How to Help Parents Talk to Teenagers ABout Sexual Health
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Q: I have recently been hired as a social worker at a large residence in the Bronx, and my first job assignment from our director is to find a way to help parents talk to their young teens (ages 13-16, approximately) about sex. I am a bit concerned, since I am the newest face here, having this as my first on-the-job assignment; I do not have a relationship with these residents (many of them are Catholic and new to this country), and I believe that this is a difficult platform on which to begin. Any suggestions for me?
Q: I have recently been hired as a social worker at a large residence in the Bronx, and my first job assignment from our director is to find a way to help parents talk to their young teens (ages 13-16, approximately) about sex. I am a bit concerned, since I am the newest face here, having this as my first on-the-job assignment; I do not have a relationship with these residents (many of them are Catholic and new to this country), and I believe that this is a difficult platform on which to begin. Any suggestions for me?
A: Sex can be a difficult subject to discuss without feeling like you are "corrupting" certain populations, especially in regards to youth and their parents or guardians. It is important to remember that all of the information we are supplying as sexual health educators is based in common beliefs that we all
share: respecting and caring for yourself as well as the people you love, whether they be your family, your friends, or your partners.
If you are concerned about a lack of prior relationships with your parent population, you may want to begin with a type of mixer for parents of young teens. At that mixer, you could facilitate a discussion about common concerns they have with their growing children (possibly emphasizing issues surrounding puberty), and then generate a list from the issues brought to the table.
You can then make the parents aware of your resources (ie. Condomania, Planned Parenthood, local churches, etc.) and, using that generated list, you would be able to program for them accordingly based on their requests. It may feel more organic and community-based for them, letting them know that they are a necessary part of the planning process and showing them that no one is trying to "push" any ideas that they did not ask to learn about; you are simply providing them with knowledge and a wide variety of options, based on their common concerns as parents.
As a sexual health advocate and educator in New York City, I completely understand your concerns and wish you very the best of luck! Please let us know how it goes...
[Q&A] Posted by filchyboy at July 5, 2007 6:45 PM
