Village Public Health

12/01/2025

Join the Fight Against HIV Today

Update About Real Talk with Dr. Q - Coming in 2026 As a public health practitioner, I cannot ignore what the data continues to show about HIV’s impact on Black women. This moment calls for awareness, honesty, and community action. Because of the urgency surrounding this issue, I made the decision ...

12/01/2025

In honor of World AIDS Day, we are excited to launch the 2026 Biomedical HIV Prevention Summit!

This year's theme is “The Syndemic Approach—Strengthening the HIV and Public Health Workforce”. It's all about building bridges and eliminating silos across public health concentrations to sustain healthy communities.

Today, we're launching the following pages:

-Landing page: https://www.nmac.org/bhps/
-Registration: https://www.nmac.org/bhps/registration/
-Agenda and Tracks: https://www.nmac.org/bhps/agenda/
-Sponsors and Exhibitors: https://www.nmac.org/bhps/sponsor-exhibit/
-Venue: https://www.nmac.org/bhps/venue/

We’ll announce additional information, such as Plenaries, Participant Support (formerly Scholarships) and the PrEPpy Awards, soon! Click the links above to explore and register for the Summit today!

12/01/2025

Today is World AIDS Day.

It’s a reminder that HIV is still part of communities, families, and our real-life conversations, especially when it comes to youth and young adults. Awareness alone isn’t enough. What truly protects young people is education, emotional safety, access to care, and adults willing to have honest conversations.

At Village Public Health, our work goes beyond information. We focus on reducing stigma, strengthening mental wellness, and creating safe spaces for youth to learn, ask questions, and feel supported.

Today, we honor those impacted by HIV.
Today, we commit to prevention through connection.
Today, we keep the conversation going.

11/30/2025

🧠💬 Let’s Talk: Faith, S*xuality, and Healthy Relationships

Faith, values, and s*xuality are not separate conversations, they’re deeply connected. 🙏🏽❤️

The latest video from  helps young people understand that exploring identity and relationships doesn’t mean turning away from spiritual beliefs. In fact, many people find that their faith can support values like love, respect, honesty, and consent.

Here are 3 key takeaways from the video:

✅ It’s OK to ask questions
Whether you’re wondering about gender roles, boundaries, or attraction, your curiosity doesn’t make you less faithful. Questions are part of growth.

✅ Healthy relationships are built on respect
Regardless of your beliefs, mutual care, consent, and communication are cornerstones of any loving relationship.

✅ You can believe AND explore
Spirituality and s*xuality are not opposites. Many people hold strong beliefs while making informed choices about their bodies and relationships.

💬 For Parents & Caregivers:
This is a great conversation starter. Ask your child:

“How do your values guide your choices in relationships?” or “What does respect look like to you?”

📺

People often use their religious beliefs, family traditions or cultural beliefs to help them make important decisions, including decisions about relationships and s*x.

11/30/2025

What is Comprehensive S*x Education (CSE)?

Comprehensive S*x Education is a structured approach to teaching young people about human development, relationships, s*xual behavior, reproductive health, and personal safety. It is medically accurate, age-appropriate, and inclusive.

Rather than focusing solely on abstinence, CSE provides students with knowledge and skills to make informed decisions. It includes discussions about values, respect, consent, and communication. It does not encourage s*xual activity but instead prepares youth to understand the risks and responsibilities that come with it.

Why Parents Should Be Informed

Children and teens are exposed to s*xual content early through the internet, social media, and their peers. When parents and educators provide accurate information, it reduces the likelihood that young people will rely on myths or misinformation.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), students who receive comprehensive s*x education are more likely to delay s*xual activity, use contraception if they become s*xually active, and experience fewer unintended pregnancies and s*xually transmitted infections.

These programs also promote healthy relationships and help children recognize inappropriate or abusive behavior.

