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STD Awareness Month is One Month Away: Let's get ready!
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Each year more communities around the state of California participate in campaigns and activities during STD Awareness Month. This months feature highlights available resources for you to build on previous efforts or to encourage you to begin promotional efforts now. Whatever your situation, utilize the existing materials and explore opportunities to partner with others. Lets make STD Awareness Month 2010 easy, collaborative, and effective.
GYT 2010 Communication Message
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), MTV, Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), and Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), are continuing their successful 2009 GYT Get Yourself Tested campaign. In 2010, the GYT message is expanded to also mean Get Yourself Talking and encourages sexually active youth to openly communicate about sexual health and to normalize and encourage STD testing. The campaign intends to present testing as an act of pride, not shame. The campaign goals encourage:
- Participation in GYT by getting tested and encourage others to get tested as well.
- Communication about testing with partners, health care providers, and others.
The American College Health Association (ACHA) is a new partner in the 2010 campaign. This is an optimum time to develop partnerships between colleges and local health jurisdictions.
Website resources for materials and more information:
GYT website: www.GYTnow.org
GYT partner resources: http://www.kff.org/entpartnerships/mtv2/gyt.cfm
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.
Throughout Californian communities there will be increased efforts throughout the year to educate youth and young adults about STDs and prevention and getting tested. Some communities have begun to plan media campaigns, health fairs, and symposiums for professionals to take place in April. SWAP has many resources that are suitable for youth and young adults. Click on the following titles to link to some SWAP materials developed by and for youth:
STD Awareness Month 2009 Poster from San Mateo County
Sober Up STD Poster
Notice the Symptoms
Click here for the SWAP materials search page and find what suits your community
Let us know what you're planning and we will list the details here!
This is a great opportunity to work together and reinforce positive health messages.