Established in 1980 as the Centre for Population Options, Advocates for Youth creates programs and advocates for policies that help young people make informed and responsible decisions about their reproductive and sexual health. Advocates provides information, training, and strategic assistance to youth-serving organisations, policy makers, youth activists, and the media in the United States and the developing world.
Advocates for Youth is the only organisation that works both in the United States and in developing countries with a sole focus on adolescent reproductive and sexual health. Its approach is based on three core values: rights, respect and responsibility, and the organisation believes in boldly advocating for a more positive and realistic approach to adolescent sexual health. Advocates is also distinguished by its combination of youth development strategies with the field of adolescent sexual health; integration of strategies related to STIs, HIV/AIDS, and teen pregnancy prevention; use of domestic and international work for learning about and disseminating lessons across borders; and provision of printed and electronic resources, technical assistance, and training to promote research-based best practices in the field of adolescent sexual health.
Main areas of work include:
- Youth-Adult Partnerships—Training youth as advocates, peer educators, and programme planners to improve the delivery of youth-friendly services in the United States and developing countries
- Emergency Contraception (EC) Access Initiative: —Working to raise teens’ awareness of EC and to educate providers about the benefits of making EC widely available
- Policy and Communications—Working with policy makers, colleague organisations, and the media to promote pragmatic, research-based public policy and to reframe the public debate on adolescent sexual health
- Parent-Child Communication Initiative—Supporting parents in effectively communicating with children and teens about sexual health
- Media Project—Working with entertainment industry professionals in the United States and Latin America to promote socially responsible portrayals of adolescent sexuality
- Study Tours—Giving U.S. policy makers, programme directors, and activists an in-depth view of positive public health models from other countries
- Initiatives for Youth at Risk—Collaborating with communities and organisations in the United States and developing countries to implement effective, culturally relevant programs for youth in high-risk situations