"Talking is Power Campaign" Supports Parents in Educating Native American Youth about HIV

To help American Indian and Alaska Native parents and caring adults initiate difficult conversations about sexual health topics with their teens and young adults, in Spring 2020 the Healthy Native YouthExit Disclaimer collaborative launched the Talking is PowerExit Disclaimer campaign. The new campaign is one of several Indian Health Service activities supported by the Minority HIV/AIDS Fund (MHAF) in Fiscal Year 2020.

Caring adults can text the word “EMPOWER” to 97779 to receive weekly text messages that include culturally appropriate tips and resources that support conversations with their teens about topics such as sexual health, pregnancy, HIV and STDs, condoms, and consent. We know that talking to teens about sensitive health topics is never easy, but it’s important to talk openly and honestly. So far, nearly 200 parents have signed up for the service. Among those who’ve completed the series, 84% reported that the messages helped spark sensitive conversations with their child.

All of the campaign tips and tools are available online at: https://www.healthynativeyouth.org/resources/talking-is-power-tools-for-parents/Exit Disclaimer

The Talking is Power campaign was collaboratively developed by the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, the Inter-tribal Council of Arizona, the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, and the University of Texas School of Public Health.