Sexual Health Educator (SHE) Training Program
A training program for California educators. People who successfully complete the program’s required and elective modules will receive a Certificate of Completion.
For questions about the SHE program, reach out to STDHealthEd@cdph.ca.gov.
Who is eligible?
School teachers, health educators, and anyone who works with youth in a group or classroom setting.
Why participate?
The SHE Training Program modules are developed and/or vetted by experts in the field of sexual health at the CA Department of Public Health, STD Control Branch and is effective in preparing participants to provide comprehensive sexual health education to youth in California. The required courses are free and most electives are free.
Existing and new participants
Register and log into your Learning Management System account.
The Sexual Health Educator (SHE) Training Program is an educational and capacity-building opportunity for California educators working with youth in school, community, and clinical settings who desire to build their sexual health knowledge and education skills. Upon the successful completion of the program’s required and elective modules, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion.
In California, many teachers and other educators are asked to provide comprehensive sexual health education in the classroom despite receiving little to no training on the topics they are asked to teach. The SHE Training Program provides training on the basic content areas in sexual health and aims to address some of the skills needed to provide comprehensive sexual health education in the classroom. It is not a certification or credential.
This program was created by sexual health educators, trainers, and experts from: the California Department of Public Health, STD Control Branch; the California Department of Education; the California Prevention Training Center; and other partner organizations. The required and elective modules include up-to-date information and research on a variety of priority sexual health topics.
To achieve the SHE Training Program Certificate of Completion, participants must complete six required modules plus five elective modules out of the elective module.
Participants may complete modules online as on-demand trainings, participate in live, virtual trainings, or attend an in-person training if it is being offered. In-person trainings are held in regions where there are active SHE Training Program Adjunct Trainers, which can change over time. For questions about live, virtual trainings or in-person trainings, please reach out to STDHealthEd@cdph.ca.gov.
These courses can be taken in any order. Due to the cancellation of all in-person trainings due to COVID-19, participants may complete courses online if available.
STD/HIV Review: Workshop for Educators Who Work with Youth by the California Department of Public Health, STD Control Branch
- Available online and in-person (3.5 hours).
- Interactive training that will increase participants’ knowledge about the unique factors that put adolescents at greater risk for STIs. This module provides an overview of common STIs, the relationship between HIV and STDs, and the role of testing and screening to reduce the spread of STIs.
- Register with the California Prevention Training Center to take the course.
- Free.
California Healthy Youth Act: Comprehensive Sexual Health and HIV Prevention Education Requirements by the California Department of Education
- Available online (1 hour).
- Overview of the requirements of the California Healthy Youth Act, the law that mandates comprehensive sexuality education in California. This webinar was recorded in April of 2021.
- Register with the California Prevention Training Center to take the course.
- Free.
Minor Consent and Confidentiality for Sexual Health Services in California: A Training for Educators by the California Department of Public Health, STD Control Branch in partnership with the National Center for Youth Law
- Available online and in-person (1.5 hours).
- Overview of the laws that impact minors and their access to confidential sexual health services in California and the different roles of clinical providers and educators. Participants will be given an opportunity to test their own knowledge related to minor consent laws and learn about resources to support implementation of minor consent laws in a school setting.
- Register with the California Prevention Training Center to take the course.
- Free.
STI Data: U.S. and California by the California Department of Public Health, STD Control Branch
- Available online (Less than 1 hour).
- This activity requires a review of the most recent California and national STI surveillance data and youth sexual behavioral data. It also requires users to watch a short video on the social determinants of health.
- Register with the California Prevention Training Center to take the course.
- Free.
Contraceptive Methods by the California Prevention Training Center
- Available online (2 hours).
- This module provides an overview of how pregnancy happens, how contraception interferes with this process to avoid pregnancy, and reviews the FDA-approved contraceptive methods available. Participants will learn about the current laws in California relevant to contraception education and access for youth and explore information about contraceptive methods relevant to youth populations.
- Register with the California Prevention Training Center to take the course.
