Community Resources

General Resources

Oregon Department of Education (ODE)

ODE Physical Education - Standards & Resources
ODE Students and Families Homepage - Resource links to some of the most common pages sought out by students and their parents.
ODE Schools and Districts Homepage - Links that connect people to some of the more popular resources for districts and schools.
ODE Learning Options - Information about types of learning options available.
Oregon Healthy Schools - Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child

Youth Health Resources

Kids Health - Information for parents, kids, and teens on hundreds of physical, emotional, and behavioral topics — from before birth through the teen years
Puberty Kits from the Multnomah County Health Department
Talk. They Hear You. - Resources to help start and keep up conversation about the dangers of drinking alcohol and using other drugs at a young age (resource from SAMSHA, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration)
Are You an Askable Parent? - Parent/Caregiver resource on what it means to be an askable adult, and tips on how parents/caregivers can engage in age-appropriate conversations around sexuality with children, youth and teens (resource from Advocates for Youth)
Resources from Planned Parenthood
- Talking Sex, Puberty and Relationships - This resource provides parents/caregivers support with being their young person's go-to resource for answers and advice on sexuality(bodies, identity, relationships, personal safety, and more).
- Hey, What do I Say? - A Parent Guide on How to Talk to Children about Sexuality
- Talking Tips, Downloads and Links - Resources that include tips for talking with teens about sex, family activities that encourage communication, and more.

Food and Nutrition Resources

For a comprehensive list of resources, please visit 2-1-1 info
Food Hero - Food Hero is your go-to site for quick, tasty, healthy recipes and helpful tips. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, you'll find something new for your family to enjoy.
Oregon Food Bank Finder - This food finder site is updated regularly with locations for accessing food in a safe and convenient manner
Oregon Farmers Markets Association - Find your local farmers market
SNAP Benefits - State allows Oregonians on food stamps to purchase groceries online
Partners for a Hunger-free Oregon - This link includes Oregon-specific information for WIC, SNAP, Meals on Wheels and college students
Voices for Healthy Kids - This site shares culturally-specific resources to support families, children and the organizations that work with them, as well as funding opportunities and upcoming webinars

Housing Stability

For a comprehensive list of resources, please visit 2-1-1 info
New Avenues for Youth - From supporting basic needs like meals and counseling to providing opportunities for education, job training, employment, and housing, New Avenues meets youth where they are and helps them get where they want to go.
Impact NW - Organization focused on preventing homelessness. Services include:

Violence Prevention and Support Resources

For a comprehensive list of resources, please visit 2-1-1 info.
Youth Sexual Health Resources from Multnomah County's Community & Adolescent Health Program
RAINN (Rape, Abuse 7 Incest National Network) - The nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. They operate the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE) and carry out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

LGBTQ+ Resources

Transactive - Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education & Counseling
GLSEN - Their mission is to ensure that every member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression
Sexual & Gender Minority Youth Resource Center (SMYRC) - Provides a safe, harassment-free space for queer and trans youth ages 13-23. It is a place to create art, play music, and join in on our open mic nights, drag shows, and support groups. Services include counseling, school support, and much more.
Q Center - Provide safe spaces, community building and empowerment for the positive transformation of LGBTQ2SIA+ communities and allies in the Pacific Northwest.

Sexual Health Resources

American Sexual Health Association (ASHA) - resources and information that is reliable, science-based, and stigma-free.
Oregon Youth Sexual Health Partnership (OYSHP) - OYSHP is a coalition of community organizations and state/local government that collaboratively work toward the vision of healthy youth, families, and communities throughout Oregon, through the promotion of shared, just, equitable, and holistic sexual health and well-being.
Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE)
Future of Sex Ed (FoSE) - Organized by Advocates for Youth: Rights. Respect. Responsibility., Answer: Sex Ed, Honestly, and SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change
Multnomah County Health Department Student Health Centers
PRISM Health - A center of excellence for comprehensive, compassionate and culturally affirming healthcare for everyone with the aim of addressing long-standing health disparities in the LGBTQ+ community and promoting equitable access to healthcare.
2LSGBTQ+ Meaningful Care Conference – A day-long training for healthcare and social service professionals, aimed at promoting 2SLGBTQ+ cultural competency in health care and social services
Cascade AIDS Project - Promotes well-being and advances equity by providing inclusive health and wellness services for LGBTQ+ people, people affected by HIV, and all those seeking compassionate care.
Oregon Health Authority - HIV Care and Treatment

