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ETR Blog

Check out what our people and partners are researching, thinking, reading, writing, watching and doing! (Note: The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of ETR as an agency.)


Observations About Gender Norms and Health - Part 2
October 24, 2017

Observations About Gender Norms and Health - Part 2

By Lori A. Rolleri, MSW, MPH | October 24, 2017
Principal, Lori Rolleri Consulting

Gender norms have a deep impact at all levels of our society and culture. In Part 1 of this post, I talked about some of the ways inequitable gender norms can negatively affect health behaviors and outcomes. In this post, I’d like to take a look at how we can use evidence-informed strategies to change that. How do we address harmful gender norms in curricula designed to prevent adolescent pregnancy and STIs?

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Tags: Pregnancy prevention, STD prevention, Gender norms, Norms, Adolescent health, Gender equity
Positive Strategies for Working with Vaccine Hesitation
October 18, 2017

Positive Strategies for Working with Vaccine Hesitation

By Katy Casselman, MPH Cand | October 18, 2017
Research Assistant, dfusion

Fall has begun. You know what that means: it’s flu season!

Are your students, clients and patients going to get their flu vaccine this year? There’s a good chance they won’t. In the 2015-16 season, the CDC reported that only 42% of adults, and 59% of children 6 months to 17 years, got their flu vaccine. Part of this reluctance may stem from the larger social movement and controversy within the public health and medical fields, vaccine hesitancy.

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Tags: Public health, Vaccine
Observations About Gender Norms and Health - Part 1
October 11, 2017

Observations About Gender Norms and Health - Part 1

By Lori A. Rolleri, MSW, MPH | October 11, 2017
Principal, Lori Rolleri Consulting

Are you one of those people who likes to sit in a park and people-watch? Me too. I like to think about why people do what they do. I’m fortunate that I have a career that actually pays me to do this—although not just by sitting on a park bench!

My people-watching is the type that involves talking with people, reading professional journals and researching the reasons why people do or don’t engage in certain health behaviors.

This is Part 1 of a 2-part series. Read Part 2 here.
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Tags: STD prevention, Pregnancy prevention, Adolescent health, Gender norms, norms, Gender equity
Difficult Events: Guidelines for Talking with Children and Teens
October 2, 2017

Difficult Events: Guidelines for Talking with Children and Teens

By ETR | October 2, 2017

Many of us started out our work week first hearing the devastating news out of Las Vegas. Educators and others working with children and teens may understandably feel discouraged about having to explain, one more time, how unpredictable and violent the world can sometimes be.

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Tags: violence
Planned Parenthood Chat/Text: Changing Sexual Health Outcomes Through Texting
August 3, 2017

Planned Parenthood Chat/Text: Changing Sexual Health Outcomes Through Texting

By Nicole Levitz, MPH | August 3, 2017
Associate Director of Digital Health Education, Planned Parenthood Federation of America

“Meet people where they are.”

As sex educators we spend an enormous amount of time talking about this concept. It might mean starting with the basics, but it also means bringing interventions to folks, not just expecting them to come to us. That’s why Planned Parenthood developed and evaluated Chat/Text.

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Tags: Adolescents, Technology, Innovation, Texting, Birth control, Pregnancy prevention, STD prevention, Sexual and reproductive health
Consent in Professional Relationships: 4 Things to Know About Serving Survivors of Sexual Assault
July 25, 2017

Consent in Professional Relationships: 4 Things to Know About Serving Survivors of Sexual Assault

By Bianca Palmisano | July 25, 2017
Owner, Intimate Health Consulting

Ask before kissing your date goodnight. Don’t grope strangers on the train (I mean, really, don’t grope anyone). Don’t force your children to give hugs or kisses to family members against their will. Our culture is becoming more accustomed to conversations around consent in intimate, interpersonal relationships.

But we are still fairly unfamiliar with how to model and apply consent in professional relationships. 

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Tags: Trauma, Trauma informed care, Violence prevention, Sexual and reproductive health
The ABC's of TOF's: Keeping New Teachers Trained on a Sexual Health Curriculum
June 27, 2017

The ABC's of TOF's: Keeping New Teachers Trained on a Sexual Health Curriculum

By Diana Andrews | June 27, 2017
PREP Program Manager, Garfield County PREP

I thought the really hard work had already been done. Three years ago, when I became the PREP Program Manager for Garfield County, Colorado, my predecessor had already gotten so many things accomplished. As impressive as her achievements were, however, it turns out that may have been the easy part!

