The best sex education resource is Maine Family Planning’s Education Department! Send us an email at education@mainefamilyplanning.org. Need info now? Check out these great online resources.
The research is clear on the importance of comprehensive sex ed – these documents can help you advocate for this important education.
Three Decades of Research and the Case for Sex Ed
Below are national and international organizations offering resources to enhance your sexual health education programs. Contact education@mainefamilyplanning.org for additional resources and how we can support you.
Advocates for Youth: Rights, Respect, Responsibility Curriculum – Advocates for Youth is a national organization that provides resources for professionals on adolescent reproductive and sexual health. The 3 Rs includes lesson plans on sexual health topics designed to meet the National Sexuality Education Standards for grades K-12.
Amaze – Amaze provides comprehensive, age-appropriate, and medically accurate sexual health videos for adolescents ages 10-14. Each video comes with a For Educators, For Youth and For Parents section with discussion questions, lesson plans, and additional resources.
Family Life and Sexual Health (FLASH) Curriculum – FLASH is a comprehensive sexual health education curriculum for grades 4-12. FLASH also offers lessons for Special Education.
Teaching Sexual Health – This site is used by educators and health professionals in Alberta, Canada, and provides lesson plans and resources for grades 4-12, including resources for answering student questions and interactive digital tools. Teaching Sexual Health also provides lesson plans for students with differing abilities.
For information on Maine’s clinical services visit Maine Family Planning with 18 clinics statewide, Mabel Wadsworth Center located in Bangor, and Planned Parenthood of Northern New England with locations in Biddeford, Portland, Sanford, and Topsham.
Below are resources for up-to-date information on birth control methods, STIs, HIV and other related sexual health topics.
Bedsider -This online birth control support network for women 18-29 is operated by Power to Decide and includes interactive information about the full range of birth control options.
Power to Decide – Power to Decide provides trusted, high-quality, accurate information—backed by research—on sexual health and contraceptive methods so young people can make informed decisions.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – The CDC delivers the latest research findings on a wide range of sexual health topics.
Below are Maine and national resources providing information, advocacy, and support for LGBTQ+ young people, allies, educators, and families.
Equality Maine – Equality Maine works to support gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in Maine, maintaining a directory of LGBTQ organizations around the state.
Maine TransNet – Maine TransNet provides support and resources for the transgender community, families, and significant others, and offers trainings about the varied forms of gender identity and expression.
OUT Maine – Out Maine serves LGBTQ youth and their families and allies throughout Maine offering events, support groups, and educational trainings for schools, teachers, and parents.
Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) – GLSEN works to ensure that every student, in every school, is valued and treated with respect, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
These state and national resources provide resources to ensure that people with intellectual, developmental and other disabilities receive the sex education they deserve to be safe and healthy.
Our Lives, Our Choices, Our Rights! – The Rainbow Group, a self-advocates group from Massachusetts, offers this guide for supporting LGBTQ+ people with disabilities.
Elevatus – Elevatus offers curricula, training, and resources to empower, motivate, and educate self-advocates, professionals, and parents, to gain confidence, comfort, knowledge, and skills to teach and talk openly about sexuality.
National Council for Independent Living – This website offers a series of videos for and by self-advocates promoting and providing sexuality education for people with disabilities.
Speaking Up For Us Maine – A Maine self-advocates organization providing resources and training for people with disabilities and the people who support them.
Below are Maine and national resources providing information, education, and support surrounding interpersonal violence.
Contact your local Sexual Assault Support Centers and Domestic Violence Prevention Resource Centers to learn about educational opportunities for your classroom or organization.
Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MECASA) – The Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault is organized to end sexual violence in Maine and to support high quality sexual violence prevention and response within Maine communities.
Children’s Safety Partnership – An online toolkit with information for parents, teachers, administrators, schools, and communities for implementing Maine law, and responding to and preventing child sexual abuse.
Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence (MCEDV) – The Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence is comprised of local domestic violence resource centers, which provide 24-hour services to people impacted by abuse in all corners of our state. Education and training are provided within schools and community settings.
Love is Respect – Love is Respect is the ultimate resource to empower youth to prevent and end dating abuse. It is a project of the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) – RAINN is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization.
Below are accessible websites for teens looking for information on a range of sexual health and wellness topics.
Amaze – Amaze provides videos for young people, ages 10 to 14, about sex, relationships, and their bodies.
KidsHealth – KidsHealth is a reliable, medically-accurate source of health information for youth. There are separate resource pages for youth, teens, parents, and educators.
TeensHealth – TeensHealth is a subsection of KidsHealth. It provides teens ages 13-18 with advice and support on everything from nutrition, mental health, relationships, and tips for managing medical care.
Scarleteen – Scarleteen is an independent sexuality and relationships support network designed for young people ages 15-25. Scarleteen provides medically accurate, honest information about issues related to sexual health.
Sex, Etc. – Sex, etc. is dedicated to providing youth with accurate, honest information about sexual health. The website, published by Answer, is written for teens by teens.
Teen Talk – Power to Decide’s teen web page provides teen perspectives and information on issues such as sex, love, relationships and more.
Planned Parenthood –For Teens – For Teens is a website where teens can get information on relationships, sex, and other sexual health and wellness topics including what to expect at a doctor’s visit.
Ask Roo – Ask Roo is Planned Parenthood’s sexual health Chatbot designed for young people ages 13-17 and a resource for anyone with questions about sexual and reproductive health.
Teen Pocket Guide to Sexual Health Care in Maine – This resource was created by MFP to answer common questions teens have about how to access sexual and reproductive healthcare services in Maine.
Minors’ Rights: A Guide to Confidential Health Care in Maine – This resource can help teens and the adults in their lives understand Maine laws around accessing confidential sexual and reproductive health resources in Maine.
Condom Availability Program Tip Sheet – This tip sheet provides useful steps and strategies for implementing a school-based Condom Availability Program (CAP).
Educator Tip Sheet for Answering Student Questions – This tip sheet provides options for collecting anonymous student questions, strategies for responding to student questions, and trusted web resources for teens.
Creating a Safe Learning Environment Tip Sheet – This resource provides tips for setting group agreements and strategies for creating an LGBTQ+ inclusive and trauma informed classroom.
Working with Youth in Care Toolkit – Young people in out-of-home care have the right to access sexual health related information, education, and services. This toolkit provides adults with information, resources, tips, and conversation starters so they can help youth navigate their reproductive and sexual health needs. Topics include: minors’ rights to accessing services, healthy relationships, birth control and pregnancy prevention, support for pregnant and parenting youth, sexually transmitted infections, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
Tool Kit for Working with Youth in Out of Home Placement or Experiencing Homelessness – This adaptation of the Youth in Care Toolkit is specific to youth experiencing homelessness or living in out-of-home placement and is a collaboration between Maine Family Planning and New Beginnings.
For printed copies of these resources, contact education@mainefamilyplanning.org.