Our Team

Dr. Jenny Withycombe
pronouns: she/her
Assistant Director for Health & Physical Education PK-12
hape@pps.net

Elena Beeck
pronouns: they/them
Business Operations Specialist

Vanessa Peña-La Torre
pronouns: she/they
SAY Wellness Grant Program Manager

Anna Bledsoe
pronouns: she/they
SAY Wellness Grant Program Supervisor

Susannah Lightbourne-Maynard
pronouns: she/her
Grant-Funded TOSA

Rachel Toback
pronouns: she/they
SUAP Grant Program Manager

External Links

Additional Reading

General Health Education Information

A crosswalk between the revised National Sexual Health Education Standards (2nd Edition) and the Oregon Health Education Standards
- K-12 Sexuality Education Standards Crosswalk
Youth Connectedness is an Important Protective Factor for Health and Wellbeing - Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the strengths and benefits of youth feeling connected to their school and important people in their lives.
The Future of Healing: Shifting from Trauma Informed Care to Healing Centered Engagement - Article in Medium Psychology, written by Shawn Ginwright, PhD.
Telling the Entire Story of Mexico's Indigenous People - A One-Stop Resource for Information on Mexico's Indigenous People

Health, Physical Education and Academic Achievement

Health and Academic Achievement Report (National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.)
The Association between School-based Physical Activity, Including Physical Education and Academic Performance (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2010.)
The Neuroscience of Joyful Education (Willis, J. Educational Leadership. Summer 2007)
The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds. Ginsburg, K. R. (2007, January 1).

Skills-based Health Education, Life Skills, and Student Success

Developing a Health Promoting School - A practical resource for developing effective partnerships in school health, based on the experience of the European Network of Health Promoting Schools. (Gray, G., Young, I., Barnewkow, V. International Planning Committee of European Network of Health Promoting Schools. 2006.)
Reframing the Foundation for Student Success (Wilson, D.P. & Marshall, M.G. Summer 2019. National Association of Independent Schools.)
Appropriate Practices in School-Based Health Education - Shape America developed this document to provide guidance and support with implementing best practices in school-based health education.
RMC Health, Skills Models - RMC Health and a team of educators have created skill models for seven key health skills aligned with the National Health Education Standards and their indicators.

Health & Wellness Articles

Creating a Healthier Life: A step-by-step guide to wellness - This guide, produced by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA), recognizes that each individual’s path to health will be different. Every aspect of wellness can affect a person’s life. This guide offers a broad approach for things we can do - at our own pace, in our own time, and within our own abilities - that can help us feel better and live longer.
Family Food & Fitness: A guide to health eating and exercise - This all-encompassing guide produced by the Georgetown University Center for Child & Human Development gives feeding and activity recommendations for children ages 0-8, as well as breast-feeding mothers.
Health & Wellness Recommendations - This web page provided by the US government includes resources and guidelines for public health & safety, everyday health & wellness, nutrition & fitness, and more.
American Heart Association Recommendations for Physical Activity in Adults & Kids - This article is a one-stop shop for physical activity guidelines and recommendations for those who are currently active, those who are just starting to get active, and how best to keep your heart healthy.
7 Ways to Get Fit Without a Gym - Going to the gym isn’t always the best option when you want to work out. In fact, sometimes it just doesn’t make sense at all. Hitting the gym can be costly; both for your bank account and your precious free-time. These tricks recognize that a lot of us are more active than we realize - and with small changes, we can boost that activity to the next level!

Book & Video Recommendations

Family Equality Book Nook - Family Equality’s Book Nook is home to all things LGBTQ family and literary! If you’ve been scouring the stacks for books that represent your family, or show diverse family constellations in a loving and respectful way, you know they aren’t always easy to find. That’s why the Book Nook is here – to bring together LGBTQ family-friendly books the whole family can enjoy, from the first picture book your child opens to young adult literature your tween can read on their own. Use the links on this page to select the age range you’re looking for.
Amaze.org - AMAZE takes the awkward out of sex ed. Real info in fun, animated videos that give you all the answers you actually want to know about sex, your body and relationships. Videos for Parents, Educators and Youth K-12.
- Amaze.org (Parents) - The AMAZE Parent Playlist, specifically designed to help parents engage young children (ages 4-9) in open, honest conversations about bodies and growing up in a fun, engaging, and age-appropriate way.