As a Health Educator, the most common question I am asked by adults is “how do I talk to my teenager about drugs?”. Some of the most important work around these conversations is properly preparing ourselves to have them. There are all types of different drugs in this world and doing research on them all […]
Breaking the Stigma
In the public health/health education community, teen pregnancy and teen parenthood has long been an important topic to address. We are proud of the statistics on the efficacy of comprehensive sex education and long acting reversible contraception in addition to teens utilizing over the counter emergency contraception to reduce teen pregnancy rates. Thankfully teen pregnancy […]
The Talk
As a Candor Health Educator, we have been asked some interesting questions when we’re delivering a program to the 4th-8th graders. Everything from “Why do we grow hair down there?” to “Do identical twins have the same fingerprints?”. These tough questions many times are the reasons that parents shy away from “the talk”. They just don’t have […]
The Power of Positive Self Talk
During puberty programs, Candor Health Educators commonly break the ice with students by asking “Can anyone identify any puberty survivors in this room today?” After some giggles and a quick scan of the room, most students start to count the adults present and eagerly raise their hands to be the one chosen to give their […]
Allowing Others to Live Their Truth
National Women’s History Month is celebrated throughout March, but when thinking about the achievements and struggles of women, transwomen are often excluded from this conversation. The definition of transgender may vary, but it is generally used to refer to a person who does not identify with the gender they were assigned at birth. It may […]
Start with a Story
Esmerelda, a young woman with curly hair and glasses can not take the fighting between her parents any longer. In an attempt to calm her anxiety and escape the tension in her home, she sneaks some of her dad’s opioid pain relievers and discovers….. Floyd has never tried marijuana, but when he goes to study […]
Illinois Legalized Marijuana? Yes, but not so fast…
Marijuana became legalized for recreational use in Illinois on January 1st, but it may not lead to the desired outcomes consumers envisioned. The law is called the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act and allows Illinois residents and visitors over the age of 21 to possess small amounts of marijuana. Marijuana may only be purchased at […]
Ignorance Is Not Bliss
For parents, it can be a nerve-racking time as their child starts to reach the age where they are old enough to learn about pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The child needs not only to understand the ways in which these can occur, but also the importance of prevention. Navigating this topic with a […]
A Particular Risk For Young People
Written by: Katie Gallagher-Director of Health Education, Candor Health Education Yum! Gummy bears, brownies, and cookies, are children’s favorite treats, but when they are infused with marijuana, wrapped in appealing packaging and increasingly accessible, we are setting up a particularly dangerous situation. Did you know that in states where recreational marijuana has been legalized, the […]
Is History Repeating Itself?
Written by: Liz Carter, Health Educator, Candor Health Education For centuries, tobacco was used in religious ceremonies, thought to relieve pain, and was not seen as a health risk…YET. Throughout the 1920s, research was being conducted and scientists started to link smoking to the incidence of lung cancer (University of Dayton). During World War II, […]