Advocates for Youth

Advocates provides information, training, and strategic assistance to youth-serving organizations, policymakers, youth activists, and media in the United States and developing countries. Advocates' program areas include: HIV/STI Prevention; Teen Pregnancy Prevention; Adolescent Contraceptive Access; The Future of Sex Education; Rights. Respect. Responsibility. Campaign; Youth Empowerment; Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Initiatives; Youth of Color Initiatives; Parent-Child Communication; International Initiatives; Public Policy; and New Media Strategies.

<div>Advocates for Youth envisions a world in which adolescent sexual development is viewed as healthy and normal and a societal paradigm exists that recognizes the rights of all youth, supports them in their transition to adulthood, and assists them in developing healthy behaviors around sexuality.</div>

<div>Advocates will work&nbsp;to ensure that&nbsp;young people have access to comprehensive sex education in schools; the rights of young people, especially LGBT youth, are protected; HIV/AIDS programming addresses the needs of young people, especially youth of color; youth have access to contraception and affordable birth control;&nbsp;and parents receive information and support to help them engage their children in age-appropriate discussions about sexual health. &nbsp;&nbsp;</div>

<div>Advocates conducts process and outcome evaluation of all of its work through the use of various data included in surveys, partner monthly and/or final reports, web reports, event attendance, etc.</div>

<div> <p>For example, in 2010, Advocates equipped its 35,000-member domestic Youth Activist Network with the necessary tools and motivation to conduct on-the-ground advocacy in support of youth sexual health and rights. Through AmplifyYourVoice.org, its national Urban Retreat, and local and regional trainings, Advocates provided in-depth training on sexual and reproductive health issues, traditional and online media outreach, and grassroots organizing to more than 500 YAN members. Members wrote 2,000 blogs, visited 129 policymakers&#8217; offices, and sent 60,000 letters to policymakers in support of comprehensive sex education, affordable birth control, federal funding for abortion, and LGBT health and rights, among other issues. Organizers at eight colleges and universities conducted sex education and advocacy outreach to 12,000 of their peers. And through the Great American Condom Campaign, young people distributed 1.2 million condoms at 800 colleges and universities in 49 states. Two-thirds of the students also distributed safer sex information; one-third hosted an educational event; and half provided advocacy opportunities to peers. Through its Anti-Homophobia/Transphobia Initiative, Advocates and its partners trained 390 youth-serving providers, including clergy, educators, school administrators, medical personnel, and other professionals, in 12 communities on the unique needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth. As a result, providers reached approximately 7,000 LGBT youth with sexual health resources and services; provided information to 51,000 community members, including parents; and implemented innovative programs to reduce homophobia and transphobia in schools and communities. </p></div>