We live in a world where many adolescents are getting their information about sex and consent from the internet. This reality poses a conundrum for parents and other adults because the information that young people may be receiving could be more harmful than helpful.
In an age of rampant social media exposure, organizations like Hope & Help of Central Florida stand as leaders in the dissemination of accurate and age-appropriate education on issues such as sex, protection, STI testing, consent, respect, and overall wellness. The well-known comprehensive HIV clinic in Orlando has a mission that extends beyond testing appointments, information about hepatitis and other STIs, PrEP, and medical care. The experts and volunteers who work with Hope & Help are also dedicated to providing in-depth family and community education.
A history of hope and help for the Central FL area
Hope & Help was founded in 1988 as a resource for friends helping friends amid the AIDS crisis. Since that time, the organization has been a compassionate response to not only the AIDS epidemic, but also a leading provider of comprehensive education about topics such as the need for testing, preventative measures to stem the spread of HIV, sexual health, and consent.
Hope & Help’s services span across Central Florida, offering essential outreach initiatives that include rapid HIV testing, primary care services, access to preventative care, support groups, and community education initiatives. Hope & Help’s mission is to help people overcome barriers that often keep them from accessing care and living full, healthy lives. Over its more than 30-year history, Hope & Help has established itself as one of the most respected HIV clinics in Orlando.
Family and youth education that is comprehensive, inclusive, and age-appropriate
In an era of widespread social media disinformation, it can be challenging for parents and other guardians to guide adolescents toward information that is comprehensive, true, and age-appropriate. Hope & Help works to help families find the language to discuss health, sexuality, and issues surrounding consent and respect with confidence.
The community programs Hope & Help runs, which aim to educate and equip families with the tools they need to have these often difficult conversations, are guided by expert professionals with years of experience in sexual health. Complex challenges, such as honesty, relationship building, and access to healthcare, are addressed in a way that adolescents of varying ages can understand and apply.
For Hope & Help, the mission is not just about stemming the transmission of HIV. For the team at the non-profit, an educated population is just as important as the medical care and prevention methods that they offer.
The importance of age-appropriate discussions about sexual health, stigma, consent, and respect
Many parents and guardians may feel some discomfort approaching frank discussions about sexual health, prevention, consent, and respect surrounding sexual matters with their children. However, avoiding these conversations can lead to kids being unprepared and easily confused by the rampant misinformation that can be found through other resources, such as social media or friends.
According to some pediatricians, even kids as young as five can benefit from some form of discussion about sexual health and consent. Frequent, honest discussions about bodily autonomy, safety, and using the correct terms for body parts are all part of discussions that can start earlier than most parents and guardians may think.
Hope & Help can assist parents and guardians in ensuring that these crucial discussions are not just awkward, one-off occurrences. The information Hope & Help offers can guide parents and others in having conversations that are frequent and comfortable. The center often guides various stakeholders on how to initiate these discussions and how to make them a part of regular conversations.
With tweens and teens, conversations should often start to include talks about emotional boundaries, sexual health, including puberty and becoming sexually active, risks surrounding peer pressure and online communication, and recognizing healthy relationships.
A health center that is a link to public health and treatment in Central Florida
Hope & Help is not just a resource for healthcare and HIV testing in Orlando; it is a crucial public health resource for Central Florida. As a community education resource for parents and other caregivers, Hope & Help is assisting people in having honest, frequent conversations about sexual health and respect that are age-appropriate.
For caregivers who would like more information about having these open conversations with their kids, Hope & Help has minds and doors that are always open. Individuals seeking help with these conversations can follow the “Contact Us” link on the Hope & Help website for access to the most comprehensive information available in Central Florida.