Community Level Indicators

• Adolescent sexual health comprises much more than the absence of pregnancy or disease. To fully support young people’s health, we need to address their physical, social/emotional, cognitive and spiritual development. • Honest, accurate and developmentally appropriate information from parents is the first step toward raising healthy children who make responsible decisions about sex, sexuality and relationships. Parents/guardians need to be supported in their role as educators. • The systems that educate young people are not providing the supports needed to ensure sexual health. Schools, out-of-school time programs, clinics and faith communities must be better equipped to deal directly with sexual health topics. • The normalization of sexual violence is pervasive in our culture. It is time to work across sectors to change negative social norms and educate young people about healthy relationships. • Minnesota programs and policies inadequately address the unique needs of adolescent parents and their children. Young parents need access to confidential sexual health services, home visiting services and parenting support. • We will not make further progress improving adolescent sexual health without directly addressing social factors such as education, income, housing and livable communities. Programs, practices and policies must be crafted through a healthy youth development lens so that they support rather than hinder healthy development. • Disparities in pregnancy, birth, STIs and HIV rates persist. We need to assure that sufficient time and financial resources are directed to serve those youth at highest risk of adverse health outcomes, including those who are homeless, LGBTQ, in foster care, or from populations of color