- Free.
The Respect Online Course by the American Psychological Association (APA)
- Available online (2 hours).
- This course describes the complexity and diversity of sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions and provides an overview of how stigma and prejudice against LGBTQ youth can impact health outcomes.
- Participants will learn specific interventions and practices that can contribute to building safe and supportive school environments for LGBTQ youth and all other students.
- To participate and receive credit for this elective module register with the California Prevention Training Center to take the course.
- Free.
At least five of these modules must be completed to receive a certificate of completion. They can be taken in any order and from any topic area. The elective modules cover a range of topics related to comprehensive sexual health education with a specific focus on supporting the implementation of the California Healthy Youth Act. The elective module options will continue to evolve over time as the requirements of the California Healthy Youth Act expand and new trainings are identified and developed by the California Department of Public Health and partner agencies. All elective modules are vetted by the California Department of Public Health, STD Control Branch staff but are not explicitly endorsed by the California Department of Public Health.
Click on the titles below to learn more about the training content and how to participate to receive credit.
Best Practices in Teaching Sexual Health Education
- It’s Not Just What You Say: Techniques & Approaches for a Healthy Sex Ed Class by Healthy Teen Network (40 minutes)
- Responding with Confidence: Answering Sensitive Questions & Maintaining Boundaries by Healthy Teen Network (40 minutes)
- Strategies + Tools for Family Communication about Healthy Sexuality by Essential Access Health (1 hour and 15 minutes)
- Teaching Sexual Health Education: Building Comfort and Building Capacity by the California Department of Public Health, STD Control Branch (1.5 hours)
- Teaching Sexual Health Education: Facilitating Difficult Questions in the Classroom by the California Department of Public Health, STD Control Branch (1.5 hours)
- California Healthy Youth Act 2020-2021 Curricula Review by the California Healthy Kids Resource Center, Adolescent Sexual Health Work Group, and California Department of Education (1 hour)
Healthy Relationships
- Dating Matters: Understanding Teen Dating Violence Prevention by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1 hour)
- Talking about Getting Along: The Basics of Teaching Students about Healthy and Inclusive Relationships Opens in a new tab by Healthy Teen Network (40 minutes)
Human Trafficking
- Child Trafficking Myths and Facts by Love146 (1 hour)
- Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Awareness by the Public Child Welfare Training Academy, the California Department of Social Services, and the California Social Work Education Center (2 hours)
- Recognizing Red Flags and Helping Youth Find a Safe Adult by Love146 (1 hour)
Supporting LGBTQ Youth
- Achieving Health Equity for LGBTQIA People (2020) by the National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center (1 hour)
- Healthcare for LGBTQIA+ Youth by the National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center (1 hour)
- LGBTQ Best Practices: Classroom Culture and Curriculum by Learning for Justice (1 hour)
- Making Room for Gender Diversity in School Health Services and Sex Education by GLSEN, Gender Spectrum, and School-Based Health Alliance (1 hour)
- Safe and Supportive Environments for LGBTQ Students by Cardea Services (1 hour)
STI and Pregnancy Prevention
- Pregnancy Options by Planned Parenthood Pasadena & San Gabriel Valley (1 hour)
- Preventing Pregnancy & Infection: The Basics of Keeping Safe by Healthy Teen Network (40 minutes)
- Puberty & the Reproductive System by Healthy Teen Network (40 minutes)
- STD Expert Hour – Supporting Our Youth, Embracing Opportunities in Adolescent Sexual Health by the California Prevention Training Center (1 hour)
Teaching Sexual Health Education to Students of All Abilities
- Sexuality in Educational Settings for Students with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities by Association of University Centers on Disabilities, featuring Katie Thune of Mad Hatter Wellness (1 hour)
- The ABCs of Sexuality Education and Autism by Sex Ed Mart (1 hour)
The ABCs of Sexuality Education and Autism by Sex Ed Mart
- Available online.
