Louie’s Law, also known as the Illinois Youth Education and Drug Overdose Prevention Act, was passed in July of 2023 as a guide rather than a mandate. The law is named for Louie Miceli, who died from a drug overdose in 2012. His mother’s hope was that these reforms...

Since 2019, the month of May has been recognized as Sex Ed for All Month, an effort put forward by numerous sexual education organizations that are dedicated towards advocating for sexual health, rights, and increased education. Young people having access to quality...

For adolescents going through puberty, it’s never going to be an easy time. But for those experiencing their period for the first time, it can be even more difficult due to things like lack of education and knowledge on the menstrual cycle, the social stigma that...

The tobacco industry has a new way to target and influence young people to use their products, in the form of oral nicotine pouches with one of the most popular brands being used called Zyn. Because these pouches do not contain any actual tobacco leaf, the FDA does...

Though the opioid epidemic has been well publicized, the landscape of this epidemic is ever evolving and changing; and ultimately the prevalence of these harmful drugs persists. So how do we support our young people in developing an awareness and understanding of the...

Whether at home, in healthcare, the classroom, or the workplace the importance of self-advocacy is undeniable. However, even for an adult, self-advocating isn’t always easy. The ability to “speak-up for [ourselves] and the things that are important to [us]” is a...

A reflection on 2023 and outlook for 2024 from our Executive Director: Barb Thayer With 2024 quickly approaching, it has given me pause to think about how I want to start the new year, both personally and professionally. With every year comes challenges and...

For many students, their first experience with school-based sex education happens in fourth or fifth grade with a lesson(s) about puberty. While not widespread, some schools include age - appropriate sex education beginning in kindergarten. My first career was in...

With students well into a new school year and exploring the excitement of new learning opportunities, friendships, and extra curriculars it is inevitable that at some point, they will hit a bump in the road and experience a setback or failure.    As human beings,...

Taking an on-line interactive program?  Don’t forget to schedule your virtual Q&A! All online interactive programs include a 30-minute live question and answer session with a Candor Health Educator via Zoom, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams, though only a small...