Families Are Talking - Recommendations for Policymakers

Form public policies consistent with the best public health research in terms of child and adolescent development, including sexuality-related issues, program effectiveness, and family communication
Recognize that sexual development begins at birth and continues throughout life
Recognize that parents/caregivers can play a central role in helping young people form their values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors in terms of sexuality issues
Support programming that provides parents/caregivers with the information and skills they need to have ongoing dialogue with their children about sexuality issues
Support age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education that includes information on human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behavior, sexual health, and sexuality and culture
Develop public policies that encourage parents/caregivers to become involved in their children's school-based sexuality education program
Support research and evaluation strategies that encourage parent-child communication on a wide range of issues, including sexuality
Provide coordinated and integrated family communication programs
Be respectful and responsive to the diversity among families—in terms of culture, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, family structure, socioeconomic status, and language
Involve young people and their parents/caregivers in the legislative process
Allocate funding for programs designed to foster parent-child communication

For more information, contact siecus@siecus.org.