Let's Talk Month is a national public education campaign that is celebrated in October and coordinated by Advocates for Youth. The Ottawa County Department of Public Health encourages parents and caregivers to talk with youth about abstinence and sexuality.

• Parents are the best sexuality educators for their children.
• Teens consistently say that parents most influence their decisions about sex.
• Parents want to be good sex educators, but may not always know how.
• It is possible to be an "askable" adult.

10 Tips for Parents Be open Be the expert Be accessible Be trusting Stay calm Ask open-ended questions Listen to your teen Put yourself in their shoes Appeal to common goals Show your interest

The 2017 Ottawa County Youth Assessment Survey states that among 12th graders who reported ever having oral sex or sexual intercourse - their average age was 15 ½ the first time.    By 12th grade, 45% of students had engaged in oral sex, 42% in sexual intercourse and 31% in sexting.    LEARN MORE

Contact:

Heather Alberda, Sexuality Educator
halberda@miottawa.org or 616-393-5774