- This recorded webinar discusses sexuality education and autism, and how to adapt materials in the classroom. (Created September 2020).
- To participate and receive credit for this elective module register with the California Prevention Training Center to take the course.
- Free.
Achieving Health Equity for LBGTQIA People (2020) by the National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center
- Available online.
- This module discusses important LGTBQIA+ concepts and terminology, highlights the relationship between stigma and LGBTQIA+ health disparities and describes best practices in LGBTQIA+ health related to effective communication, data collection, and creating an inclusive environment.
- Register with the California Prevention Training Center Opens in a new tab to take the course.
- Free.
California Healthy Youth Act 2020-2021 Curricula Review by the California Healthy Kids Resource Center, Adolescent Sexual Health Work Group, and California Department of Education
- Available online.
- This recorded webinar provides an overview of the California Healthy Youth Act (CHYA) and the 2020-2021 CHYA curricula review process, including how CHYA aligns with the California Health Education standards and framework. Participants will learn how to conduct their own review of a comprehensive sexual health education curriculum and how to identify available resources and professional learning opportunities. (Created January 2022).
- To participate and receive credit for this elective module register with the California Prevention Training Center Opens in a new tab to take the course.
- Free.
Child Trafficking Myths and Facts by Love146
- Available online.
- This recorded webinar clarifies common myths and misconceptions about child trafficking, gives insight on the most vulnerable populations, and discusses contributing risk factors. (Created October 2020).
- To participate and receive credit for this elective module register with the California Prevention Training Center Opens in a new tab to take the course.
- Free.
Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Awareness Training Module by the Public Child Welfare Training Academy, the California Department of Social Services, and the California Social Work Education Center (2015)
- Available online.
- This module is designed for child welfare staff. It provides a broad overview of three types of Human Trafficking and information regarding the ongoing research on the topic. Participants will learn how to define human trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation of children and how they are related, describe the dynamics involved that contribute to the victimization of young people by sex traffickers, identify tools that may be utilized in the identification and assessment of victims of trafficking, identify and highlight programs designed to intervene, and assess and treat those affected by the commercial sexual exploitation of children.
- To participate and receive credit for this elective module register with the California Prevention Training Center Opens in a new tab to take the course.
- Free.
Healthcare for LGBTQIA+ Youth by the National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center
- Available online.
- This module discusses the unique health and developmental challenges of LGBTQIA+ youth and describes ways to address these issues in clinical settings.
- To participate and receive credit for this elective module register with the California Prevention Training Center Opens in a new tab to take the course.
- Free.
Dating Matters: Understanding Teen Dating Violence Prevention by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Available online.
- This module helps participants identify examples of teen dating violence as well as examples of risk factors, protective factors, warning signs, and challenges for seeking help when experiencing teen dating violence. Participants will be able to compare and contrast healthy and unhealthy relationship characteristics and behaviors and learn how to provide support to students. (Created in 2015).
- To participate and receive credit for this elective module register with the California Prevention Training Center Opens in a new tab to take the course.
- Free.
It’s Not Just What You Say: Techniques & Approaches for a Healthy Sex Ed Class
- Available online.
- This module covers learning about how to create and maintain a comfortable environment teaching sexual health education, HIV/STI prevention, and/or family life education (Created May 2024).
- To participate and receive credit for this elective module register with the California Prevention Training Center to take the course.
- Free.
LGBTQ Best Practices: Classroom Culture and Curriculum by Learning for Justice
- Available online.
- This webinar models how to create an inclusive classroom culture and build an intersectional curriculum that incorporates queer history and perspectives. (Created October 2018).
- To participate and receive credit for this elective module register with the California Prevention Training Center to take the course.
- Free.
Making Room for Gender Diversity in School Health Services and Sex Education by GLSEN, Gender Spectrum, and School-Based Health Alliance
- Available online.
- This recorded webinar covers basic gender diversity terminology and language, social and cultural constructions of gender, LGBT student experiences, why this information is important, and how to incorporate this information into health education for youth (Created 2/7/18).
