S. Department of Education website. Applications for the second round of funding will be due on February 17, 2022.

Job Openings: NAYA PDX The Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) in Portland is hiring 3 positions related to violence prevention and education. Please see below for more information on how to apply:  Domestic Violence Advocate Domestic Violence Housing Advocate (DVHA) Youth Advocate

Oregon Open Learning: OER Black History Month Resources

ISKME’s Black History Month Curation Project: Black History Month is an important opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the genius and joy of Black historical figures who shape our world. ISKME’s OER librarians are curating relevant resources in this area, and seeking to connect with educators interested in sharing lesson or unit plans that feature Black historical figures, from across different content areas, through using or adapting a lesson plan template on OER Commons. Read more about this project sponsored by ISKME and details about submitting a resource by February 21, with an opportunity to win a gift card that supports Black-owned businesses.  Do you still have questions about Oregon Open Learning? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) resource or email OregonOpenLearning@ode.oregon.gov.

Newsletter 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 ode.sexed@ode.oregon.gov.

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@ode.oregon.gov.

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!