As a student at Woodridge School in Woodridge, Illinois, I had my first exposure to the Robert Crown Center for Health Education. I vividly remember the carpeted stairs in the classrooms at the old center at 21 Salt Creek Lane in Hinsdale. I also remember participating in the sex education programs that followed the “Linda” puberty program.
Health was my favorite class in elementary school. I could not get enough information on this topic and diligently studied and earned a perfect score in Miss Connor’s sixth-grade health class. I read articles and information on my own as well and have had a lifelong love of learning about the human body.
Fast forward to December of 2024 – not only have I attended Robert Crown programs myself but have experienced my children going through these programs and now I lead the team that presents this information to students. I have seen these programs again and again throughout my life time, and can honestly say that Candor Health Educators are truly second to none. One of the greatest joys of my job is going into school classrooms and seeing our Health Educators in action. They set the stage with the students by validating that conversations about puberty, sex education, and substance abuse can be uncomfortable. They tell them it is okay to laugh and to have questions, but they do all of this in a respectful environment. Our programs are designed to help the students learn how to have challenging conversations with their trusted adults. The more comfortable students are with these difficult topics, the better able they are to care for their changing bodies and to understand how to support others who have different bodies. It is all part of a process that helps young people gain empathy and be respectful of all.
Puberty has been part of life since the beginning of time. What has changed since 1974 when we began teaching over 80,000 students is the environment around us. Young people today need help navigating their complicated world. We have infused all our programs will skill building and decision making so that regardless of the situation a young person finds themselves in, they will have tools that they can use to help them navigate the challenges of adolescence.
Yes, kids want to make their own decisions, but they want honest, truthful information that can help inform those decisions. The human body is an incredible machine. Kids are naturally curious and want to understand what is happening in their brains and bodies as they transition to adulthood. I am never surprised that I learn added information every time I observe Candor Health Educators working their magic with the students. Candor’s programs and our highly skilled Health Educators help to ensure that young people have all the tools and information they need to keep themselves happy, healthy, and safe. Almost every time I have observed a puberty program, I have heard one of the students say, “That wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be.” When I hear that, I know that the work that we do at Candor has made a difference in that child’s life.
Written by: Barb Thayer, Chief Executive Officer