- To participate and receive credit for this elective module register with the California Prevention Training Center Opens in a new tab to take the course.
- Free.
Pregnancy Options by Planned Parenthood Pasadena & San Gabriel Valley
- Available online.
- This module will go over all legally available pregnancy options including parenting, adoption, abortion, and safe surrender. Additionally, it will emphasize the importance of prenatal care and some best practices for facilitating these conversations in a classroom setting This module covers content to support educators in meeting California Education Code requirements 51934 (9)(a)(b)(c). (Created May 2024).
- To participate and receive credit for this elective module register with the California Prevention Training Center to take the course.
- Free.
Preventing Pregnancy & Infection: The Basics of Keeping Safe
- Available online.
- This module covers learning about condoms and contraception when teaching sexual health education, HIV/STI prevention, and/or family life education (Created May 2024).
- To participate and receive credit for this elective module register with the California Prevention Training Center to take the course.
- Free.
Puberty & the Reproductive System
- Available online.
- This module covers learning pointers about teaching about puberty and reproduction (Created May 2024).
- To participate and receive credit for this elective module register with the California Prevention Training Center to take the course.
- Free.
Recognizing Red Flags and Helping Youth Find a Safe Adult by Love146
- Available online.
- This recorded webinar provides information on how to identify common trafficking red flags and tactics traffickers use to groom and recruit children as well as practical steps adults and caregivers can take to address the issue. (Created November 2020).
- To participate and receive credit for this elective module register with the California Prevention Training Center Opens in a new tab to take the course.
- Free.
Responding with Confidence: Answering Sensitive Questions & Maintaining Boundaries by Healthy Teen Network
- Available online.
- This module covers how to answering sensitive or challenging questions from students when teaching sexual health education, HIV/STI prevention, and/or family life education (Created May 2024).
- To participate and receive credit for this elective module register with the California Prevention Training Center to take the course.
- Free.
Safe and Supportive Environments for LGBTQ Students by Cardea Services
- Available online.
- This recorded webinar reviews LGBTQ adolescent health risk factors in California. It provides an overview of laws and regulations that schools must follow to protect student rights. Participants learn why issues like bullying, harassment, safety, and bathroom regulations are important to both LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ students (Created 10/12/17).
- To participate and receive credit for this elective module register with the California Prevention Training Center Opens in a new tab to take the course.
- Free.
Sexuality in Educational Settings for Students with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities by Association of University Centers on Disabilities, featuring Katie Thune of Mad Hatter Wellness
- Available online.
- This recorded webinar discusses educational strategies to support teaching youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities about their sexual health. Participants will learn helpful approaches to communicate about sexual health with this population including using repetition, teaching consent, and how to identify healthy and unhealthy behaviors. (Created October 2020).
- To participate and receive credit for this elective module register with the California Prevention Training Center Opens in a new tab to take the course.
- Free.
STD Expert Hour – Supporting Our Youth, Embracing Opportunities in Adolescent Sexual Health by the California Prevention Training Center
- Available online.
- This webinar highlights current topics in the prevention and management of STDs to further advance clinical practice. Participants will review adolescent vulnerabilities and risk factors that impact STD rates as a result of the challenges of STD prevention and management of STDs among youth. (Created July 2015).
- To participate and receive credit for this elective module register with the California Prevention Training Center Opens in a new tab to take the course.
- Free.
Strategies + Tools for Family Communication about Healthy Sexuality by Essential Access Health
- Available online.
- This online course shares strategies and tips for encouraging family communication about sexual and reproductive health. It includes ice breakers for age-appropriate conversations and tips for answering sex-related questions. The course includes an overview of resources for parents and youth that promote healthy sexual development and decision-making as well as strategies for how educators can support families in navigating this topic. (Updated December 2021).
- To participate and receive credit for this elective module register with the California Prevention Training Center Opens in a new tab to take the course.
- This module has a $20 fee, but there is a reduced fee ($15) for California teachers.
