Alabama Campaign for Adolescent Sexual Health

We envision sexually healthy people and communities throughout Alabama. Links shared are informational & may not reflect org. core beliefs.

[Alabama Campaign for Adolescent Sexual Health @AlabamaCampaign]

Frame STI prevention as part of overall healthcare, the way you'd frame handwashing or annual checkups. When the conversation is normalized, young people are more likely to follow through on testing and prevention.

[Alabama Campaign for Adolescent Sexual Health @AlabamaCampaign]

Include information about confidential testing resources whenever you talk about STI prevention with young people. Knowledge about prevention is more actionable when paired with knowledge about where to access care.

[Alabama Campaign for Adolescent Sexual Health @AlabamaCampaign]

Avoid making STI conversations feel like a warning or a punishment. Caregivers and professionals who approach the subject with warmth and accuracy build the kind of trust where young people ask the harder questions over time.

[Alabama Campaign for Adolescent Sexual Health @AlabamaCampaign]

Refrain from responding with alarm or judgment when a young person asks about HIV. An adult who reacts with shock makes young people far less likely to bring future questions to a trusted adult.

[Alabama Campaign for Adolescent Sexual Health @AlabamaCampaign]

Use straightforward, medically accurate language when talking about STI prevention with young people. Euphemisms and vague terms create confusion and make the conversation harder to follow through on.

[Alabama Campaign for Adolescent Sexual Health @AlabamaCampaign]

Avoid presenting abstinence as the only option for HIV prevention without also providing accurate information about other protective measures. Young people who become sexually active need complete information to stay safe.

[Alabama Campaign for Adolescent Sexual Health @AlabamaCampaign]

Start STI prevention conversations by asking questions rather than delivering information. Young people who feel heard are more likely to stay engaged and more likely to ask follow-up questions.

[Alabama Campaign for Adolescent Sexual Health @AlabamaCampaign]

Avoid treating HIV as a topic too sensitive to discuss openly. The more normalized the conversation, the more likely young people are to ask questions, seek testing, and share information with peers.

[Alabama Campaign for Adolescent Sexual Health @AlabamaCampaign]

Resist the urge to frame HIV testing as something only certain young people need. Every sexually active person benefits from routine testing, and universal messaging removes stigma from the ask.

[Alabama Campaign for Adolescent Sexual Health @AlabamaCampaign]

When a young person asks about STIs, answer the question fully before pivoting to prevention. A complete, respectful answer to the question builds the trust needed for prevention conversations to stick.

[Alabama Campaign for Adolescent Sexual Health @AlabamaCampaign]

When talking about STI prevention with youth, include information about accessing care locally. Knowing where to go is as important as knowing what to do, and many young people lack both.

[Alabama Campaign for Adolescent Sexual Health @AlabamaCampaign]

Use affirmative language when discussing STI prevention. Framing choices as ways of taking care of yourself, rather than ways of avoiding disaster, makes the conversation more likely to land and stick.

[Alabama Campaign for Adolescent Sexual Health @AlabamaCampaign]

Avoid presenting HIV as an automatic death sentence. People living with HIV who receive treatment can lead long, full, healthy lives. Young people who understand this are more likely to get tested without fear of what a positive result means.

[Alabama Campaign for Adolescent Sexual Health @AlabamaCampaign]

For young women who haven't started receiving regular Pap smears, age 21 is the recommended starting point. Caregivers who prepare young women for routine gynecological care make a lasting difference in long-term health outcomes.

[Alabama Campaign for Adolescent Sexual Health @AlabamaCampaign]

Avoid saying things like "you don't need to worry at your age." HIV has no age requirement, and dismissing young people's questions about prevention leaves them without accurate information.

[Alabama Campaign for Adolescent Sexual Health @AlabamaCampaign]

Avoid telling young people HIV is a disease of specific groups or communities. Framing HIV as a condition affecting only certain groups creates a false sense of safety and reduces the likelihood of testing.

[Alabama Campaign for Adolescent Sexual Health @AlabamaCampaign]

Be honest about the limitations of different prevention methods. Young people who receive complete information make better decisions than young people who receive oversimplified messaging.

[Alabama Campaign for Adolescent Sexual Health @AlabamaCampaign]

Avoid using fear and shame as motivators in HIV conversations. Young people who associate HIV with punishment or moral failure are less likely to get tested and less likely to seek care if diagnosed.

[Alabama Campaign for Adolescent Sexual Health @AlabamaCampaign]

An HPV infection doesn't always lead to cervical cancer, and vaccination combined with regular screening significantly reduces the risk. Help the young women in your care understand both tools and how to access both.

[Alabama Campaign for Adolescent Sexual Health @AlabamaCampaign]

When discussing condoms as an STI prevention tool, include information about how to use them correctly. Access and knowledge together are more effective than access alone.