Parent & Family Engagement

In Adolescent Reproductive Health

Made Available by the Center for Applied Research and Technical Assistance

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What is Parent & Family Engagement (PFE)?

 

PFE in Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH) and Sexuality is:

 

“Any activity (formal or informal) that directly or indirectly engages parents and/or immediate family, extended family, or family/parent surrogates, in ways that:

 

·         Empower adults and youth to openly and candidly address issues of sexuality and reproductive health;

·         Encourages healthy decision-making and behavior among teens”.

 

All activities serve to connect with adults and family members, while protecting confidentiality and access to reproductive health care for teens.”

 

 

 

Goals & Objectives of PFE

 

The primary goal of PFE is to improve the reproductive and sexual health of teens by: 

 

·         Increasing parent/family connectedness in youths’ lives;

·         Increasing parent/family capacity to discuss and dialogue with youth about sexuality and reproductive health issues;

·         Increasing parent/family support for reproductive health services (in general) and reproductive health services for teens (in particular);

·         Increasing the potential of parents/family members as advocates for ARH.

 

                                                                                               


 

 

 

 

 

 

PFE Activities

 

Examples of PFE Activities include (but are not limited to): 

·         Increasing parent/family knowledge about reproductive and sexual health (e.g., reproductive physiology, STDs, HIV/AIDS, contraceptive methods);

 

·         Increasing parent/family knowledge about other issues important to teens (e.g., relationships, values);

 

·         Increasing parent/family knowledge about public policies that influence access to information and services around reproductive health – for adults and for teens;

 

·         Educating parents/families about the importance of reproductive health care for teens and about the process of receiving care;

 

·         Strengthening parent/adult communication skills about reproductive health and sexuality issues; (e.g., what issues to discuss; how to start conversation, when to talk);

 

·         Promoting opportunities for parents/families and youth to spend time together doing things that are mutually enjoyable and that promote respect, trust, affection, and an exchange of ideas;

 

·         Encouraging teens in the clinic setting to inform and/or engage parents and significant adults in their decisions about sexuality and reproductive health care;

 

·         Welcoming parents/family members into the clinic environment, if and when adolescents wish to have parents/family members involved;

 

·         Training parents/caregivers and adult family members to be advocates for local and national reproductive health issues that promote healthy sexuality among adults and teens.

 


 

PFE Program Approaches

 

 

Youth-Centered.  Recognizes the importance of parents, but maintains focus and emphasis on the specific needs of teens.  Staffs encourage teens to inform parents about their sexual and reproductive health decisions and to invite parents to special programs sponsored by the clinic.  Programs tend to be implemented within the clinic setting, or if outside the clinic, focus on increase parent/family knowledge through educational fliers and brochures and health fairs. 

 

Joint Youth- & Parent-Centered.  Connects parents with specific youth-centered activities or offers a separate, short-term activity to augment broader youth-centered efforts.  Activities can be implemented within the clinic or in local community settings, depending upon the activity and preferences of teens and adult participants.

 

Parent (Family)-Centered.  Offers explicit outreach to and activities for parents/families and only parents/families.  Activities are usually community and or school-based and include adult peer-to-peer training, communication workshops, advocacy training and multi-media efforts.  

 

 

The PFE Project

1800 N. Charles St., Suite 902

Baltimore, MD  21201

P 410-625-6250

F 410-625-1965