What should parents and caregivers know about adolescents and adolescent sexual activity?  This page provides pregnancy prevention and adolescent health resources for parents and caregivers raising adolescents.

• Do you struggle with how to talk to your teen about sex?
• What does the latest data and research tell me about adolescents?
• Ever wonder why your child does what they do?
• What are your child's right under Michigan law?
• How do I start the conversation with my child about sex? 
• If I want more information, where do I go?

Communicating With Your Teen

Helpful tips and advice for talking to your teen about abstinence, sexual activity, relationships and other important issues.

• Tips for Raising a Sexually Healthy Son or Daughter
• Tips for Dealing with a Teenage Pregnancy
• 10 Tips for Foster Parents To Help Their Foster Youth Avoid Teen Pregnancy
• 10 Tips for Parents To Help Their Child Avoid Teen Pregnancy
• How to Talk to Your Kids About Sex
• Parent Power: What Parents Need to Know and Do to Help Prevent Teen Pregnancy
• Relationship Redux: Tips and Scripts for Talking to Your Kids About Relationships
• Talking to Your Teen About Dating Violence
• "Bird and Bee" PSA
• "Mom's Voice" PSA

Data & Research

What we've been told about adolescent sexual activity from research and surveys of adults and teens.

• Michigan Teens, Sexual Health Statistics
• State of Adolescent Sexual Health in Michigan
• Michigan's YRBS Sexual Behavior Fact Sheet
• Dads Make a Difference
• The Consequences of Unintended Childbearing
• By The Numbers: The Public Cost of Teen Childbearing (Michigan)
• Kiss and Tell: What Teens Say About Love, Trust and Other Relationship Stuff
• Sex and Tech: Results From a Survey of Teens and Young Adults
• With One Voice 2007: America's Adults and Teens Sound Off About Teen Pregnancy

Adolescent Development

Resources on the adolescent brain, why teens behave as they do and the building blocks of positive youth development.

• Do You Wonder Why Adolescents...? 
• 40 Developmental Assets for Youth 8-12 Years
• 40 Developmental Assets for Youth 12-18 Years
• The Adolescent Brain: A Work in Progress
• The Teen Brain
  

  Michigan's Minor Consent Laws

A quick reference to help you understand your child's rights to confidential health services.

• Understanding Your Child's Rights, Michigan Laws
  

Free Workshop for Parents

As part of the Governor's initiative to reduce unintended pregnancies, this free workshop is for parents to help them talk with their middle school child about abstinence and sexuality.

• Talk Early & Talk Often Parent Workshop
  

Parent Friendly Websites

These websites provide parents and caregiver with information and resources on raising adolescents. See the "resources/websites" tab for additional websites.

• 4 Parents
• Advocates for Youth
• Campaign for Our Children
• Child Trends
• Michigan Parent Resources
• Michigan Say Yes to No
• National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy
• Parent Action for Healthy Kids
• Parenting Awareness Michigan
• Parents:  The Anti-Drug
• Search Institute
• Talk Early & Talk Often
• Talking With Kids