Highlights, Events & Resources
PRC Faculty & Staff Highlights
2023 Sex Ed on the Hill
HYD-PRC staff, Jill Farris (Director of Adolescent Sexual Health Education and Training) and Jamie Grilz (Deputy Director and trainer) joined SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change and the Sex Education Policy Action Council (SEPAC) for the 2023 Sex Ed on the Hill event in Washington DC in late September. Farris and Grilz participated in experiential networking, expert panels, and experiential skill-building workshops and were able to harness their stories and experiences as sex educators to speak with the offices of Representative Phillips, Senator Smith, and Senator Klobuchar. Their ask to these federal offices is to champion inclusive, evidence-based, and medically accurate sex education for every young person and to fight for a world where all youth receive the sexual and reproductive health information they need and deserve!
(Re)Imagining Justice for Youth - Restorative Justice and Restorative Practices
In collaboration with the Ramsey County’s Attorney’s Office, HYD-PRC researcher Kara Beckman, HYD-PRC program evaluator Angelina Gacad, and HYD-PRC Director Rebecca Shlafer authored the (Re)Imagining Justice for Youth evaluation report. This report aims to transform the legal system to be more restorative, helping youth learn and grow through developmentally appropriate responses, and advancing safety and wellness within the community.
Beckman has also been featured on Protect Minnesota: 52 Reasons Why and The London School of Economics and Political Science blog talking about restorative justice. Beckman, Gacad, and colleagues’, “Reducing Re-arrest Through Community-Led, Police-Initiated Restorative Justice Diversion Tailored for Youth,” was published in Crime & Delinquency.
Adolescent Sexual Health Report Featured on Kare 11
In June, Jill Farris, HYD-PRC Director of Adolescent Sexual Health Training and Education, was featured on Kare 11 news highlighting the 2023 Minnesota Adolescent Sexual Health Report. Farris stated, “STIs decreased, but so did access to testing and treatment. The pregnancy rate increased, which may be due to reduced access to condoms and contraception during the pandemic. We are only just beginning to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health of youth. Clinicians and educators must continue to utilize innovative strategies to meet the sexual health needs of youth.” To access the full interview, click here.
Governor’s Children’s Cabinet Advisory Council
HYD-PRC Director Rebecca Shlafer was reappointed to the Minnesota’s Children’s Cabinet by Governor Tim Walz. This cabinet is a broad interagency partnership that utilizes a whole family approach to support the healthy development of children and families.
Events, Trainings & Resources
State Adolescent Health Resource Center
We are sad to share that the State Adolescent Health Resource Center (SAHRC) in the University of Minnesota’s Division of Pediatrics and Adolescent Health has closed its doors as of September 1, 2023. Thirty years ago, SAHRC was established by federal funding from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau as a resource and technical assistance center for adolescent health-focused staff in state Title V/MCH programs. We have been sustained, and grown exponentially, through the years by MCHB funding, and have been proud and excited to apply for each iteration of competitive funding over the years.
SAHRC’s 30-year legacy as the primary source of training, technical assistance, and infrastructure support for the National Network of State Adolescent Health Coordinators and Title V/MCH professionals focused on adolescent and young adult health in 59 states and HRSA jurisdictions.
Wanted!! YouthCHAT Educators
Do you know any young people who are interested in acting and helping to train? We are looking to hire YouthCHAT Educators (formerly youth “actors”). These are young people who work as “actors” with our clinical trainees on their clinical interviewing skills. These young people will also have the opportunity to advise the Division in the development of our broader Youth Advisory Board (for which we’ll be hiring in the coming months). Please share this link (Job ID357759) with any young people who might be interested! If you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Lynn Bretl ([email protected]).
Sex Education Collaborative – Training & Resource Opportunities
Did you know that the HYD-PRC's Training and Communications team are a part of the Sex Education Collaborative (SEC)? The SEC represents 27 national, regional, and state-based organizations with extensive experience training educators to deliver school-based sex education. In partnership with these organizations, you will find the HYD-PRC's training offerings on the Sex Education Collaborative Training Hub.