Talking about Getting Along: The Basics of Teaching Students about Healthy and Inclusive Relationships by Healthy Teen Network
- Available online.
- This module covers how to teach about healthy and inclusive relationships when teaching sexual health education, HIV/STI prevention, and/or family life education (Created May 2024).
- To participate and receive credit for this elective module register with the California Prevention Training Center to take the course.
- Free.
Teaching Sexual Health Education: Building Comfort and Building Capacity by the California Department of Public Health, STD Control Branch
- Available now in-person.
- This interactive training provides a space for participants to examine their own values related to sexuality education and provides tools to ensure sexuality education is taught that is inclusive of all learners and supports positive health outcomes for young people and teens.
- Free.
Teaching Sexual Health Education: Facilitating Difficult Questions in the Classroom by the California Department of Public Health, STD Control Branch
- Available now in-person.
- This module provides tips and tools for participants to navigate difficult sexuality-related questions in a classroom or group setting. The interactive training will provide a framework to classify different types of questions and a protocol for answering these questions. Participants will have the opportunity to practice their newly acquired skills and will gain comfort and confidence to deal with any type of question that will be asked of them.
- Free.
Nuestro objetivo es ampliar esta sección para un mayor desarrollo profesional en Español. Regrese pronto para ver nuevos módulos.
Estos módulos cubrirán una variedad de temas relacionados con la educación integral de la salud sexual con un enfoque específico en apoyar la implementación de la ley conocida como ‘California Healthy Youth Act’. Las opciones de módulos electivos continuarán evolucionando con el tiempo, a medida que se amplíen los requisitos de la ley de ‘California Healthy Youth Act’ y el Departamento de Salud Pública de California y las agencias asociadas identifiquen y desarrollen nuevas capacitaciones. Todos los módulos electivos son examinados por el Departamento de Salud Pública de California, Rama de Control de Enfermedades de Transmisión Sexual.
Presiona los títulos a continuación para obtener más información sobre el contenido de la capacitación y cómo participar para recibir crédito.
Capacitación de Introducción a la Salud Sexual y Reproductiva por Essential Access Health (3 horas y 25 minutos)
- Disponible en linea.
- Este módulo es un curso integral sobre la sexualidad humana, la anatomía reproductiva humana, los ciclos menstruales, el control de la natalidad y las ETS. (Creado en Noviembre de 2020.)
- Regístrese en California Prevention Training Center Opens in a new tab para tomar el curso.
- Este módulo tiene una tarifa de $35 con descuento.
To achieve the SHE Training Program Certificate of Completion, participants must complete six REQUIRED MODULES plus five ELECTIVE MODULES that can be chosen from the elective module menu listed on the SHE Training Program webpage. The six required SHE Training Program modules are:
- STD/HIV Review: Workshop for Educators Who Work with Youth
- California Healthy Youth Act: Comprehensive Sexual Health and HIV Prevention Education Requirements
- Minor Consent and Confidentiality for Sexual Health Services in California
- STD Data: U.S. and California
- Contraceptive Methods
- The Respect Online Course (American Psychological Association)
The elective modules cover a range of topics related to comprehensive sexual health education with a specific focus on supporting the implementation of the California Healthy Youth Act Opens in a new tab. The elective module options will continue to evolve over time as the requirements of the California Healthy Youth Act expand and new trainings are identified and developed by the California Department of Public Health and partner agencies. All elective modules are vetted by the California Department of Public Health, STD Control Branch staff but are not explicitly endorsed by the California Department of Public Health.
Participants must submit the required post-training evaluation survey for each module completed in order for each module to count towards their Certificate.
Important disclaimer: The SHE Training Program Certificate of Completion is not a certification or credential. No continuing education credits are offered for this training program at this time.
