Trained educators throughout Minnesota provide sex education to youth and adults in their communities. Planned Parenthood is committed to providing sex education that is nonjudgmental, medically accurate, and culturally responsive. Culturally specific education programming helps to remove barriers to growing healthier communities. All programming is free.
Apply to be on the Twin Cities Teen Council!
We are currently accepting applications for the Twin Cities Teen Council for the 2023-2024 school year! If you will be a 10th, 11th, or 12th-grade student during the upcoming school year and interested, please fill out an application!
Youth programs build future leaders by giving teenagers reliable information about reproductive and sexual health that they can share with their friends and family, and connect youth with resources to stay healthy and make a difference in their community. Education programs for youth range from the opportunity to become a peer educator—sharing valuable reproductive health information to peers and family—to receiving tailored individual education about a variety of reproductive health topics. Participants receive reliable, accurate information they need to make responsible decisions and stay healthy. Parental permission is required for all youth programs.
SEASHELLS (Southeast Asian Sexual Health Empowerment through Learning and Leadership) is a peer education program for Southeast Asian youth ages 13–17.
Native STAND (Students Together Against Negative Decisions) is a peer education program for Native American youth ages 13-19 in the Bemidji region. Participants learn about sex education topics such as reproductive anatomy, family planning, and healthy relationships.
¡Qué Onda! (What’s Up!) is a peer education program for Latinx youth ages 14-18 in Minneapolis and Richfield. Participants learn about sex education topics such as reproductive anatomy, family planning, and healthy relationships. Program facilitators are bilingual in Spanish and English.
ROTO (Reach One Teach One) is a peer education program for youth ages 13-18 offered at various locations in Minnesota. Participants learn about sex education topics such as reproductive anatomy, family planning, and healthy relationships.
Safer Sex Intervention (SSI) is an innovative, evidence-based intervention that works to reduce sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and teen pregnancy among high-risk females ages 10-19 through ongoing one-on-one reproductive health education, motivational interviewing, and youth development. SSI is offered in partnership with Planned Parenthood’s Richfield, Rice Street, and Rochester health centers.
MN Taking SHAPE (Sexual Health and Prevention Education) is a series of reproductive and sexual health education classes delivered in collaboration with community partners to Native American youth and adults in the Bemidji region. Participants can learn about healthy relationships, health exams, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), anatomy and pregnancy through culturally relevant discussion and structured activities.
Teen Council is a comprehensive year-long youth development program in the Twin Cities, Rochester, and Duluth for youth in 10th to 12th grade. The program’s three main areas of focus are education, advocacy, and service. Council members contribute to their communities by giving formal classroom presentations to other teens, participating in community service projects, and advocating for reproductive rights.
Youth Power is a peer education program for African immigrant youth ages 13-17 in the Twin Cities and Rochester areas. Participants learn about sex education topics such as reproductive anatomy, family planning, and healthy relationships.
Adult program participants attend educational sessions on healthy sexuality and reproductive health and become trusted resources for information and education in their communities. Education programs for adults range from offering the chance to get valuable training on reproductive health to empowering parents to be their child’s primary sexuality educator. Participants build confidence about sexual health issues and become resources for their families and communities.
ASKK (Anishinaabe Sexual Knowledge Keepers) is a Lay Health Advisor program for Native American adults in the Bemidji and Cass Lake areas. Participants learn about sex education topics such as family planning, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS, and healthy relationships.
Entre Amigas (Among Girlfriends) is a Lay Health Advisor program for Latina women presented in Spanish and offered in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Participants learn about sex education topics such as family planning, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS, and healthy relationships.
Partnership Project is a Lay Health Advisor program for African immigrant adults in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Participants learn about sex education topics such as family planning, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS, and healthy relationships.
PASE (Parents Are Sexuality Educators) is a free class for parents who want to learn how to have comfortable, matter-of-fact conversations with their children or teens about sexuality. Available as a single presentation or a multi-session series.
Culturally specific parent-child retreats are offered for mothers or female-identified mentors and their children, ages 10-12, in select locations for African immigrant, Native American, Hmong, and Latinx communities in Minnesota. Activities are designed to support positive parent-child communication about puberty and sexuality and to emphasize the value of building healthy relationships.