Topics Covered at Different Ages

Comprehensive s*x education is taught gradually and in an age-appropriate way.
• In early elementary school, children learn about body parts, personal boundaries, family diversity, and the concept of consent.
• By upper elementary grades, topics expand to include puberty, hygiene, emotions, and online safety.
• In middle school, students begin learning about reproduction, gender identity, relationships, and peer pressure.
• High school instruction may cover contraception, STI prevention, healthy relationships, s*xual orientation, and communication skills.

How Parents Can Support Their Children

Parents play a central role in shaping their child’s understanding of s*x, relationships, and values.
• Stay informed about what your child is being taught in school.
• Talk early and often. Use everyday moments to start open, honest conversations.
• Answer questions calmly and accurately.
• Emphasize respect, empathy, and boundaries.

You do not need to have all the answers. Being a trusted, nonjudgmental resource matters most.

Comprehensive s*x education helps young people grow into adults who respect themselves and others. When parents and schools work together, children gain the tools they need to stay safe, build healthy relationships, and make responsible choices throughout life.

11/29/2025

Raising Teens Through Relationships: A Message for Parents

Caring adults play a powerful role in shaping how young people understand connection, respect, and emotional safety. Most teens begin exploring friendships and romantic interests between ages 12 and 17, and research shows that supportive parent communication is one of the strongest protective factors for their well-being. Your presence matters more than perfection.

Healthy teen relationships grow in spaces where young people feel seen, heard, and safe to ask questions. You can create that space by keeping conversations open, judgment-free, and grounded in curiosity. Ask how they define a good relationship. Explore what feels respectful, what feels uncomfortable, and what they hope for in their connections with others. These gentle check-ins help teens build the skills needed for communication, boundaries, and self-respect.

It is also helpful to remind teens that healthy relationships never rush, pressure, or isolate. They include shared decision-making, room for individual interests, and the freedom to express concerns. When families talk openly about consent, digital communication, and emotional safety, teens are more likely to recognize their own power, speak up early, and seek support if something feels off.
Remember: you do not have to have every answer. Showing steady care, listening without interruption, and offering guidance based on values and safety sends a strong message. It tells your teen they can come to you not only when something goes wrong, but when something feels new, exciting, or confusing.

Together, you can build a home culture where healthy relationships are expected, modeled, and celebrated. This is prevention in action, and it strengthens the whole family.

11/29/2025

Small Business Saturday shines a little brighter when we talk about why our work matters.

Village Public Health is a minority led public health firm rooted in prevention, community, and the belief that young people deserve real support long before life gets heavy. We focus on adolescents and young adults across the nation, offering modern, culturally aware, evidence based education that meets them exactly where they are.

We teach youth how to recognize and use their own power. We give parents clear guidance for hard conversations. We create safe spaces for learning, healing, and growth. From s*xual health to mental wellness to school safety, our work is built for the world young people are actually navigating today.

Being minority led matters because representation shapes trust, trust shapes engagement, and engagement shapes outcomes. Young people see themselves in our staff, our programming, and our leadership. That changes how they listen, how they learn, and how they show up for themselves.

Village Public Health is more than a small business. It is a prevention driven movement that centers truth, hope, and possibility for the next generation.

If you believe in youth wellness, community care, and the power of teaching skills early, share our work today. Your support helps us reach more families across the country. 💙

11/28/2025

Do not go broke or slip into a heavy place trying to keep up with holiday pressure. The truth is many toys will be lost, broken, or forgotten by January 1. What your kids will remember is how safe they felt, how seen they felt, and how much love filled the room.

Give what you can. Protect your peace. Hold your home steady.

Joy does not come from what is wrapped. It comes from who is present.

11/28/2025

“Because I said so” might stop the question… but it doesn’t build understanding.

Teens and young people don’t just need rules, they need reasoning, context, and conversation.

When we explain the why, we help them:
- make safer choices
- build confidence
- trust adults
- think critically for themselves

What’s one rule you grew up with that you finally understood as an adult?