Colorado Youth CREATE

Colorado Youth CREATE is a student activist council dedicated to improving comprehensive sexuality education policies and practices in schools across the state. Through school and community- based organizing efforts, we are working to build an influential network of strong youth leaders and allies to engage in advocacy to improve adolescent sexual health and access to information and services.

Comprehensive sex education teaches about abstinence as the best way for avoiding STIs and unintended pregnancy, but also teaches about condoms and contraception to reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy and of STIs, including HIV. It also teaches interpersonal and communication skills and helps young people explore their own values, goals and options. The information is medically accurate and culturally inclusive, affirming lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth.

Evaluations of evidence-based comprehensive sex education programs show that these programs can:1) help youth delay initiation of sexual activity; 2) reduce the frequency of sexual activity; and 3) reduce the number of sexual partners, and increase condom and contraceptive use.