Develop fun, educational approaches that encourage
family involvement and provide opportunities
for the sharing of information and values.
To help them communicate about sexuality-related issues, families
may find that fun, educational approaches—including newsletters,
board games, celebrations, and videos—are useful aids to sharing
information and values while easing anxiety.
Families Are Talking (UPDATED)
Organization: Sexuality Information and Education Council of the
United States, New York, NY
Original Target Audience: Parents and caregivers nationwide
Language: Materials in English and Spanish
Families Are Talking, first published by SIECUS in 2001, is a quarterly
newsletter for families that includes tips, communication guidelines, and
family activities to help increase dialogue between parents, caregivers,
and young people on sexuality-related issues. The Spanish version, La Familia Habla, is also available. In an effort to reach parents and their children, SIECUS has
distributed the newsletter to libraries, schools, and
community-based organizations free of charge. In addition, all issues are available in the publications section of http://www.familiesaretalking.org and http://www.lafamiliahabla.org and can be printed for distribution.
For more information:
Families Are Talking
Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States
Amy Levine
130 West 42nd Street, Suite 350
New York, NY 10036-7802
Phone: 212/819-9770
Fax: 212/819-9776
E-mail: alevine@siecus.org
Web site: http://www.familiesaretalking.org
Safari of Life
Organization: Program for Appropriate Technology in Health, Washington, DC
Original Target Audience: Families in Africa
Language: Materials in English
To encourage communication about sexuality among family
members, youth and/or youth-serving adults, the Program for
Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) designed the board
game Safari of Life.
Created for young people age 10 and older, the game was originally
developed as a medium to discuss female genital cutting in Africa.
This easily adaptable game is also useful in many other settings to
help create energetic, positive discussions about sexuality among
young people and adults.
Safari of Life is designed to support the goals of comprehensive
sexuality education programs by addressing information on physiology,
STDs, HIV/AIDS, contraception, and related topics. It integrates
this information through game cards that ask sexuality-related
questions and that also cover people's attitudes, values, insights,
relationship and interpersonal skills, and responsibilities. An additional
set of game cards, A Young Man's Journey, includes information on
male physiology, violence, and homophobia. It is geared toward
older adolescents and adults.
Safari of Life has been adapted and translated for use in other
countries. It is currently used in Rwanda and Madagascar, where it
was adapted and translated by Population Services International.
In addition, a collaboration between the University of Washington
and the World Population Foundation has resulted in a
Vietnamese version titled Journey to the Future, and the PATH
Philippines Foundation adapted the model to create a Filipino
game called Hop the Isles.
Safari of Life
"Two long-term values of the games apparently lie in their
ability to address knowledge, attitudes, and practices and
to pave the way for increased communication about
these issues.
The greatest barrier to the games is getting them 'off the
shelf.' Many of our players were dubious about the games
(they couldn't picture them, they thought they'd be a waste
of time, have no purpose, not be fun, not be appropriate
for a serious topic, and might put the player 'on the spot').
But within minutes of starting, players usually became
game advocates."
-Program for Appropriate Technology in Health
For more information:
Safari of Life
Program for Appropriate Technology in Health
Games for Health Team
1800 K Street, N.W., Suite 800
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: 202/822-0033
Fax: 202/457-1466
E-mail: info@path-dc.org
Web site: http://www.path.org
Ordering information for game:
Learning Zone Express
P. O. Box 1022
Owatonna, MN 55060
Phone: 888/455-7003
507/455-9076
Fax: 507/455-3380
E-mail: melanie@learningzonexpress.com
Web site: http://www.learningzonexpress.com
Me, My Body & Mom: Sharing a Rite of Passage (UPDATED)
Organization: Planned Parenthood of Southern New Jersey,
Camden, NJ
Original Target Audience: African American, Latina, and White girls going
through puberty and their mothers/caregivers in the local community
Language: Materials in English
Me, My Body & Mom: Sharing a Rite of Passage is a manual to help
plan a puberty "party" designed for a small, intimate group of six
to eight girls and their mothers (or another significant adult) to
celebrate girls' entrance into puberty with an in-home party.
Conceived by a volunteer at Planned Parenthood of Southern
New Jersey in 1996, the party provides an opportunity for a
young girl and her mother to share and learn about puberty in a
safe and intimate environment with other girls and women. The
intimacy of this program is akin to how past generations of
women shared knowledge, stories, and advice as they worked.
The girls and moms learn factual information about the physical
changes of puberty and celebrate this female rite of passage by
making Passage Beads which represent the different phases of the
menstrual cycle. Parents are encouraged to discuss the emotional
changes of puberty with their daughters on their own after
the party.
Me, My Body & Mom: Sharing a Rite of Passage
"Most parents would like to have a guest speaker conduct
activities so they can share the experiences with their daughters.
Each test party, done with a diverse mix, ended the same
way. . .with the girls on their mothers' lap. Some parties were
very elaborate (using cakes shaped like a uterus and party
bags with new panties and pads for each girl) and some were
not (not even refreshments)."
-Planned Parenthood of Southern New Jersey
|
"This is a wonderful way for daughters and mothers to celebrate this rite of passage. The intimacy of this program is akin to how past generations of women shared knowledge, stories, and advice. It provides an opportunity to talk about this profound change with other females, help normalized the process, and promote positive female self image."
-Joyce Lappin
|
For more information:
Me, My Body & Mom: Sharing a Rite of Passage
Planned Parenthood of Southern New Jersey
Joyce Lappin
317 Broadway
Camden, NJ 08103
Phone: 856/365-3519, extension 222
Fax: 856/365-9215
E-mail: joyce.lappin@ppfa.org
Web site: http://www.ppsnj.org/me,_my_body_&_mom.htm
Talking about Sex: A Guide for Families
Organization: Planned Parenthood Federation of America,
New York, NY
Original Target Audience: Parents/caregivers and their children
10 to 14 years of age nationwide
Language: Video and materials in English
Talking About Sex: A Guide for Families (1996) is a video kit that
includes a video, activity book, and parent's guide, all produced by
Planned Parenthood Federation of America. This video consists
of animated vignettes of family members discussing feelings, questions,
and concerns about sexuality-related issues, including puberty
and relationships. It is a tool to help parents and their children
10 through 14 years of age initiate or continue conversations
about sexuality-related topics.
Talking About Sex: A Guide for Families
"While Talking about Sex is a wonderful resource, we did not
allocate enough funding to market and distribute it effectively
and thoroughly."
-Planned Parenthood Federation of America
For more information:
Talking About Sex: A Guide for Families
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Estelle Raboni
810 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019
Phone 212/261-4628
Fax: 212/247-6269
E-mail: estelle.raboni@ppfa.org
Web site: http://www.plannedparenthood.org
Ordering information for video:
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
810 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019
Phone: 800/669-0156
Fax: 212/261-4352
Web site: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/store
