Step
1: Understand
the “Big Picture”
< Getting Started | step2 >
The first step
in deciding whether to bring Can We Talk? to the parents
in your community is to understand the philosophy of the program
and its long- and short-term goals.
Read the following
Q&A to get your basic questions answered. For a complete
overview of Can We Talk? on a local and national level,
review all sections of this website and the Can
We Talk? Planning and Training Manual. Then proceed
to Step 2!
5
Frequently Asked Questions About Can We Talk?
- What is
the goal of the Can We Talk? Parent Workshops?There
are four goals of the Can We Talk? Parent Workshops:1. To
increase parent-child communication on topics including
healthy relationships, sexuality, and prevention of teen
pregnancy, HIV, and other STDs.
2. To increase parents’ understanding of the importance of talking with
their children about these topics.
3. To increase parents’ knowledge and comfort levels and preparation in
talking about these topics.
4. To learn how to access community resources and gain strategies for preventing
teen pregnancy, HIV, and other STDs, and promoting healthy relationships. - What do
I need to know and do in order to plan a Can We Talk? Parent
Workshop Series?We’ve created the 6 steps in this section to help you find out if you’re
ready to start a Can We Talk? program in your community and to provide
assistance in planning and developing the program. If by the end of reviewing
these steps you still have questions, contact the NEA Health Information
Network for more detailed answers to your questions.In the coming months, NEA HIN will complete the Can
We Talk? Coordinators Guide which will contain more detailed information
and guidance on setting up a program.The three most important initial questions to ask yourself are:
–Is there interest in the community?
–Is there an organization prepared to coordinate the program?
–Is there funding available to support the program? - How do people
learn how to conduct the Can We Talk? Parent Workshop
Series?NEA HIN has developed a 1 ? day Training of Trainers Institute to
give trainers and community organizers the skills and resources they need
to promote and facilitate Can We Talk? parent workshops.For more information on the Institute, contact NEA HIN.
- How do communities
organize and fund their Can We Talk? programs?Can We Talk? is being implemented by a wide variety
of community organizations, so the methods of planning and
funding the program vary. Sources of funding include: public
health departments, public school districts, NEA state affiliates,
and corporate and private philanthropy. NEA HIN does not
currently offer funding. But we can offer you development
ideas to help you find the support you need for the program.NEA HIN encourages you to contact sites that are currently implementing Can
We Talk? to find out more about their strategies for funding and planning
their programs. Contact the National Office (1-800-718-8387) to find a community
similar in size or an organization like your own and we’ll put you in touch
with site coordinator to find out more information. - Is Can
We Talk? adapted for non-English speaking parents?Currently Can We Talk? is being implemented in communities with diverse
populations, including those who do not use English as their first language.
Several sites are using bilingual trainers to conduct workshops in other
languages, and another community is working with deaf parents and conducting
the workshops in American Sign Language and have created a closed captioned
version of the video. NEA HIN has completed ?onversamos?, the
Spanish language adaptation of Can We Talk?. The materials are ready
to order.
For information in Spanish about the program, click
here.