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Tags: Schools, Rural communities, Pregnancy prevention, School health, Sexual and reproductive health, Adolescent health
Thriving Communities, Empowered Youth: Making Teen Pregnancy Prevention Work
June 20, 2017

Thriving Communities, Empowered Youth: Making Teen Pregnancy Prevention Work

By Shaunae Motley | June 20, 2017
Director of Programs, Quest for Change

Every May, our communities mark National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month. It’s a fine opportunity to reflect on the difference prevention work makes in the lives of young people. Since peaking in 1991, teen births have dropped 64%. This historic decline includes significant progress in all 50 states and among all racial and ethnic groups.

However, despite these advances, disparities continue to exist—by age, race and ethnicity, geography and among youth from low-income families. 

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Tags: adolescent health, peer education, Youth voice, Adolescents, Rural communities, Pregnancy prevention
Re:MIX: Genuine Innovation in a Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program
June 14, 2017

Re:MIX: Genuine Innovation in a Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program

By Mandy Ackerman, LMSW, MPH & Jenifer DeAtley, LMSW | June 14, 2017
Senior Program Coordinator & Director of U.S. Programs, EngenderHealth

Here’s a story that gives us chills—the good kind. A group of our peer educators presented a plenary at a local conference. They shared their personal stories before an audience of about 100 youth-serving professionals from the Central Texas community.

These peer educators are all young mothers. 

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Tags: Adolescent health, Sexual and reproductive health, peer education, Pregnancy prevention, Teen parents, Teen moms
ETR Steps Forward for Weekly #WorkplaceWellness
May 17, 2017

ETR Steps Forward for Weekly #WorkplaceWellness

By Vignetta Charles, PhD | May 17, 2017
CEO, ETR

Something new is brewing here at ETR. No, I’m not talking about our new CEO (that would be me). Nor am I talking about our group of new hires, although they are all very cool (and, BTW, we do have several current openings).

I’m talking about walking. Stepping up. Living our values. It’s ETR’s very own weekly step challenge, and it’s helping us make some impressive changes within our own workplace.

By Vignetta Charles, PhD
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Tags: Workplace wellness, Physical activity, Healthy organization
Public Health Reads That Spark Conversation and Further Study
April 12, 2017

Public Health Reads That Spark Conversation and Further Study

By Laura Norvig, MLIS | April 12, 2017
Digital Media Strategist, ETR

I’m a huge believer in the power of online community for professional development. I’ve received so much useful “just in time” information and made so many valuable personal connections this way, it’s second nature to me.

Recently I joined HEDIR, a longstanding discussion list designed to help health educators communicate more effectively and efficiently. 

By Laura Norvig, MLIS
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Tags: Public health, Reading
Teen Pregnancy Prevention: Sharing Success Stories
April 7, 2017

Teen Pregnancy Prevention: Sharing Success Stories

By Marcia Quackenbush, MS, MFT, MCHES | April 7, 2017
Senior Editor, ETR

Teen pregnancy rates are down. A wide range of statistics and figures show this. If you work in the field of adolescent health, you’ve certainly already heard this news.

Think for a moment about how you hold that information in your mind. Perhaps you remember the rate of births per 1,000 females aged 15-19 years. You might think about a national map that shows state rankings in teen birth rates. Maybe colorful bar graphs or pie charts come to mind.

By Marcia Quackenbush, MS, MFT, MCHES
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Tags: Pregnancy prevention, Storytelling, Adolescents
UNITY: A Key for National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
March 14, 2017

UNITY: A Key for National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

By Ayn N. Whyte, MS—Diné | March 14, 2017
STD/HIV/AIDS Prevention Program Manager, Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board

As many of our communities prepare to recognize National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, I am compelled to honor the group of individuals who envisioned and made this day a reality. I am blessed to work today with many of these people in raising awareness and promoting testing among our people. 

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Tags: National Native HIV-AIDS Awareness Day, HIV-AIDS, NNHAAD, AIDS, Community Impact Solutions Project
Health Care Spending: What Does Science Tell Us?
March 1, 2017

Health Care Spending: What Does Science Tell Us?

