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April is STD Awareness Month!
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The California STD Control Branch encourages you to join the STD prevention efforts of The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), MTV, Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), and The American College Health Association (ACHA) in the Get Yourself Tested/Get Yourself Talking (GYT) campaign. STD Awareness deserves your attention because:
- More than 180,000 cases of STDs were reported in California in 2008:
- STDs are the most commonly reported communicable diseases in California
- Teens and young adults account for 2/3rds of all reported STDs in California
- Many STDs have no symptoms and can have serious consequences
For these and many other reasons GYT, Get Yourself Tested continues to be a vital public health message. In 2010, GYT also stands for Get Yourself Talking and encourages communicating openly about sexual health issues.
Start now and continue to increase STD awareness throughout the year.
Resources and website links
- Be inspired by the many communities around the state of California that have sprung into action: link here to see a list of local activities that are scheduled in April.
- Take advantage of the electronic tool kits and resources put together by Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC and its national partners:
The GYT: Get Yourself Tested Online Digital Toolkit: http://www.itsyoursexlife.com/gyt/toolkit?utm_source=gytnow
GYT website:
www.GYTnow.org
Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/GYTnow
CDC STD Awareness Month website:
www.cdcnpin.org/stdawareness STD and HIV testing locator widgets:
www.findSTDtest.org, a national online tool for locating local
STD and HIV testing centers by ZIP code.
A favorite tool is the personalized card to send to friends:
http://www.cdcnpin.org/stdawareness/communication_socialmarketing.htm
- Collaborate: develop partnerships with colleges, schools, community based and faith based organizations and local health jurisdictions.
- Hookup, a free text messaging service: if you enter your zip code you can find the nearest clinic to you for low to no cost sexual health services and you can sign up to have weekly sex info and life advice sent to you. Standard rates apply. Its just like texting your friends. All promotional materials are now available on SWAP.
Family PACT is a program that provides no-cost family planning and reproductive health services to low-income men and women, including teens. Many doctors and clinics all over California are part of the Family PACT program. To find a Family PACT provider near you go to www.familypact.org. or call 1-800- 942-1054 (English or Spanish)
Click on the following titles to link to various materials available on SWAP. Or click here for our SWAP search page for more materials to personalise your campaign.
Make STD Awareness a priority all year round.