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Population Health & Education

When people have the knowledge and resources they need to make informed and voluntary choices about their sexual and reproductive health, whole communities benefit.  

To achieve this vision, the Population Health Department is dedicated to: 

  • Ensuring equal access to healthcare services and information. 

  • Taking a holistic approach to improving community health. 

  • Engaging and collaborating with diverse communities. 

We pursue these ideals every day through partnerships and programs across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. We meet people where they are — in schools, community centers, treatment facilities, and beyond — with information and skills tailored to the needs of our communities. Specific offerings may vary by state and community. To learn more, please contact us at [email protected]. 

Examples of our programs and services include:

  • Peer Education: Our Peer Education Program equips youth ages 14-18 with the knowledge and skills they need to serve as sexual health resources for their peers. This unique leadership opportunity empowers youth to be agents of positive change for themselves, their peers, and their communities. Learn more here.  
  • School-Based Sex Education: PPNNE supports schools and community organizations to provide sex education that meets the needs of all students. Young people deserve age-appropriate, medically accurate information and answers to their questions about sex and relationships, without being shamed or judged. Get Real is one such curriculum for middle and high school students. It supports parents and caring adults as the primary sexuality educators of their children. 
  • Trainings for Professionals: Sexual health affects every part of our lives, so it’s no surprise that people approach a wide range of caring professionals with their concerns. We support healthcare providers, social workers, counselors, teachers, and other professionals with training to guide conversations about sexual health and simplify referrals for specialized education and care. Learn more about our referral resources here and our remote trainings & webinars here. 
  • Community Education: Reproductive anatomy. Reproductive life planning. Birth control. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). LGBTQ+ health. Consent. Healthy relationships. These are just some of the topics we cover in learning sessions designed with community partners. In recovery centers, prisons and transitional houses, schools, and community centers, we meet people where they are with engaging and nonjudgmental programs relevant to their lives. 
  • Policy Assistance: We help schools and other entities adopt policies that promote sexual health. Examples of these policies include referral processes for sexual health services and programs that expand access to free condoms and dental dams. 
  • Contraception Kits: We sell kits filled with sample birth control methods for use in demonstrations about contraception and safer sex. These kits are excellent tools for school nurses, teachers, sex educators, and other professionals. They can be purchased here. 
  • Remote Learning Support: PPNNE’s Population Health and Education teams are here to help during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are teaching sex education for adolescents and teens, and are interested in technical support and resources, please reach out to us! We offer virtual guest presentations, webinars, online lesson plans, and other content to support online sex education. Our youth peer education programs are continuing to meet virtually too. Other ideas to work together or support each other during this time are welcome. To connect with us, please contact [email protected].