By Brittany Nielsen, MPH| March 1, 2017
Program Manager, Sutter Health

The future of health care in America looks uncertain. There is an abundance of opinions on the left and right about what our nation needs to do. However, before we can move forward effectively, it’s important to understand what science has to tell us on the topic.

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Tags: Health care, Policy, Science
Currently Watching: The Ethics Bowl
February 7, 2017

Currently Watching: The Ethics Bowl

By Marcia Quackenbush | February 7, 2017
Senior Editor, ETR

How do we keep youth engaged in school and community? How do we help them think critically about the issues that affect them? How can we help them raise their voices and speak out as effective citizens? I believe we have reached a time in our history as a nation where these are some of the most important skills we can offer young people.

Education experts have suggested a range of answers to these questions. I recently learned about an approach that is truly promising: Ethics Bowls

By Marcia Quackenbush, MS, MFT, MCHES
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Tags: Adolescents, Ethics, Empowerment, Education, Health education
Innovation in Teen Pregnancy Prevention: Live Your Best Life AHORA!
January 30, 2017

Innovation in Teen Pregnancy Prevention: Live Your Best Life AHORA!

By Lizanne Reynolds, JD | January 30, 2017
dfusion

I am excited to be working on a new dfusion program called Live Your Best Life AHORA! This is an innovative teen pregnancy prevention and sexual risk reduction program for rural Hispanic youth and their parents in California’s Central Valley. Our program partner is the California Health Collaborative (CHC), which has worked closely with the community for many years to promote healthy practices.

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Tags: Pregnancy prevention, Adolescent health, Sexual risk reduction, Rural communities, Evidence-based interventions
Engaging Adolescents in Open Discussions About Sex: A Primary Care Response to Adolescent Sexual Health Risks
January 5, 2017

Engaging Adolescents in Open Discussions About Sex: A Primary Care Response to Adolescent Sexual Health Risks

By Jennifer Salerno, DNP | January 5, 2017
Founder, Possibilities for Change

How sexually active—and sexually risky—are today’s teens?

Scientific studies continue to support the notion that teens today actually have less sex than their parents did as teens. Yet nearly one in four teens will become pregnant by age 20, and half of the new STDs in the U.S. each year occur among people between the ages of 15 and 24. 

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Tags: Teens, Sexual and reproductive health, Technology
Keep Moving Forward: Responding to High STD Rates
November 10, 2016

Keep Moving Forward: Responding to High STD Rates

By Marcia Quackenbush, MS, MFT, MCHES | November 10, 2016
Senior Editor, ETR

STD rates are up. The CDC noted in a recent press release that reported STDs are at an “unprecedented high” in the U.S.

This sort of news is undeniably discouraging for those of us working the sexual and reproductive health arena. After all, we’ve been feeling rather upbeat and hopeful about the impressive drop in unplanned teen pregnancies—rates are down more than half over the past 20 years. 

By Marcia Quackenbush, MS, MFT, MCHES
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Tags: STDs, STD prevention, PrEP, Science
New Trends in Gay Male Relationships: The Choices Study
November 2, 2016

New Trends in Gay Male Relationships: The Choices Study

By Lanz Lowen, MS, MA and Blake Spears, MBA | November 2, 2016
Senior Consultant, The Mandana Group and Independent Healthcare Consultant

What are the relationships of young gay men like today? It can be surprisingly difficult to answer this question with confidence. Little research is being done on gay male couples—how they build and sustain their relationships, what they think about monogamy and marriage, what they believe about the attitudes of their peers.

This year, we completed our Choices study, which focused on gay men ages 18-40 and explored attitudes and practices about monogamy and marriage.

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Tags: Gay men, Romantic relationships, MSM
PrEP Gives Us More
October 11, 2016

PrEP Gives Us More

By Jim Pickett | October 11, 2016
Director of Prevention Advocacy and Gay Men's Health, AIDS Foundation of Chicago

PrEP has altered the landscape in HIV prevention in extraordinary and profound ways. It’s changing the lives of vulnerable individuals. It’s also bringing about big changes for the HIV workforce—health care providers, prevention specialists, outreach workers, social workers, educators and more. In fact, I believe we’ve entered the most dynamic period in our fight against HIV since 1996, when the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy revolutionized treatment and saved countless lives.

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Tags: HIV-AIDS, PrEP, HIV, HIV prevention

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