- SEXUAL HEALTH AND EDUCATION >>
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The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT): "a not-for-profit, interdisciplinary professional organization. In addition to sexuality educators, sexuality counselors and sex therapists, AASECT members include physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists, allied health professionals, clergy members, lawyers, sociologists, marriage and family counselors and therapists, family planning specialists and researchers, as well as students in relevant professional disciplines. These individuals share an interest in promoting understanding of human sexuality and healthy sexual behavior."
The Center for Leadership Education in Maternal and Child Public Health: "committed to improving the health of children, women and families. Center faculty and staff offer a Master's degree in Public Health (including an online degree program), continuing professional education, and consultation and technical assistance to community based organizations and agencies. Center faculty are involved in research in child health, adolescent health, family health, health disparities, reproductive health, and women's health."
Family Tree Clinic: cultivating "a healthy community through comprehensive sexual health care and education." Located in the heart of St. Paul, MN, "Family Tree Clinic has provided low-cost, patient driven health care and education services to men, women and teens since 1971. In addition to our medical clinic, we provide comprehensive community education services and education services for the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing community."
Good Vibrations: One of the oldest sex-positive female oriented sex shops in the United States, founded in 1977 by sex therapist Joani Blank in San Francisco’s Mission District. Originally a retailer of books and sex toys, it has added on sexological and adult sex films, and has opened up three more stores, today covering coast to coast.
The Kinsey Institute: "The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University works towards advancing sexual health and knowledge worldwide. For over 60 years, the institute has been a trusted source for investigating and informing the world about critical issues in sex, gender and reproduction."
Mothers' Voices: "strengthens family communication about sex, sexual health and HIV/AIDS/STD prevention through education and awareness. Our unique programs mobilize parents and caregivers to become their child's frontline sexual health educator; giving their children the information they need to make responsible choices."
Our Bodies Ourselves (OBOS): A nonprofit, public interest women’s health education, advocacy, and consulting organization, beginning in 1970 with the publication of the first edition of Our Bodies, Ourselves. “OBOS provides clear, truthful information about health, sexuality and reproduction from a feminist and consumer perspective. We vigorously advocate for women's health by challenging the institutions and systems that block women from full control over our bodies and devalue our lives … We remain one of the few women’s health groups in the U.S. that doesn’t accept funds from pharmaceutical companies and that tries to be scrupulous about conflict of interest.”
Planned Parenthood: "a trusted health care provider, an informed educator, a passionate advocate, and a global partner helping similar organizations around the world. Planned Parenthood delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of women, men, and young people worldwide."
The Red Pump Project: "raises awareness about the impact of of HIV/AIDS on women and girls."
The Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS): "founded in 1964 to provide education and information about sexuality and sexual and reproductive health."
Show Off Books: “aims to empower women and men by presenting, through the publication of books and other media, the reality of the human body.” As a reaction to the widespread increase in cosmetic genital surgery, their first book, I’ll Show You Mine, edited by Show Off Books founder Wrenna Robertson, is a photo study of sixty women’s genitals embracing the diversity of the vulvae, accompanied by the photographed women’s stories as they pertain to their genitals. Their website includes among other resources an educational page with more information.
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Freedom to Marry is the campaign to win the right to same-sex marriage nationwide. "Forty-five states continue to exclude same-sex couples from marriage, and through the so-called 'Defense of Marriage Act' (DOMA), the federal government refuses to honor the marriages of thousands of legally-wed same-sex couples, depriving them of the 1,000+ federal protections and responsibilities that come with marriage." The campaign partners with individuals and organizations across the country. It was launched in 2003 by civil rights attorney Evan Wolfson.
Heart to Heart Couples' Retreats: a nondenominational program for opposite-sex and same-sex couples, married or not, founded in 1994 to offer "all committed couples the opportunity to examine their relationship together. Retreats offered in Minnesota and Wisconsin are rooted in the belief "that the heart of the family, the couple, mirrors and shapes the future transformation of the world. It is also rooted in the action taken by a group of people who volunteer their time and who are committed to bringing about change because of their belief that “when people connect as people, not labels, they can meet face-to-face to overcome differences in how to define the words 'marriage' and 'family.'"
