What's Happening

By Annabella Firpo | December 6, 2014

Do tasteless humor and political incorrectness have a place in health education?

Recently I encountered two over-the-top ridiculous videos on the Internet that, at first glance, seemed to be mindless, tasteless humor. However, by the end of the videos, both had presented a serious message hidden under the slapstick and shallow comedy. 

By ETR | December 5, 2014

If you’re ready for some powerful and illuminating video viewing, take a look at the TED Bullying Playlist. Four speakers and one heart-lifting musical performance will give you new insights and more than a few moments of reflection.

There are lots of opportunities for student projects using these videos. Review videos before sharing with your students to be sure the content is appropriate—there are some adult themes and a couple of instances of profanity.

By Erica Marsh | December 3, 2014

In my family, libraries were more than buildings that housed and loaned books. They were places with unrestricted access to incredible tools. They nurtured our passion for finding, organizing and sharing information. 

Knowledge is serious stuff in my family. My grandmother, mother and sister were librarians. My father was an American Literature professor and author. My younger brother currently works at a library.

When I was growing up, whenever a question came up that my parents didn’t know the answer to, my mom would say, “Let’s find out!” She would call the reference desk at the local public library. We called this number so often it was posted by the phone.

By Alex Williams | December 1, 2014

Today is December 1, also known as World AIDS Day. Every year on this day there is a temporary global shift in attention to reflect on the impact of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). In the United States, the day is marked by observances, reflections, tributes, concerts, ceremonies, memorial services and themed awareness-raising events.

In the United States, nearly 648,500 persons diagnosed with AIDS have died, and approximately 50,000 persons acquire HIV annually. Today, an estimated 1.2 million persons in the United States are living with HIV.

Although these figures suggest despair, there have been significant advances since the first AIDS diagnosis in June 1981. The theme for this year's observation is "Focus, Partner, Achieve: An AIDS-Free Generation," noting the shift from widespread hopelessness to the eventual eradication of HIV.

By ETR | November 30, 2014

ETR is thrilled with the response to our new pamphlet on e-cigarettes: “E-Cigarettes: 10 Things to Know About Vaping.” In an effort to reach even more people with the facts about e-cigarettes, we now offer this National Health Information Award-winning title in Spanish.

With studies showing the use of e-cigarettes growing rapidly among all age groups, there’s a real need for clear information about these products.

By Dan McCormick, MHA | November 24, 2014

Gratitude. It’s one of those qualities most of us aim to cultivate in our lives, and something we have a chance to genuinely ponder at this time of year.

I asked our staff at a recent all-hands meeting, “What are you grateful for?” I learned that it’s been a great year for gratitude at ETR.

By Ahna Suleiman, DrPH | November 19, 2014

Every sex educator I know has stories about young people who’ve challenged their faith in our ability to change adolescent sexual behavior. For me, one of those stories is about a ninth grader named Rose.

By Kay Todd, MSW | November 18, 2014

ETR Senior Research Scientist Karin Coyle, PhD, was presented with the Doug Kirby/Barbara Huberman Award by TeenNow California at their recent conference in Fresno. The award is given to someone who has made a significant impact in the fields of teen pregnancy prevention, adolescent reproductive health and youth development.

This is the first time TeenNow has presented an award on behalf of Dr. Kirby and Dr. Huberman, two giants in the field. 

By Dan McCormick, MHA | November 17, 2014

One of the finest moments for me with ETR’s Kirby Summer Interns last year was the time one of them said, “I love being an intern at ETR! I still can’t believe I get to be here. I have friends doing internships where they just go and sit in meetings, or they do filing. I am doing real work here. I’m analyzing data. I’m contributing to a manuscript. I am learning how to be a stronger professional. This is amazing.”

I’m delighted this young woman had such a positive experience here. Her robust praise relates directly to the commitment of ETR’s staff to collaboration and mutual support. Our research group—from senior scientists to newly hired research assistants—stepped up to welcome and engage our interns. These students became a vital part of our workforce during their three months here.

This reflects a larger commitment ETR feels to the importance of supporting students and young professionals in the health education and research arena. 

