What's Happening

By Tanya M. Bass, PhD, CHES, CSE | Jessica Neupane, MPH, ETR | September 24, 2024

As public health practitioners, learning from experts is a steadfast method in upholding this theme. In the second edition of our interview series with Dr. Tanya Bass, we explore her journey, her proudest moments, and learnings working in the sexual education and reproductive health field.  

By Tanya M. Bass, PhD, CHES, CSE | Kelly Gainor, M.Ed, ETR | Jessica Neupane, MPH, ETR | August 30, 2024

In this conversation, Jessica Neupane, Marketing and Communications Coordinator at ETR, is joined by Dr. Tanya M. Bass, a national award-winning sexuality educator and subject matter expert in health equity and sexual health. Coined “The Southern Sexologist,” Dr. Bass is passionate about uplifting the lived experiences of public health practitioners in the U.S South, who often need to navigate political intricacies related to sexual health education that are unique to the region.

By Annalisa Cortez | August 29, 2024
Project Assistant, TCCC

ETR’s Tribal Community Coordinating Center provides culturally appropriate guidance and assistance to California Indian Tribes to access and implement tobacco related programs. Hear from Annalisa Cortez, Project Assistant, on her experience with youth leadership and advocacy efforts to improve Native health.

By Pemphero Grey Mafuta | August 8, 2024
Founder, Youth Minds Connect

Our team Youth Minds Connect won the Innovation Challenge at YTH Live Global 2023. As winners, we received $4,000 USD in seed funding to bring our idea into reality, plus support and mentorship from ETR. Winning the Innovation Challenge has been an incredible journey filled with learning and growth, enabling us to expand our reach and enhance our initiatives.

By Lauren Ranalli, MPH | August 6, 2024
Director of Communications and Public Affairs, ETR

Over the past few decades, minor consent laws have expanded significantly across the United States. These laws have shifted the discussion around healthcare access and utilization among adolescents.

By Joseph Kosciw, PhD | June 27, 2024
Director of Mental Health Research and Impact, ETR

Throughout Pride Month we have undoubtedly seen greater visibility of LGBTQ+ people and events – from Pride flags in our local coffee shops to rainbow versions of company logos on social media and news coverage of local Pride Parades. But on July 1^st, Pride flags come down; news stories on LGBTQ+ people and community events stop, and company logos on social media revert to their original ones without rainbows. So how do we help LGBTQ+ youth continue to hold these feelings of acceptance and pride in themselves the rest of the year?

By Reilly O'Neal | June 25, 2024
Contractor, ETR

Status neutral HIV prevention and care is a “whole person” approach that links people with services to meet their needs, whatever their HIV status may be. This holistic approach to care recognizes clients have multiple—sometimes competing—medical and psychosocial needs, which can pose a barrier to accessing HIV prevention and care.

By Tasha Turner-Bicknell, DNP, RN, CDH | May 23, 2024
Associate Professor & Director of Advanced Public Health Nursing DNP & Certificate Programs, University of Cincinnati

Harm reduction techniques, such as syringe service programs (SSPs), are shown to address this elevated risk in the population of PWUD. Syringe service programs provide local, easy-to-access services where clients can obtain sterile syringes, injection materials, safer smoking kits, naloxone, and condoms. Syringe service programs provide an opportunity to engage PWUD and provide individuals with crucial services such as HIV testing, medical care, housing support, and treatment for substance use disorder to achieve health equity for this community.

By Karin Coyle, PhD, Chief Science Officer, ETR | Pamela M. Anderson, PhD, Senior Research Scientist, ETR | Lauren Ranalli, MPH, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, ETR | May 28, 2024

Evidence-based pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention programs have been shown to have a positive effect on reducing unplanned pregnancy or associated behavioral risk factors, such as delaying sexual activity or increasing condom or contraceptive use. While teen birth rates have reached a record low in 2023, STI rates have increased dramatically. Additionally, there are evolving issues among youth, including mental health, bullying, body image, and online safety, that should be addressed in sexual health education. As a result, the need for innovation in sexual health education is stronger than before.

By Nicole Morgan, MPH | May 31, 2024
Program Manager, ETR

World No Tobacco Day is a global awareness day, celebrated annually on May 31 to bring attention to the harm caused by the commercial tobacco epidemic and to promote protection for future generations. The commercial tobacco industry is product and profit-driven, with no connection to spiritual or respectful use like seen within Tribal communities and traditional tobacco.

By Jessica Neupane, MPH | May 21, 2024
Marketing & Communications Coordinator, ETR

May marks Sex Ed for All Month, which is an opportunity to voice our shared commitment to a world where all young people get equitable access to the education and care they deserve, no matter who they are or where they live. Sexual health education and programs that are LGBTQIA+ inclusive, medically accurate, and culturally relevant for all youth are often inaccessible for young people.

By Azzia Thompson, MPH, CHES | May 14, 2024
Project Coordinator II, ETR

ETR involves young people in co-creating innovative, science-based health solutions from concept to scale by amplifying their voices, knowledge, and lived experiences. The youth engagement strategies cited in this blog have been integral to the success of these projects, which I am proud to have been a part of!

By Vignetta Charles, PhD | May 4, 2024
Chief Executive Officer, ETR

Happy May the Fourth!  Annually, I write reflections on what Star Wars has taught me about leadership and organizational development at ETR. I usually write in late April when my reflections are very current to the moment. This year, I’m writing this in March since I will be on sabbatical in April and May—which means I’m on sabbatical as you read this blog post. As a person for whom working is a core part of my identity, I struggled with the idea of a sabbatical. 

By ETR’s Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs (ATOD) Team | Aprill 22, 2024

Earth Day, celebrated each year on April 22nd, invites us to look at our impact on the environment. This year, the observance focuses on the issue of plastic pollution with a theme of “Planet vs. Plastics.” It is not just about the plastic bags, bottles, and straws we often hear about—Tobacco products, like cigarettes and e-cigarettes, are also a big part of the problem.  

By Vignetta Charles, Chief Executive Officer, ETR, Madhuri Jha, VP of Science, Equity, & Integration, ETR | March 29, 2024

The tragic death of Nex Benedict, a non-binary/two-spirit student in Oklahoma, has brought to light the urgent need for comprehensive support and inclusivity in our educational institutions. As two public health experts, we are deeply committed to the battle to improve young people’s and communities’ health and well-being by championing science.

By Reilly O'Neal | March 20, 2024
Contractor, ETR

Factors beyond our individual behavior can make it easier or harder to engage with HIV prevention and care. These factors are known as social determinants of health. In honor of LGBT Health Awareness Week, we wanted to highlight how social determinants of health can affect HIV prevention and care, as well as how you can access our free course on social determinants of health and HIV available through CDCTRAIN.  

By Michael Everett, MHS, EdD | February 29, 2024
Chief People and Culture Officer, ETR

Often, when we think of Black History Month, we are prompted to consider the greatness of Blackness in the past. Honoring the past is essential, especially considering some of the erasure of Black people, histories, and experiences emphasized over the last few years. We must also continue to chart the path for what we intend for it to mean to be Black in the future. In our constant effort to combat anti-Black racism and institutionalize our values, ETR leadership continues the progress by commissioning the Black to the Future (BTF) ETR workgroup.

By The ETR Team |  February 8, 2024

In honor of National Condom Month, we’re here to discuss innovative research on condom misuse and effective strategies in condom education. What are the most common errors high school students make about condom use? Thanks to some recent research by ETR and our partners at Public Health, Seattle & King County, we can share some insights on that question.