Advocates for Youth is a

nonprofit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

and

advocacy group Advocacy groups, also known as interest groups, special interest groups, lobbying groups or pressure groups use various forms of advocacy in order to influence public opinion and ultimately policy. They play an important role in the developm ...

based in

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

, United States, dedicated to

sexuality education Sex education, also known as sexual education, sexuality education or sex ed, is the instruction of issues relating to human sexuality, including emotional relations and responsibilities, human sexual anatomy, sexual activity, sexual reproduct ...

, the prevention of HIV and of

sexually transmitted disease Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), also referred to as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and the older term venereal diseases, are infections that are spread by sexual activity, especially vaginal intercourse, anal sex, and oral ...

teenage pregnancy Teenage pregnancy, also known as adolescent pregnancy, is pregnancy in a female adolescent or young adult under the age of 20. This includes those who are legally considered adults in their country. The WHO defines adolescence as the period bet ...

prevention, youth access to

condoms A condom is a sheath-shaped barrier device used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability of pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection (STI). There are both male and female condoms. With proper use—and use at every act of inte ...

and

contraception Birth control, also known as contraception, anticonception, and fertility control, is the use of methods or devices to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth contr ...

(including

emergency contraception Emergency contraception (EC) is a birth control measure, used after sexual intercourse to prevent pregnancy. There are different forms of EC. Emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs), sometimes simply referred to as emergency contraceptives (ECs), o ...

), equality for

LGBT ' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity. The LGBT term is a ...

youth, and

youth participation ''Youth participation'' is the active engagement of young people throughout their own communities. It is often used as a shorthand for youth participation in any many forms, including decision-making, sports, schools and any activity where young p ...

. In addition, Advocates for Youth sponsors media campaigns and other forms of outreach which attempt to change societal norms to be more understanding of, accepting, of, and responsible about youth

sexuality Human sexuality is the way people experience and express themselves sexually. This involves biological, psychological, physical, erotic, emotional, social, or spiritual feelings and behaviors. Because it is a broad term, which has varied ...

and to drive youth sexual health equity. Advocates for Youth has both domestic and international programs and creates and funds programs as well as

lobbying In politics, lobbying, persuasion or interest representation is the act of lawfully attempting to influence the actions, policies, or decisions of government officials, most often legislators or members of regulatory agency, regulatory agencie ...

for policies, including the Responsible Education About Life Act. Among its work is the preparation of educational materials, such as a publicity kit encouraging parents to talk to their children about HIV prevention, under contract from government bodies such as the

Center for Disease Control The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the national public health agency of the United States. It is a United States federal agency, under the Department of Health and Human Services, and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgi ...

Mission and vision

Advocates for Youth's mission reads: "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 a more positive and realistic approach to adolescent sexual health." The organization also has a vision that is described in terms of its core values, the "3Rs". Those three Rs are rights (to accurate and complete sexual health information, confidential reproductive and sexual health services, and a secure stake in the future), respect (for youth by involving them in all aspects of programs that affect them), and responsibility (to provide youth with tools to safeguard sexual health, and for youth to protect themselves from pregnancy and STIs). Current sexuality education programs vary widely in the accuracy of content, emphasis, and effectiveness. Studies have shown that programs vary in effectiveness for all ages, races and ethnicities, socioeconomic groups, and geographic areas. The values of Advocates for Youth come from the observations of participants on an annual study tour in France, Germany, and the Netherlands that Advocates for Youth conducts to investigate reasons for better sexual health outcomes in those countries. In the United States, only 28 states are obligated to teach both sex education and HIV education in public schools.

Policies

James Wagoner, the former president of Advocates for Youth, has described the organization's policies as an outgrowth of their support for "research-based public health policy" - rather than politically motivated. The organization vocally opposed the sex education policies of George W. Bush's presidential administration, also criticizing the restoration of funds to abstinence-only education during the passage of the

Affordable Care Act The Affordable Care Act (ACA), formally known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and colloquially known as Obamacare, is a landmark U.S. federal statute enacted by the 111th United States Congress and signed into law by Presid ...

(Obamacare). Policy priorities at the state, national, and foreign policy levels all focus around the general areas of reproductive health, rights and justice, and access to comprehensive LGBTQ-affirming, culturally responsive sex education, STI prevention, HIV prevention, treatment and care, and LGBT youth health and rights.

Programs

Advocates for Youth works heavily in collaboration with national, state, and local groups to run a number of initiatives. These focus on goals including contraceptive access for youth, prevention of unplanned pregnancy, STI prevention, comprehensive LGBTQ-affirming and culturally responsive sex education, sex education teacher training, and ending homophobia and transphobia against youth. All the programs and initiatives heavily involve youth as stakeholders. The Youth Activist Network, one of the biggest programs, focuses on youth activism and leadership. Young people work in partnership with Advocates' staff to implement campaigns and mobilize their peers in support of youth sexual health rights and justice.

References

External links

* {{Authority control Organizations established in 1980 Non-profit organizations based in Washington, D.C. HIV/AIDS prevention organizations Sex education advocates LGBT youth organizations based in the United States

Mission and vision

Policies

Programs

See also

References

External links