HIV-STI Prevention Education Program

The goal of the New Mexico School-Based HIV/STI Prevention Program, also known as the New Mexico Youth Resiliency Project is to:

1. Build the capacity of priority districts to lead district-level initiatives to increase the implementation of exemplary sexual health education, access to sexual health services, and safe and supportive environments.
2. Strengthen the capacity of the state education agency (SEA) to provide leadership, guidance, and technical assistance to priority districts in an effort to improve the working relationships with strategic partners to achieve program impact and sustainability.
3. Increase the implementation of Exemplary Sexual Health Education (ESHE).
4. Increase access to Sexual Health Services (SHS) for all youth.
5. Improve the Safe and Supportive Environments (SSE) for all students and staff.
6. Educate decision makers on policy; implement and track policies related to ESHE, SHS and SSE.

The New Mexico School-Based HIV/STI Prevention Program is funded through a grant provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH). Funding Opportunity Title: Promoting Adolescent Health through School-Based HIV/STD Prevention and School-Based Surveillance (CDC-RFA-PS13-1308), Strategy 2: School-Based HIV/STD Prevention.

For important background information, please read: Why is Exemplary Sexual Health Important? How Are We Addressing it in New Mexico? by Linda J. Peñaloza, PhD, Project Evaluator

New Mexico Benchmarks & Standards for Health Education, Including HIV/STI Prevention

NM Administrative Code §§ 6.12.2.10 and 6.29.6.8 mandate that schools must teach a course in health education in either middle or high school. Each school district must “provide instruction about HIV and related issues in the curriculum of the required health education content area to all students in the elementary grades, in the middle/junior high school grades, and in the senior high school grades.” A copy of the New Mexico Health Education Benchmarks and Standards can be found at Safe and Healthy Schools Bureau School Health Resources.

HIV Policy Guidance: NMAC 6.12.2.10

The New Mexico Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey (YRRS)

The New Mexico School-Based HIV/STI Prevention Program partners The New Mexico Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey (YRRS) to assess the health risk behaviors and resiliency (protective) factors of New Mexico high school and middle school students. The YRRS is part of the national CDC Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), but the survey results have widespread benefits for New Mexico at the state, county, and school district levels. The YRRS is offered to a selection of high schools and middle schools in each school district in the fall of odd-numbered years. All data are self-reported by students who voluntarily complete the survey during one class period. More information is available on the NM YRRS website.

Youth Education on Sexual Health (YESH) Community Advisory Council

The purpose of statewide Youth Education on Sexual Health (YESH) Community Advisory Council is to assist the New Mexico Public Education Department by bring together a cadre of leaders and advocates from a wide range of community based organizations, universities, youth development organizations, public health agencies, and other stakeholders interested in HIV/STI prevention for youth throughout New Mexico. The mission of the YESH Advisory Council is to increase the impact and capacity of organizations working to reduce sexual risk behaviors among school-age youth by establishing a structure for communication, coordination, and collaboration.

New Mexico Resource and Referral Guide for LGBTQ Students

For information about upcoming meetings, please contact the program coordinator:

Anne Marlow-Geter, MPH
HIV/STI Prevention Education Coordinator
Safe & Healthy Schools Bureau
New Mexico Public Education Department
120 South Federal Place, Room 206
Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 396-0601
Anne.MarlowGeter@ped.nm.gov