The SHE Training Program team has some limited capacity to respond to interactive virtual training requests. In-person trainings are prioritized in areas where there is an active Adjunct Trainer. For more information and/or to receive updates about upcoming interactive trainings, email us at STDHealthEd@cdph.ca.gov.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the California state requirement to stay at home, all in-person SHE Trainings are cancelled until further notice. We are actively looking into interactive virtual training opportunities, especially for the two required SHE Training Program modules that are not currently available online (STI Data: U.S. and California and Contraceptive Methods).
We appreciate your patience as many of our trainers are being redirected to support COVID-19 response efforts. Please email us at STDHealthEd@cdph.ca.gov for more information.
Is this a curricular training?
No. The SHE Training Program is intended to provide background knowledge and build capacity of educators who will deliver any comprehensive sexual health education curriculum to youth. The SHE Training Program provides a deeper dive into content areas that most comprehensive sexual health education programs cover via classroom lessons. We do not provide curriculum, nor do we endorse any specific curriculum.
For curricular guidance on meeting the requirements of the CA Healthy Youth Act (CHYA), please visit the CDE webpage Opens in a new tab on this topic.
Does this “count” towards the California Healthy Youth Act (CHYA) training requirement?
It depends. The SHE Training Program can be a great way to develop a solid foundation in the core content areas required by CHYA. Since it is not a curriculum and we do not provide “how-to” direction, such as lesson plans, on the provision of comprehensive sexual health education, people who are interested in meeting the training requirements for CHYA will need to consider what it means to be “trained” in the context of their local education agency.
The currently available modules can be tailored to meet the needs of a specific educator, and we strive to provide a broad range of topic areas in our elective module offerings to address the broad scope of CHYA. However, the modules available do not cover every element required by CHYA, and educators may need to identify additional training to supplement where there are gaps.
For educators already providing health education who already have a solid foundation in providing comprehensive sexual health education, SHE can meet the requirements to stay up-to-date on key content areas.
From the CDE website: “Education Code (EC) 51935 requires school districts to cooperatively plan and conduct in-service training for all teachers and school employees who provide HIV prevention instruction. This in-service training shall be conducted periodically to enable staff to remain current with new developments in the scientific understanding of HIV as well as with new prevention education techniques. This training may be expanded to cover comprehensive sexual health education.”
How can I find out where trainings are happening?
We don’t have a public calendar, but we are happy to let you know what’s coming up if you email STDhealthed@cdph.ca.gov. You can also subscribe to our newsletter which shares monthly program updates by emailing us at STDHealthEd@cdph.ca.gov.
How do I get trained on the modules that are not available online?
All required trainings are available online, but two of our elective trainings are only available as interactive virtual or in-person trainings. We have extremely limited capacity for in-person training and rely on a team of volunteer adjunct trainers to respond to in-person training requests. We do not have the staff capacity to host standing trainings at this time.
To request training, please email us at STDhealthed@cdph.ca.gov Opens in a new tab. We generally need several months advance notice to book trainings. For in-person training, we require assistance with space to host the training. For both in-person and virtual training, we require a minimum number of 15 participants (depending on the area) to offer training. We provide training for free. Occasionally we work with host agencies and partners that charge a registration fee to cover their costs, but our goal is to provide free or low-cost training options for California educators.
Can you train all of our teachers?
Occasionally we conduct trainings that involve a single district but we generally ask to open up trainings to as many people as possible from a geographic area, within a reasonable scope.
How long does it take to complete the modules needed for the SHE Certificate of Completion?
All required and most elective modules are available online and can be completed at one’s own pace. Several of the required modules are only conducted on an in-person basis and there may be a significant gap between the scheduling of in-person trainings. Therefore, it may take several months to complete all the necessary modules. We appreciate your patience.
The timing of the online modules varies by learner but most of the online modules take 1-1.5 hours to complete. The online STD/HIV Review: Workshop for Educators Who Work With Youth takes approximately three hours to complete. The “Required Modules” and “Elective Modules” section of the website provides information on the timing of live virtual or in-person trainings.
How do I know if the training I participated in will count towards the SHE Certificate of Completion requirements?
