Health disparities among youth are due to many factors such as poverty, inadequate access to health care, and educational inequities. Many youth across the United States do not have access to comprehensive, medically accurate sex education, which negatively affects the health and well-being youth. Access to sex education provides youth with accurate and evidenced-based information about contraception, healthy relationships, sexuality, and help youth plan for their future.    

Youth without access to resources and support systems are at an increased risk of homelessness, suicidal ideation, and sexually transmitted infections. LGBTQ+ youth are 120% more likely to experience homelessness and are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers. To support the health and wellbeing of youth, increased access to HIV and STI testing and counselling, mental health services, LGBTQ+ support systems, and eliminating shame and stigma, must be a priority to improve health outcomes. 

NFPRHA's Work

NFPRHA works with its partners to ensure that all people have access to high-quality, comprehensive education about their sexual health. Specifically, NFPRHA advocates for assigning limited federal resources for sexuality education to evidence-based programs rather than harmful abstinence-only initiatives and for giving family planning providers the ability to speak confidentially with all patients, including minors, about their sexual health.