Training for Adults by Adults
Training for Adults by Adults
ICAH’s Training and Education Department offers a variety of professional development opportunities for adults who work to support the sexual health, identity, and rights of youth. The content of our training is in accordance with our mission, vision, and reproductive justice and youth development philosophies. All information presented reflects our approach to sexuality education that is medically accurate, developmentally- & age-appropriate, culturally sensitive, trauma-informed, and inclusive of youth with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning identities.
In-Service Trainings (Throughout Illinois)
ICAH facilitates in-service professional development trainings to educators and youth service providers throughout Illinois through community-based organizations, local school districts, and regional offices of education. All In-Service Training opportunities are offered fee-for-service on a sliding scale and we can work with your agency or organization to develop a package that fits your budget.
Adult Ally Trainings (Chicago)
Adult Ally Trainings are offered to Chicago-area individuals who want to increase their knowledge and improve their skills related to ICAH’s mission and priorities. These trainings are specifically targeted to youth workers and other professionals who are interested in learning more about how to support young people and their sexual health, identity, and rights. Adult Ally Trainings are held on a monthly basis at the ICAH office
in Chicago. Visit the Training Calendar
to learn more about upcoming Adult Ally Trainings.
For more information about ICAH’s Training & Education offerings, contact Joy Messinger, MPH, MSW, CHES, Manager of Sexual Health Education, at joy@icah.org or at 312-427-4460 x239.
ICAH Training and Education Workshops
Choose from the following Training and Education Workshops to meet your agency or organization’s professional development needs. Estimated workshop lengths are given but can be modified based on your scheduling and availability.
Following are the training sessions led by adults currently available for professionals and caregivers:
- Positive Approaches to Adolescent Sexual Health
- Creating Safe Spaces: Adolescent Sexual and Gender Identity
- The Sexual Rights of Youth in Illinois
- Sexual Health Education That Works
- HIV Prevention Training for Illinois Teachers
- Working at the Intersections: An Overview and History of Reproductive Justice
- Better Together: Building and Strengthening Youth-Adult Partnerships
- Healthy Adolescent Relationships
- Organizing for Sexual Health Education Policy Change
- Additional Training & Education Department Opportunities
Positive Approaches to Adolescent Sexual Health Positive Approaches to Adolescent Sexual Health
Estimated: 1-1.5 hours per sexual health topic chosen
This workshop will provide an overview of various sexual health topics, modeling ICAH’s medically accurate, developmentally- & age-appropriate, culturally sensitive, trauma-informed, and LGBTQQ inclusive approach to sexual health education. Participants will increase knowledge on these topics and skills for facilitation and answering difficult questions.
Customize this workshop by choosing the sexual health topics most relevant to your youth population(s) and professional development needs:
- Anatomy of the Sexual Experience
- Puberty, Menstruation, and Child & Adolescent Development
- Identifying and Preventing Sexually Transmitted Infections
- Safer Sex and Methods of Protection & Prevention
- Methods of Communication and Negotiation
Creating Safe Spaces: Adolescent Sexual and Gender Identity Creating Safe Spaces: Adolescent Sexual and Gender Identity
Estimated: 2-3 Hours
This workshop will provide an overview of sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as how to create safe spaces for young people who identify in various ways along sexuality and gender spectrums. Participants will increase their own knowledge and skills of how to be allies for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQQ) youth.
The Sexual Rights of Youth in Illinois The Sexual Rights of Youth in Illinois
Estimated: 1.5-2 Hours
This workshop will provide an overview of the rights of young people related to sexual and reproductive healthcare and access. Participants will increase their knowledge of minor consent and confidentiality laws in Illinois so that they can better serve and/or advocate for youth they work with and/or support.
Sexual Health Education that Works Sexual Health Education That Works
Estimated: 2.5-3 hours
This workshop will provide an overview of the importance of sexuality education, as well as introducing Illinois health education laws and the National Sexuality Education Standards. Participants will increase their knowledge of evidence-based curricula and expert-recommended components for sexuality education.
* Teachers outside of the City of Chicago will receive one copy of the sexual health education curriculum of their choice free of charge through our partnership with the Illinois State Board of Education.
HIV Prevention Training for Illinois Teachers HIV Prevention Training for Illinois Teachers
Estimated: 3 hours
In this workshop, ICAH will share the importance of having and maintaining updated information related to HIV and STD transmission and prevention. Teachers will be given resources to share with their students and they will choose which activities to use within their classrooms from a selection of curricula.
* Teachers outside the City of Chicago will receive one copy of the sexual health education curriculum of their choice free of charge through our partnership with the Illinois State Board of Education.
Working at the Intersections: An Overview and History of Reproductive Justice Working at the Intersections: An Overview and History of Reproductive Justice
Estimated: 3 hours
This workshop will introduce participants to the concepts of reproductive justice and injustice and their histories for women, youth, and other historically marginalized groups in the US. In addition to learning about the connections between reproductive justice, reproductive rights, and reproductive health, participants will gain skills for integration of reproductive justice concepts into their work with young people.
Better Together: Building and Strengthening Youth-Adult Partnerships Better Together: Building and Strengthening Youth-Adult Partnerships
Estimated: 3 hours
This workshop will provide an introduction to youth development and the system of adultism. Participants will gain skills for integrating awareness of both concepts into their own youth work, program planning, and evaluation.
Healthy Adolescent Relationships Healthy Adolescent Relationships
Estimated: 1.5-2 hours
This workshop focuses on how to work with young people to describe and recognize healthy relationships. Information is also included on teen dating and intimate partner violence and how to support youth.
Organizing for Sexual Health Education Policy Change Organizing for Sexual Health Education Policy Change
Estimated: 1.5-2 hours
This workshop will help your agency or school district begin the discussion about engaging with communities to impact sexual health education policy and protocol. It includes the history of ICAH’s experience with institutionalizing sexual health education, sample elements from model policies, and how to keep youth engaged throughout the process.
Additional Training & Education Department Opportunities Additional Training & Education Department Opportunities
ICAH can provide technical assistance or multi-day training to support additional needs of your agency, organization, school, or school district:
Health Program Planning
ICAH will facilitate a planning process with key stakeholders identified by the school administrators within its school district. A logic model will be created with input from key community partners, school administrators and teachers, parents, students and other collaborators.
As a result of this meeting, participants will be able to:
- Develop a plan for implementation of sexual health education in their school district.
- Build district support to implement a sexual health education plan.
- Commit to continue efforts to effectively implement sexual health education.
- Recognize research-based curricula resources that positively impact the determined health goals to be addressed within the health program plan.
Skill Building for Sexual Health Education Delivery
This workshop is a two- or three-day skill-building session. Teachers participate in learning strategies for planning and implementing a sexual health education program for their students. Participants have the opportunity to practice real-life scenarios teaching the content necessary to prevent HIV and pregnancy.
As a result of this training, participants will be able to:
- Identify research-based components of sexual health education that prevent HIV, other STDs, and pregnancy.
- Model appropriate teaching strategies for sexual health education (or Effectively facilitate correct condom use procedures).
- Increase their personal level of comfort in providing sexual health education.
- Establish and maintain a safe classroom environment.
- Develop a personal plan of action to implement sexual health education, building upon supports and overcoming barriers.
For more information about ICAH’s Training & Education offerings, contact Joy Messinger, MPH, MSW, CHES, Manager of Sexual Health Education, at joy@icah.org or at 312-427-4460 x239.