For information on the specific requirements of the Certificate of Completion, visit our website. If you have questions about a specific training you attended recently and which requirements were met by completing this training, please reach out to us directly at STDHealthEd@cdph.ca.gov. For live virtual trainings, participants must login using the same name they registered for the training with to participate and earn credit towards the SHE Certificate of Completion.
For in-person trainings, participants must attend the entire training and sign in and sign out in order to receive any credit towards the SHE Certificate of Completion.
How can I sign up to get email updates about the SHE Training Program?
We send out a monthly newsletter to share program updates with interested parties. Please email us at STDHealthEd@cdph.ca.gov if you would like to receive these monthly newsletters.
How much does it cost?
We provide training for free. Occasionally we work with host agencies and partners that charge a registration fee to cover their costs but our goal is to provide free or low-cost training options for California educators. If you are interested in a SHE training and the cost is a barrier, please email STDHealthEd@cdph.ca.gov
Many of the electives modules are online trainings and webinars developed by external agencies and partners which we have vetted. We have included enough elective modules to have a path to completing the SHE certificate for free. Some webinars and trainings that have a cost attached are included as an option because we feel they are high quality and the content is valuable.
Who does the trainings?
There are two primary trainers for the SHE Training Program from the STD Control Branch of the CA Department of Public Health. One person is based in the Bay Area and one is based in Sacramento. We have a long history of working closely with the California Department of Education, and when possible, we work with the staff there to provide direct training on pertinent issues.
Beyond the primary trainers, we have a team of adjunct trainers who are skilled and seasoned health educators from across the state that can provide the SHE modules either entirely on their own or in conjunction with a primary trainer.
Can I become a SHE trainer?
We continue to build our capacity to deliver the SHE Training Program across California and we can occasionally take on additional adjunct trainers in higher need areas. We cannot take on adjunct trainers who work with for-profit agencies and we only work with trainers who are already well-versed in training strategies and sexual health content. We ask adjunct trainers to train for free, so we cannot supplement a fee-for-service model. Please contact us at STDHealthEd@cdph.ca.gov if you are interested in becoming an adjunct trainer. Currently, our high-need areas are in the northeastern part of the state, Central Valley, Inland Empire, and Imperial County.
Is this appropriate training for HIV test counselors/DIS/CDI/peer educators/students?
This program is designed with teachers in mind, and specifically those teachers who may be tasked with providing sexual health education but may have limited content knowledge in this area, might be rusty on content, or experienced teachers looking for a heavy dose of content updates. This may be useful for many other groups of people working in sexual health, but is not an appropriate replacement for any job training efforts.
The SHE Training Program relies heavily on online learning modules and this is not an effective modality for some learners.
Does this certify someone to teach comprehensive sexual health education?
No. We will issue a certificate of completion to people who finish the combination of required and elective modules. The certificate is only an indication that a person has engaged in a series of learning activities that may enhance knowledge on sexual health content.
Do you offer continuing education units (CEUs)?
No, we do not offer any kind of CEUs for the SHE Training Program. Some of the elective modules may offer CEUs but this was not a priority in the vetting process.
How do I get started?
The SHE Training Program can be completed online and each module is self-paced. If you are interested in achieving the SHE Training Program Certificate of Completion, you must complete all six required modules plus five elective modules that can be chosen from the elective module menu listed on our webpage.
If you would like to join our Sexual Health Education Training Program, select ‘New user log in’ located at the top of this page to register for our program. If you are interested in receiving a SHE Training Program Certificate of Completion, be sure to select “Yes” to the question “Are you interested in participating in the Sexual Health Educator (SHE) Training Program as described HERE?” on the registration form to be added to the learning track.
After registering for the SHE Training Program, register for a specific module by selecting the link “Register with the California Prevention Training Center” under each respective module listed on our webpage or by logging in to the Learning Management System and selecting ‘My Learning Tracks’ under the left-hand menu to see your status in the program and which modules you need to complete the program.
For questions about the SHE program, reach out to STDHealthEd@cdph.ca.gov