By Suzanne Schrag | November 15, 2014

ETR recently published the Get Real curriculum from Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts (PPLM). This comprehensive sexuality education program for middle school and high school has been rigorously evaluated and shown to have a positive impact on young people's sexual risk behaviors.

By ETR | November 14, 2014

Are you a graduate student in education, psychology, public health, epidemiology or a related field? Do you have a focus or interest in sexual and reproductive health? Do you work with graduate students in these fields?

It’s time to think about the 2015 Kirby Summer Internship!

ETR will be selecting 1-2 interns for the summer 2015 season. This internship offers a stipend and presents opportunities for mentored work in research syntheses, implementation programs, research methodology and more.  

By John Henry Ledwith | November 13, 2014

I love teacher trainings! As long as I’ve been going to these events—and I’ve gone to a good many—I always learn something new.

A couple of weeks ago, I was in Buffalo, New York, with a group of about 80 teachers being introduced to their new health curriculum—ETR’s signature product, HealthSmart. The training was facilitated by Susan Telljohann, PhD, one of the authors of HealthSmart, a master trainer, and a leading thinker in school health theory and development today.

This was quite the group. First of all (and speaking as a native son) these folks were New Yorkers! They were smart, dynamic, personal, and totally willing to participate.

Second...

By Louise Ann Lyon, PhD | November 11, 2014

Everywhere we turn, articles warn of the imminent loss of U.S. preeminence in science, technology, engineering and math fields. How frustrating, then, that computer science has actually experienced a slow decrease in the percentage of female undergraduates over the past 20 years. This trend cannot serve the field, the nation or our future. We need to diversify tech education if we wish to take advantage of our abundant local talent.

By Laura Perkins, MLS | November 5, 2014

My social media content strategy colleagues and I attended a great webinar yesterday: “50 Blogging Best Practices for Nonprofits.”

Social media maestra Heather Mansfield of Nonprofit Tech for Good clearly laid out best practices for setting up and maintaining a blog using the most current understanding of user-friendly design.

What I found especially striking in her presentation was the evolution of thinking about how to make a blog or website appealing enough and accessible enough to attract and hold people’s attention.

By ETR | November 4, 2014

In ETR's latest video, Senior Research Associate Jill Glassman, PhD, makes a complex and powerful statistical process understandable. Mediation analysis allows evaluators to determine which specific factors in an evidence-based intervention had the greatest impact on participants. Dr. Glassman also explains how important this work can be in helping us determine what approaches to STI/pregnancy prevention work best.

By ETR | November 3, 2014

What should schools be doing to keep students healthy? Georges C. Benjamin, MD, executive director of the American Public Health Association, has written a clear and cogent column in Education Week outlining the steps schools can take. While Ebola is raising concerns across the nation, influenza poses greater risks in the U.S. at present. He describes steps schools and communities can take to prevent both.

By Suzanne Schrag | October 24, 2014

I sometimes joke that I am a Luddite. The phone I use still flips open. I do not have a data plan. I inherited my husband’s old phone when he went over to the dark side, and was quite excited to finally have a QWERTY keyboard option. Friending me on Facebook offers little beyond practice in dealing with abandonment and not taking it personally. And my tendency to forget to charge my phone or to turn it back on after silencing it at a play or movie is a constant source of frustration to my nonvirtual friends.

At the same time, I am fascinated and even thrilled by the avenues for creativity, discovery and learning the Internet provides. For example, through random videos on the web, I have been able to hear amazing singers and musicians, been touched by social projects working to make a difference, gotten a sense of what it’s like to sail through the Alps wearing a wingsuit, witnessed feats of physical daring and emotional caring, learned how to make a killer plum jam, and developed a healthy respect for the honey badger.

By Suzanne Schrag | October 22, 2014

Suzanne Schrag, editor and product manager, shares some thoughts from the Healthy Teen Network Conference in Austin, Texas.

I’ve been enjoying my time here at the Healthy Teen Network Conference in Austin. Highlights of Tuesday’s events included a brief awards ceremony that provided me with inspiration and thoughts for the day. P3, the Georgia Public Private Partnership to Prevent Teen Pregnancy received the Outstanding Emerging Innovation Award, which motivated me to attend their session on Leading Collective Impact that afternoon.