About ASHWG

The Adolescent Sexual Health Work Group (ASHWG) is an organized collaborative of governmental and non-governmental organizations to promote and protect the sexual and reproductive health of youth in California. ASHWG is comprised of program managers from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), California Department of Education (CDE), and key non-governmental organizations (NGO) committed to working more effectively to address the sexual and reproductive health of California adolescents.

Strategic Plan

Goals

Goal 1: To improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes and health equity among California youth.

Goal 2: To increase access to exemplary sexual health education among California youth.

Goal 3: To increase access to sexual and reproductive health services among California youth.

Goal 4: To promote positive youth development and healthy relationships among California youth.

Strategies

1. Develop program policies, support implementation of existing policies, and educate policy-makers.

2. Develop the competencies of California’s adolescent sexual health work force.

3. Promote active engagement of youth in their sexual health rights and well-being.

4. Develop and disseminate data and evaluation resources to support stakeholders in making informed decisions.

Operational Objectives

1. Strategic use of data to advance ASHWG goals

2. Act as ambassadors within the agencies to educate about how policies do/don’t meet ASHWG priorities, and inform bill analyses.

3. Create internal program policies with input of broader ASHWG group and stakeholders

4. Educate policy makers and other decision makers about ASHWG priorities

5. Conduct an inventory of existing ASHWG tools and resources

6. Assess and refine tools and resources as needed

7. Disseminate tools and resources

8. Feedback loop (i.e. continue with Strategies 5-7 with respect to both external and internal tools and resources)

9. Promote youth engagement within ASHWG member organizations

10. Utilize the self-assessment tool for institutions developed by PYD sub-committee

11. Implement and promote technology tools

Values

Human rights and youth rights

Positive youth development

Decreasing disparities/increasing equity

Engaging those most impacted

Inclusive of populations and partners

Data driven decisions

Respect and dignity for people impacted

Removing stigma

Connectivity of ASRH to broader health

Past Work of ASHWG

Adolescent Sexual Health History

The Beginning

View the Invitation List

Summary of Group Vision

December 2004

To create a coordinated, collaborative, and integrated system among government and non-government organizations (NGOs) to promote and protect the sexual and reproductive health of youth in California.

View the Goals

Adolescent Sexual Health Meeting Notes

May 31, 2005

To create a coordinated, collaborative, and integrated system among government and non-government organizations to promote and protect the sexual and reproductive health of youth in California.

View the Notes

Adolescent Sexual Health Overview

February 2007

A collaborative effort between the California Department of Health Services and the California Department of Education to Strengthen Partnerships to Improve HIV, STD, and Unintended Teen Pregnancy Prevention Among School-Age Adolescents.

View the Overview