By Jessica Neupane, MPH | May 21, 2024
May marks Sex Ed for All Month, which is an opportunity to voice our shared commitment to a world where all young people get equitable access to the education and care they deserve, no matter who they are or where they live. Sexual health education and programs that are LGBTQIA+ inclusive, medically accurate, and culturally relevant for all youth are often inaccessible for young people.
By Azzia Thompson, MPH, CHES | May 14, 2024
ETR involves young people in co-creating innovative, science-based health solutions from concept to scale by amplifying their voices, knowledge, and lived experiences. The youth engagement strategies cited in this blog have been integral to the success of these projects, which I am proud to have been a part of!
By Vignetta Charles, PhD | May 4, 2024
Chief Executive Officer, ETR
Happy May the Fourth! Annually, I write reflections on what Star Wars has taught me about leadership and organizational development at ETR. I usually write in late April when my reflections are very current to the moment. This year, I’m writing this in March since I will be on sabbatical in April and May—which means I’m on sabbatical as you read this blog post. As a person for whom working is a core part of my identity, I struggled with the idea of a sabbatical.
By ETR’s Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs (ATOD) Team | Aprill 22, 2024
Earth Day, celebrated each year on April 22nd, invites us to look at our impact on the environment. This year, the observance focuses on the issue of plastic pollution with a theme of “Planet vs. Plastics.” It is not just about the plastic bags, bottles, and straws we often hear about—Tobacco products, like cigarettes and e-cigarettes, are also a big part of the problem.
By Vignetta Charles, PhD & Madhuri Jha | March 29, 2024
The tragic death of Nex Benedict, a non-binary/two-spirit student in Oklahoma, has brought to light the urgent need for comprehensive support and inclusivity in our educational institutions. As two public health experts, we are deeply committed to the battle to improve young people’s and communities’ health and well-being by championing science.
By Reilly O'Neal | March 20, 2024
Contractor, ETR
Factors beyond our individual behavior can make it easier or harder to engage with HIV prevention and care. These factors are known as social determinants of health. In honor of LGBT Health Awareness Week, we wanted to highlight how social determinants of health can affect HIV prevention and care, as well as how you can access our free course on social determinants of health and HIV available through CDCTRAIN.
By Michael Everett, MHS, EdD | February 29, 2024
Chief People and Culture Officer, ETR
Often, when we think of Black History Month, we are prompted to consider the greatness of Blackness in the past. Honoring the past is essential, especially considering some of the erasure of Black people, histories, and experiences emphasized over the last few years. We must also continue to chart the path for what we intend for it to mean to be Black in the future. In our constant effort to combat anti-Black racism and institutionalize our values, ETR leadership continues the progress by commissioning the Black to the Future (BTF) ETR workgroup.
By The ETR Team | February 8, 2024
In honor of National Condom Month, we’re here to discuss innovative research on condom misuse and effective strategies in condom education. What are the most common errors high school students make about condom use? Thanks to some recent research by ETR and our partners at Public Health, Seattle & King County, we can share some insights on that question.
By Li Lock, PhD, MEd, Research Associate, ETR, Gillian Silver, MPH, CHES, Research Dissemination Specialist, ETR | December 7, 2023
Resilience is the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands. LGBTQ+ young people, especially those holding multiple, or intersecting, marginalized identities, are often faced with situations and environments where they must develop resilience to survive and thrive.
By Ravena Soto | November 16, 2023
California is home to 109 federally recognized Tribes, yet many residents are unfamiliar with the plethora of unique cultures that surround them. The Indian gaming industry has created visibility but has not rectified misperceptions. In many circumstances, it has contributed to new misunderstandings. The very concept of contemporary California Tribal people navigating the complexities of modern life is hard for many to comprehend.
By Jessica Neupane, MPH | November 15, 2023
In honor of Thanks, Birth Control Day, ETR wants to show support for the birth control access movement and contraceptive education. At ETR, we believe everyone deserves access to and education about birth control methods that work best for their body, their life, and their goals.
By Janine Driver (JD), MA | November 9, 2023
In this blog series, ETR experts will share best practices for hosting accessible events and centering equity in convenings. We believe in the power and possibility of cultivating accessible spaces, especially in the fight for health equity. As an organization with deep expertise in convening people from around the world for dynamic in-person and virtual events, we are committed to creating learning environments that center the diverse needs of the communities they aim to serve.
By Kelly Gainor, MEd, Li Lock, PhD, MEd, & Lauren Ranalli, MPH | September 21, 2023
With over-the-counter (OTC) birth control pills now a reality for people across the United States, adolescents will soon have greater access to contraception- a huge step forward in reducing unplanned pregnancies and managing ongoing health conditions! But even with this expanded access, there are still significant roles that educators, healthcare professionals, parents, and other trusted adults can play in helping young people navigate their sexual health choices.
By Sarah Han, MPH & Nirali Chakraborty, Ph.D. | September 18, 2023
This summer, Sarah Han, Youth Centered Health Designer at ETR, joined the Measuring Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health (MY SRH) Initiative at the Women Deliver 2023 conference in Kigali, Rwanda. Led by Metrics for Management (M4M), this global advisory group of young professionals convened to tackle the question, “How can we dismantle the barriers that hinder young people's access to respectful, high-quality SRH services?" In this conversation, Sarah is joined by Nirali Chakraborty, Chief Strategy Officer and Director of Research at M4M to learn more about this critical work in global youth SRH.
By Dina Chaerani, Elvita Trisnawati and Fatimah Huurin Jannah | September 6, 2023
Comprehensive Sexuality Education has long been a topic of contention, often fraught with misinformation, taboo, and inadequate resources. But amidst these challenges, innovators, youth-led organisations, and even NGOs are stepping up to make a difference. Who expected that one such innovation-making wave came from three Indonesian Youths who established Sexdugram, an Instagram-based initiative that revolutionised how CSE is delivered, discussed, and embraced.
By The ETR Team | August 31, 2023
When it comes to evaluating and disseminating research, many organizations will often play multiple roles in the process. For example, in the field of public health, organizations may develop a new product or curriculum, serve as the evaluator to test the effectiveness, or take the lead in disseminating the findings or product to a large-scale audience. In any of these roles, there is a potential for real or perceived conflicts of interest.
By Sarah Han, MPH | August 25, 2023
Young people face multiple challenges in accessing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, with stigma from providers and staff and compromised confidentiality and privacy as key barriers. Learn more about Sarah Han's experiences as a part of a globally representative advisory group of young professionals at Women Deliver 2023 in Rwanda for the Measuring Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health (MY SRH) Initiative led by Metrics for Management.
By Lauren Ranalli, MPH | August 2, 2023
Virtual visits and telemedicine have become more readily available since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. As with in-person health care visits, the key elements of adolescent-centered care should be implemented when seeing patients remotely. By doing this successfully, we can empower young people to actively participate in their health care.
By Kaleigh Cornelison, MSW | July 21, 2023
Headlines about the risks and negative impacts of social media use for adolescents are seemingly everywhere, which can lead to daunting conversations for caring adults. As you lean into these conversations with young people, consider these five strategies to open those lines of communication.
By The ETR Team | June 26, 2023
At a time when violent anti-trans rhetoric is extremely prevalent, helping trans youth foster resilience can dramatically change their health outcomes both now and later in their lives. We’re thrilled to share a few science-based tips that you can use with the trans youth you serve from the Queer and Transgender Resilience Workbook by Anneliese Singh, PhD, LPC, which is now available in the ETR Store.