>> SPECIFIC TO ADOLESCENTS
Advocates for Youth: "Established in 1980 as the Center for Population Options, Advocates for Youth champions efforts to help young people make informed and responsible decisions about their reproductive and sexual health. Advocates believes it can best serve the field by boldly advocating for a more positive and realistic approach to adolescent sexual health." Includes advice for parents on how to talk with their kids about sex.
girls inc.: "A nonprofit organization that inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold through a network of local organizations in the United States and Canada." Major programs address math and science education, pregnancy and drug abuse prevention, media literacy, economic literacy, adolescent health, violence prevention, and sports participation.
Healthy Teen Network: "devoted to making a difference in the lives of teens and young families. We are a national organization focused on adolescent health and well-being with an emphasis on teen pregnancy prevention, teen pregnancy, and teen parenting.
Minnesota Kinky Youth (MinKY): "MinKY is a pansexual kinky group located in the Twin Cities, Minnesota serving local people between the ages of 18-35. We organize educational classes and recreational gatherings with the goal of helping kinky youth make informed lifestyle decisions."
Minnesota Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Prevention and Parenting (MOAPPP): "the statewide leader in promoting adolescent sexual health, preventing adolescent pregnancy and gaining support for adolescent parents. We achieve this by developing, strengthening and advancing science-based policies and programs."
National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy: Organization dedicated to reducing teenage pregnancies in the United States. They have resources on how parents can become involved.
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities: Special focus is children and youth (birth to age 22). Also have resources on teaching children with disabilities about sexuality.
Office of Adolescent Health (OAH): Established by the Obama administration, “The Office of Adolescent Health (OAH) coordinates adolescent health programs and initiatives across the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services related to adolescent health promotion and disease prevention.” The Office administrates funds for the new Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative that replace former abstinence-only federal funding programs.
Scarleteen: Founded in 1998 by Heather Corinna (the author of S.E.X.), Scarleteen “is an independent, grassroots sexuality education and support organization and website.” A widely popular interactive resource, Scarleteen was created and built based on what young people asked for. Its “content and approach is original and strongly youth-driven but is also in alignment with current guidelines for comprehensive sexuality education for adolescents such as those suggested by SIECUS (US), UNESCO (International), the National Health Education Standards (US) and Sex and Relationships Education (UK).”
Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM): "The only national organization (with members from 30 countries worldwide) dedicated exclusively to advancing the health and well-being of well-being of adolescents."
>> FIGHTING SEXUAL VIOLENCE, OFFERING SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS
Court Appointed Special Advocates For Children: "a network of 1,000 program offices that are recruiting, training and supporting volunteers to represent the best interests of abused and neglected children in the courtroom and other settings."
The HOPE Center: "The mission of HOPE Center is to create zero tolerance for sexual and domestic violence through Healing, Outreach, Prevention and Education."
Prevent Child Abuse America: dedicated to "building awareness, providing education and inspiring hope to everyone involved in the effort to prevent the abuse and neglect of our nation's children."
Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN): "The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network is the nation's largest anti-sexual assault organization. RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE and the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline at rainn.org, and publicizes the hotline's free, confidential services; educates the public about sexual assault; and leads national efforts to prevent sexual assault, improve services to victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice."
Sexual Violence Center (SVC): an independent non-profit organization working throughout the Twin Cities metro area providing youth and adults with 24-hour crisis phone service, individual counseling, support groups, advocacy and legal clinics at no cost. SVC was established in 1985 by a group of advocates and community leaders, with the twin goals of supporting individuals affected by sexual violence and fostering attitude changes that will ultimately eradicate sexual violence.
V-Day: "V-Day is a global activist movement to stop violence against women and girls. V-Day is a catalyst that promotes creative events to increase awareness, raise money and revitalize the spirit of existing anti-violence organizations. V-Day generates broader attention for the fight to stop violence against women and girls, including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation (FGM) and sex slavery."
Violence UnSilenced: "Violence UnSilenced features two personal testimonies each week written by survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and sexual abuse. The site was created in February 2009 to shed light within the blogging community on abuse by giving survivors a voice."
