Keynote Sessions

Beyond Risk and Abstinence: A New Paradigm for Adolescent Sexual Health

 Dr. Amy Schalet, professor of sociology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and author of Raging Hormones, Regulated Love 

Dr. Schalet’s research comparing the sexual behavior of American adolescents with that of European teens has given her national recognition.

Understanding the Teen Brain: Sexuality and Decision Making

Dr. Judith W. Herrman, RN, assistant director of the School of Nursing at the University of Delaware, and noted educator and lecturer

Important new research related to teens appears to support what adults have been saying all along: young people think differently. Differences in decision making, impulsivity, sensation seeking, striving for rewards, learning, attention spans, and the role of peer influences have a great impact on young people’s health-risk behaviors, sexual decision making, and approaches to the world. This presentation will highlight the physiological differences in the teen brain, discuss the impact of these differences on sexual behaviors, and describe interventions to promote good relationships with youth. The participants will leave with information key to fostering health and positive sexual behaviors in this wonderful, but different generation of learners.