Teach sex education with confidence

Answer and Cardea have partnered to create a standardized, national model for training teachers to deliver sex education. Teaching sex education can feel daunting. It doesn’t have to be.

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Who’s behind Foundations?

Answer and Cardea are national leaders in sex education and teacher training. Collectively, we have more than 75 years of experience training tens of thousands of educators to deliver comprehensive, medically accurate, age- and culturally-appropriate sex education. Through Foundations, we are working with state and local organizations across the country to make this training available to even more teachers, at a price schools can afford.

How does it work?

Foundations is delivered by a cadre of skilled trainers who have been certified by Answer and Cardea. Our trainers have years of experience working directly with young people and training adult educators. They go through a rigorous training-of-trainers to enable them to replicate the Foundations model in their communities.

“Great energy. Fun facilitator. Great organization. Helpful visuals. Moving around was great.”

Anonymous,
Teacher

“I think you did a great job with the climate building piece.”

It’s great to have really structured models for skills for teaching sex education.

Anonymous,
Teacher

“I thought the training was excellent.”

As a health education coordinator, I came back to my district and shared a lot of what I learned with my newer and younger staff.

Anonymous,
Administrator

Anonymous,
Teacher
Anonymous,
Teacher
Anonymous,
Administrator

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we receive. If these responses don’t answer your questions, don’t hesitate to contact us directly.

What topics does Foundations cover?

The one-day Foundations training covers the essential skills for facilitating sex education, including: climate building in the classroom; understanding state and local sex education policies; pedagogical approaches for experiential learning; values clarification; managing personal disclosure; and handling difficult questions and harassing comments. Optional half-day modules for a second day of training include cultural competency, LGBTQ inclusion, trauma-informed approaches and facilitation skills for common sex education strategies.

Does the training cover sex education content?

Foundations focuses on the core skills needed to effectively facilitate sex education and does not include information on content such as birth control methods, STDs, healthy relationships, etc. Educators are strongly encouraged to brush up on their content knowledge prior to participating in Foundations. Answer offers a series of online professional development workshops that cover essential sex education content. For educators attending the LGBTQ inclusion module, we recommend first participating in LGBTQ Issues in Schools to ensure you are up to date on basic terminology and concepts related to sexual orientation and gender identity.

With which curricula can Foundations be used?

Foundations is designed to provide training in core skills that apply regardless of the curriculum you are implementing. This approach allows teachers and schools greater flexibility than attending multiple, curriculum-specific trainings. Foundations is grounded in the philosophy of comprehensive sex education which includes an emphasis on medical accuracy, complete and honest information, age-appropriateness, and inclusion of all students. The skills you will acquire in Foundations will enable you to facilitate sex education with confidence, no matter what your state or local policy or curriculum.

How long is the training?

The core components of Foundations are covered in a one-day, seven-hour training. When possible, trainers may offer a second day of training that includes two half-day modules suited to the needs of local teachers. These modules are designed to build on the skills acquired in the first day of training and may include cultural competency, LGBTQ inclusion, trauma-informed approaches or facilitation skills for common sex education strategies. This menu of options allows local school districts to customize Foundations to meet their needs.

How much does the training cost?

Foundations is committed to making training affordable and accessible to a range of school districts. In some cases, a training sessions may be offered for free or at reduced prices if grant funding is available to subsidize the cost. Based on a training for 15 to 30 participants, the maximum cost for a one-day Foundations training is $167 per person or $2,500 for a group. The maximum cost for a two-day Foundations training is $250 per person or $3,750 for a group.

Why isn’t this training offered online?

E-learning is a powerful tool for training on sex education content and curricula. When it comes to learning skills, though, there is simply no replacement for in-person training. Face-to-face trainings like Foundations provide an opportunity for teachers to practice new skills and get real-time feedback from expert trainers and fellow participants. Foundations can be paired with online trainings, like Answer’s online workshops, to ensure you get a well-rounded professional development experience.

What kind of follow-up support is available?

We know that no single training is sufficient to attain mastery of a new skillset. Follow-up support is essential to ensuring that teachers feel confident applying new skills and that they get feedback to help reinforce new practices. Answer, Cardea and many trainers in the Foundations cadre can provide technical assistance on an individual basis. Contact us to find out more.

Has the training been evaluated? What kind of results can I expect?

Foundations was developed after conducting a literature review of best practices in adult learning and professional development. The training incorporates elements from core skills training designs from Answer, Cardea and numerous state-based organizations. The one-day training was piloted in California, Mississippi and New Jersey and evaluated using pre- and post-training surveys and three-month follow-up assessments. Immediately after the training, participants demonstrated increased knowledge, comfort discussing sex education topics and skill acquisition. Three months after attending the training, participants reported high levels of satisfaction with the training, high levels of implementation of strategies and skills learned during the training, and improved confidence in facilitating sex education. For more detailed information on the training outcomes, click here.

How can I become a certified Foundations trainer?

Answer and Cardea conduct four-day trainings-of-trainers (TOT) to certify new members of the training cadre. If you are a skilled educator and trainer with substantial knowledge of sex education content and are committed to a comprehensive approach to sex education—or if you work for a state or local organization with similar expertise—contact us to find out about TOT opportunities in your area.

What if Foundations isn’t offered in my area?

We are continuously adding new host organizations and trainers to the Foundations training cadre, so get in touch with us to find out if we have plans to expand in your state or region soon. Answer and Cardea staff can also travel to provide Foundations training in your area if no local training provider is available. Contact us to inquire about your options.