We hope the resources on this page will support you in developing skills of consent and reduce sexual coercion. If you have experienced sexual assault, know that it is never your fault. Please reach out to your school counseling department or a trusted adult for help. For instructions to view this page in Spanish, click on en Español.
Families Connected Resources
Recommended video and important things to know
“Consent - Advice for Teens” from Jennifer Elledge, MPH.
Asking for consent isn’t hard or awkward. In fact, it makes sexual activity less awkward and less confusing because when there’s clear consent, you know for sure that the person you’re with is down to do the same thing you are. Consent is:
Freely given. It’s not okay to pressure, trick, or threaten someone into saying yes. And you can’t give consent if you’re drunk, high, or passed out.
Reversible. It’s okay to say yes and then change your mind — at any time! Even if you’ve done it before, and even if you’re both naked in bed.
Informed. You can only consent to something if you have all the facts. For example, if someone says they’ll use a condom and then they don’t, there isn’t full consent.
Enthusiastic. When it comes to sex, you should do stuff you WANT to do, not things people expect you to do. If someone doesn’t seem enthusiastic (meaning happy, excited, or energized), stop and check in.
Specific. Saying yes to one thing (like going to the bedroom to make out) doesn’t mean you’re saying yes to other things (like having sex).
(Planned Parenthood)
Related teen topics and parent resources
Curated Gallery of Resources
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Recommended videos
Recommended articles and resources
Click on image to enlarge
All About Consent (Planned Parenthood)
Consent and Sexual Assault (Teen Talk)
Practicing Consent (Teen Talk)
Check-in First: How to Talk About Sexual Consent (Teen Health Source)
Consent education and tools
Break the Cycle inspires and supports young people 12 - 24 to build healthy relationships and create a culture without abuse. Break the Cycle provides outstanding, free, and downloadable handouts, quizzes, videos, and education modules and awareness campaigns. Click on the logo on the left to access their [Real]source Center to access content and healthy relationships curriculum in English and Spanish.
Check-out Let's Be Real and consider encouraging your teen or young adult to join. It’s not a club, it’s not a group, it’s a movement. By young people, for young people, about relationships. Let's Be Real provides youth with online and in-person opportunities to have real conversations about their experiences, tap into their creativity, and apply their individual gifts and talents towards building a culture without abuse.
It’s On Us is a national movement to end sexual assault. The campaign was launched following recommendations from the White House Task Force to Prevent Sexual Assault that noted the importance of engaging everyone in the conversation to end sexual violence. Tools for parents and youth: A Sexual Consent Discussion Guide and Bystander Intervention Tips.
