Sexual health is more than just sex
Sexual health includes your physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being. It is about promoting healthy relationships, consent and preventing sexual assault and violence. When youth are provided with accurate information, given time to develop and practice skills, and have resources available, they can and will make thoughtful choices about relationships and their health. Sexual health looks different for everyone. Our goal is to support the sexual health goals and priorities of youth, their families and communities.
Oregon State PREP projects support comprehensive sex education programming that serves youth across Oregon. Projects replicate effective, evidence-based program models that are proven to help youth make healthy decisions when it comes to relationships and sexual behaviors.
Research and data are used to track progress, highlight disparities, and offer strategies for achieving health equity. Data are available at the state and county levels about sexually transmitted infections (STIs), pregnancy, school climate, sexual and intimate partner violence, and access to comprehensive sex education.
A number of services are available to help young people access resources and live happy, healthy and connected lives.
Oregon Youth Sexual Health Update
The Oregon Youth Sexual Health Plan 2023 Final Report briefs address the five overarching goals of the 2009 Oregon Youth Sexual Health Plan:
- Youth use accurate information and well-developed skills to make thoughtful choices about relationships and sexual health,
- Rates of unintended pregnancies are reduced,
- Rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are reduced, and
- Non-consensual sexual behaviors are reduced.
The fifth goal—sexual health inequities are eliminated—is incorporated throughout the four Final Report briefs.