Teens Give Advice for Having ‘The Talk’
Community & Healthcare Partner Spotlight –
El Paso
The Youth Advisory Board (YAB) is a diverse, teen-led committee created to maintain and raise community awareness about teen-related topics. YAB scholars are selected to raise advocacy and promote impactful change. YAB participates in and leads youth-related projects to benefit their communities. YAB started at Ntarupt, which is now the HEALTHY FUTURES OF TEXAS – Dallas branch.
Hearing from Young Texans
Gisel, 15 years old
Youth Advisory Board Member – Dallas
Did your parents talk to you about sexual health?
- My parents have talked to me about sexual health and their advice was to always think before having sex and to always protect myself.
What do you wish your parents would have said?
- In my opinion, I think my parents have told me the important basics that make me feel comfortable.
Can you share a few tips for today’s Hispanic parents to make it easier for them to talk to their kids about sexual health?
- My tip is to not be scared and talk to your kids the way it is. If you have to sugarcoat it, then do that it’s very important for their kids to understand these things.
Jaiden, 14 years old
Youth Advisory Board Member – Cedar Hill
Did your parents talk to you about sexual health?
- They told me not to get a girl pregnant until I am married.
What do you wish your parents would have said?
- I think what they said is fine.
Can you share a few tips for today’s Hispanic parents to make it easier for them to talk to their kids about sexual health?
- I think it would be good if parents sit down with their teens when they are about 13 and have a heartfelt conversation about it in a calming voice.
America, 13 years old
Youth Advisory Board Member – Dallas
Did your parents talk to you about sexual health?
- No, my parents have never spoken to me about sexual health.
What do you wish your parents would have said?
- I wish my parents would’ve sat me down to talk about it and started by telling me that it’s not weird at all to learn or know about sexual health.
Can you share a few tips for today’s Hispanic parents to make it easier for them to talk to their kids about sexual health?
- Approach them like you would normally, it will be less awkward if you are not overly serious.
- Humor is a great way to release any negative tension.
- Don’t try to conceal any words. The human anatomy isn’t derogatory, so why try to hide it? In my opinion, when I see other parents trying to hide words, it makes me uncomfortable and unsure.
Community & Healthcare Partner – Project Vida Health Center
The mission of Project Vida Health Center is to identify the comprehensive vision of the community for its future and to develop community-based structures and programs to implement that vision in light of the needs and direction of the wider society. Since its start, Project Vida has aided in bringing solutions and resources to the community they serve: building affordable low-income rental housing; building clinics and providing high quality, low-cost healthcare; creating a homelessness prevention and recovery program; developing a best practice, curriculum-based early childhood education program; offering dynamic after-school enrichment; and providing microenterprise technical assistance and support.
“We are passionate about women’s health because we believe that a healthy community starts with healthy mothers. Hispanics have long been marginalized in terms of healthcare in the state of Texas and maternal morbidity and mortality are at an all-time high. We need to do everything in our power to make sure we provide access to high-quality reproductive care for our community.” – Dr. Luis R. Garza, MD, Chief Medical Officer Project Vida Health Center
