HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.—Parents and their offspring can be intimidated by the thought of “The Talk,” but a new educational organization is ready to help ease anxieties and make it easier.
Everyone Deserves Sex Ed is founded by certified sex and relationships educator Anne Hodder-Shipp, ACS, who wants parents, caregivers, and guardians to feel as prepared as possible to answer the kinds of questions kids are going to ask—if they haven’t already.
“Only 24 states and the District of Columbia mandate sex education in schools, and only 13 of those 24 require that the curricula be medically accurate,” Hodder-Shipp said. “That means a majority of kids have been left to their own devices to navigate the complicated and confusing corners of their sexuality — with lots of trial and, sadly, lots of error. My goal with EDSE is to make the process feel more supported and whole lot less scary.”
EDSE offers parents, caregivers, and guardians private coaching to prepare them for having conversations they might feel uncomfortable or ill-equipped to have, including discussing sexual orientation, gender identity, and anatomy, and how to think critically about social media and pornography.
“At EDSE, we believe that confidence in and understanding of human sexuality is the foundation for having these kinds of conversations with young people,” Hodder-Shipp said. “They are eager for this information, even if they might not admit it, and they need to see the adults around them feeling comfortable discussing it. EDSE works with parents, caregivers, and guardians in need of one-on-one support to help build a stronger, more confident understanding of sexuality so they can be there for the kids and teens in their lives.”
EDSE programs also are available in a group setting, allowing parents and community members to gather for a “parent night” that helps navigate “The Talk” in a way that makes it accessible, digestible, and fun.
“I like to describe this work as being a sex-ed doula of sorts, giving families and kids access to a ‘cool aunt’ who’s professionally trained in talking about sexuality with a friendly attitude and great sense of humor,” Hodder-Shipp said. “I believe that access to accurate sex ed and sexual health information fuels empowerment and healthy decision-making, and if we don’t offer it to our kids and teens, they’re going to search for it themselves.”
EDSE works with all age groups, from preschool to high school, and programming is age-appropriate with content adjusted according to the age group educators are working with. Some of the key subjects EDSE discusses:
• What is sexuality?
• Getting to know our bodies
• Boundaries, consent & respecting “no”
• Feelings & value systems
• Body image & self-esteem
• Gender roles & expectations
• Hygiene & puberty (elementary school level)
• Social media literacy (elementary and junior/high school level)
• Sexually transmitted infection prevention & treatment (junior/high school level)
• Pregnancy & birth control (junior/high school level)
• Sexual anatomy & hygiene (junior/high school level)
• Relationship rights & responsibilities (junior/high school level)\Navigating online pornography (high school level)
“EDSE wants to give kids and young adults the support and information they need and deserve – something many of us lacked when we were growing up,” Hodder-Shipp said. “EDSE can host a private gathering in the comfort of your own home or work one-on-one with you and your child for a personalized approach. Let us customize a package that best suits your needs—and your budget.”
Though EDSE is headquartered in the heart of Los Angeles, Anne and her team are available via video chat platforms and can travel if needed. EDSE also can connect potential clients with trained sex educators and practitioners across the country—if you’re in need of in-person support or services outside of the Los Angeles area, Anne and EDSE will help find you someone who’ll be the right fit for your needs.
To learn more about EDSE, visit EveryoneDeservesSexEd.com or email Hodder-Shipp directly at [email protected].
