Teenagers

Top Ten Things To Do Before You Have Sex: a list for teenagers (updated for 2021)

July 8, 2021 Dr. Karen Rayne

(Just to be clear, this list is using the term “sex” as oral sex, anal sex, penis in vagina sex, sexual intercourse, or anything else that could result in a pregnancy or transmission of a STI.)1. Have an orgasm.Yes, before you start having sex, you should give yourself an orgasm.…

Why We Wrote a Handbook for Child Welfare Providers

April 28, 2021 Dr. Karen Rayne

While working as a case manager for youth in foster care, Monica realized that she had little idea how to provide information to youth to educate them about sex, sexuality, and their health. She saw a clear need after having very young adolescents ask for pregnancy tests, trying to explain…

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UN|HUSHED: The High School Curriculum

October 24, 2018 Dr. Karen Rayne

This week we are SO THRILLED to announce that our brand new high school curriculum is up and available for purchase and use! UN|HUSHED: The High School Curriculum, by Karen Rayne, PhD and Kirsten deFur, MPH is available exclusively through our online portal, accessible when you are logged into your account. This…

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Teenagers Are What We Have Going For Us

October 3, 2018 Dr. Karen Rayne

Teenagers are creative, visionary, engaged. They are immersed in the passion of discovery of life. They have a driving need to understand life in a way that is real and visceral. They want to find the wrongs and right them. Teenagers are like a mirror, reflecting adults and our culture,…

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Camping, Dancing, and Gender Roles

May 1, 2017 Dr. Karen Rayne

This weekend I was at an annual camping/swing dancing/swimming event that is a favored April event in our household. Some 250 – 300 people show up and put on the greatest party and potluck you could imagine! This year there were two aspects of the event that stood out to me:…

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Talking Together: Get a Foot in the Door, Not a Door in the Face

January 28, 2017 Ryan Dillon

As humans we communicate in many different ways and as technology changes our communication pathways will expand and become easier but complicated at the same time. What do I mean by that? With the rise of texting and social media it lessens the need for a key component to communication:…

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Let’s Talk About Sex….With Teenagers!

October 12, 2016 Ryan Dillon

Let’s Talk About Sex! Now, when most of us read those four words together our minds automatically start singing the Salt-N-Pepa song from the early 90’s. Hey, if that helps you think about sex then I say sing it loud and sing it proud! What I’m talking about is Breaking…

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First Moon Parties, humiliation, and humor

June 21, 2014 Dr. Karen Rayne

This ad has been circulating recently, and many people are highly amused. There are are also many outraged people. I get both sides on this one, because I think there’s both really good and really bad here. So let’s watch and then break it down a little bit: The good:…

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Condom Week: Today's debate: Providing condoms for your teens…?

June 6, 2014 Dr. Karen Rayne

No side: BUT THEN THEY’LL HAVE SEX! Yes side: But if they want to, they’ll have sex anyway. I do an experiment with my classes every now and then, for fun. I ask them through an anonymous question and answer system whether they plan to have sex later in the…

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