Since October 2015, Better Together Hennepin (BTH) has been funded by the Minnesota Department of Health’s Abstinence Education Grant Program to implement It’s That Easy! (ITE). ITE is a program designed to empower parents and caregivers to connect with their children, share their values, and engage in meaningful conversations about sex, sexuality, and relationships. ITE helps parents be more intentional, clear, and consistent when communicating about their family’s values around these topics. Research shows that supporting parent-child connectedness, family communication, and sharing values with children are significant protective factors for delaying sexual initiation and avoiding unplanned pregnancy. However, research also shows that while most parents want to provide their children with the knowledge and skills they need, many feel unprepared and uncomfortable when it comes to topics related to sexuality.

BTH, in partnership with Annex Teen Clinic, Planned Parenthood North Central States, and North Point Health and Wellness facilitate ITE sessions throughout Hennepin County with a focus on cities with teen birth rates higher than the national average. Sessions have been held at schools, libraries, churches, treatment centers, private homes, and many other locations. Sessions are available on a variety of topics including healthy adolescent development, communication skills, teens and technology, questions commonly asked by children about sexuality, and many more.

Parents/caregivers (1,261) have attended ITE sessions during the three years of this grant. The Abstinence Education Grant Program ended September 30, 2018 and was replaced with the Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) grant. Better Together Hennepin, along with our community partners, plan to continue ITE programming under the new SRAE grant program through September 30, 2020.

APEX Coding
Fund: 20
Dept. ID: 503099
Account: 42067
Proj. ID: 1006833