YWCA Evanston/North Shore to launch free sex education programs

As part of its growing effort to equip families with the resources they need to help young people build healthy relationships, YWCA Evanston/North Shore is launching sex education workshops for parents, middle schoolers, and high schoolers.The first offering is a free, one-hour workshop for parents and caregivers titled “Be Open, Be Honest,” which will be held virtually May 19, 20, and 21. Although the workshops are free, registration is required. To register, go to YWCA Evanston/North Shore’s calendar of events at www.ywca-ens.org/get-involved/calendar/.In June, the organization will launch its “Summer of Sex Ed” series of workshops for middle schoolers and high schoolers. The middle school workshops will be in-person at the newly renovated YWCA, and the high school workshops will be virtual.These groups are meant to help students build peer connections after an isolating year and explore vital health related topics in a safe space. Parents are encouraged to register their students only if they can attend most or all of the sessionsThe youth workshops are also free, but registration is required at www.ywca-ens.org/get-involved/calendar/.

“Honest, accurate information about sexuality can change lives,” said Hallie Cohen, YWCA’s violence prevention educator and trained sex educator. “Our goal is to provide sex education that dismantles stereotypes and assumptions, builds self-acceptance and self-esteem, improves decision making and fosters healthy relationships.”

Cohen, who will lead the workshops, added, “Navigating sex and relationships is hard enough for young people. Now the pandemic and its isolating effects have made this even harder. Our goal is to provide information, resources and a safe space to talk, giving families a pathway to ease back into normalcy.”For additional information, contact Hallie Cohen at hcohen@ywca-ens.org.