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Spectrum Program Offers Free, Inclusive Sex Education for Youth

By Sponsored content from Spectrum April 9, 2021

Do you know a teen or young adult who could benefit from quality sexual health information? Who may be needing support with their mental health? Who would like to know their HIV status, or get connected to community resources? A youth who likes gift cards, cash, and incentives? (I think we got you on that last one 😉) The Spectrum program is here for all of it!

What is Spectrum?

Spectrum is a sexual health and wellness program of the University of Arizona Southwest Institute for Research on Women (SIROW) in collaboration with Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health and the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF). Spectrum serves youth ages 13 to 24 across the state of Arizona. The program welcomes youth of all identities with a focus on those who are LGBTQ+. Participants will gain knowledge, skills, and resources to be sexual health advocates and leaders for themselves and others.




What Spectrum Offers (all services are virtual and free of charge)

•Affirming and inclusive sexuality education - learn about topics like gender identity and sexual orientation, puberty, anatomy and physiology, STIs and HIV, safer sex materials, communication, consent, and relationships. Classes take place on Zoom, and every participant will receive a personalized Welcome Box containing all the materials they'll need to engage in the activities, plus lots of fun extras!

•Linkages to mental and behavioral health treatment - 3 to 5 sessions of brief intervention therapy with a Devereux clinician.

•Confidential HIV testing - request an at-home HIV test or schedule in-person voluntary testing at the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF) main office

•Community resource navigation – work one-on-one with Spectrum’s Prevention Navigator to connect to other services and resources

•Gift card, cash, and other prizes – complete surveys during Welcome and Farewell interviews in exchange for incentives




How to Get Involved

Spectrum offers community-wide program sessions during the third week of each month.

Sign-ups are now open for the following sessions:

April 19-23rd, 3:30-5PM each day – registration closes 4/11

•May 17-21, 3:30-5PM each day – registration closes 5/9

•June 21-25, 3:30-5PM each day – registration closes 6/13

Parent/guardian permission is required for youth under the age of 18. To sign up, complete the Parent/Guardian consent and registration form HERE.

After receiving the parent/guardian consent and registration form, a member of the Spectrum team will be in touch to schedule a Welcome Interview.

Spectrum also works with schools and youth-serving programs and groups. Please contact Program Coordinator, Courtney Waters, at cwaters@arizona.edu to inquire about coordinating a program session for your group of youth!

Stay in Touch

Email
sirowspectrum@gmail.com

FB
www.facebook.com/SpectrumProgram

Instagram
 @spectrum_program