Creating Safe & Supportive Environments

Topics on this page: Creating Safe and Supportive Environments | Understanding Positive Youth Development | Using Trauma-Informed Approaches | Ensuring Inclusivity of LGBTQ Youth

Safe and supportive environments are essential to the health of adolescents, and they are an important component of teen pregnancy prevention programs. Safe and supportive environments refer to not only physical needs, but to the social and emotional needs of individuals. Creating and maintaining such an environment is a process with several interrelated components, such as: understanding positive youth development, being trauma-informed, and ensuring the inclusivity of all youth, including LGBTQ youth.

Key Considerations

• It is estimated that sixty-four percent of individuals in the U.S. have experienced at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE).¹
• Youth often feel uncomfortable talking about traumatic experiences, relationships, sexual health, and other difficult subjects.
• Safe and supportive environments help build the trust, self-confidence, and self-esteem that all youth, especially those that have experienced trauma, need to discuss sensitive topics.

Creating Safe and Supportive Environments

• Adolescent Health: Think, Act, Grow® Resources (HHS, Office of Adolescent Health)
• A Practical Guide for Creating Safe and Supportive Environments in Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs (HHS, Office of Adolescent Health); September 2015
• National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (Department of Education)

Understanding Positive Youth Development

• Adolescent Development E-Learning Module (HHS, Office of Adolescent Health)
• Introduction to Positive Youth Development Online Training (HHS, Administration for Children & Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau)
• Positive Youth Development (Federal Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs)
• A Checklist for Putting Positive Youth Development Characteristics into Action in Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs (HHS, Office of Adolescent Health); April 2015
• Positive Youth Development Practices and Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs (HHS, Office of Adolescent Health); April 2015; Slides, Audio, Transcript
• Make the Connection: How Positive Youth Development Offers Promise for Teen Health and Teen Pregnancy Prevention (HHS, Office of Adolescent Health); May 2014
• Six Tips for Becoming a More ‘Youth-Driven’ Organization (HHS, Administration for Children & Families, Children's Bureau); May 2013
• Youth Leading Positive Change in Rural America (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 4-H); 2013
• 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 4-H); 2012
• The Science of Adolescent Risk-Taking (HHS, Office of Adolescent Health); February 2011; Slides, Audio, Transcript

Using Trauma-Informed Approaches

• Trauma-Informed Care Online Training (HHS, Administration for Children & Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau)
• The National Center for Trauma-Informed Care (HHS, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
• SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach (HHS, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration); July 2014
• A Checklist for Integrating a Trauma-Informed Approach into Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs (HHS, Office of Adolescent Health); May 2015
• Beyond the Basics: Integrating Trauma-Informed Approaches in Your Teen Pregnancy Prevention Practice (HHS, Office of Adolescent Health); September 2016; Slides, Audio, Transcript
• Breaking the Cycle of Intergenerational Teen Pregnancy Using a Trauma-Informed Approach (HHS, Office of Adolescent Health); August 2016. Slides, Audio, Transcript
• Creating a Safe Space: Integrating a Trauma-Informed Approach into your TPP Program (HHS, Office of Adolescent Health); April 2015; Slides, Audio, Transcript
• Understanding the Impact of Trauma in Developing Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs for Tribal Youth (HHS, Administration for Children & Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau); January 2013; Slides, Audio, Transcript
• Trauma‐Informed Care: Tips for Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs (HHS, Office of Adolescent Health); Part 1, Part 2
• Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACE) (HHS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention); 1998

Ensuring Inclusivity of LGBTQ Youth

• Understanding LGBTQ Youth & Ensuring Inclusivity in Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs (HHS, Office of Adolescent Health); November 2015
• A Guide for Assessing LGBTQ Inclusivity of Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs (HHS, Office of Adolescent Health); November 2015
• Creating a Safe Space for LGBTQ Teens (HHS, Administration for Children and Families, National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth)
• How to Make It Happen: LGBTQ Inclusivity (HHS, Office of Adolescent Health); June 2016; Slides, Audio, Transcript
• Why LGBTQ Inclusivity Matters for Teen Pregnancy Prevention & How to Get Started (HHS, Office of Adolescent Health); October 2015; Slides, Audio, Transcript
• Voices from the Field: LGBT-Friendly Teen Pregnancy Prevention: Ryan Krushenick (HHS, Administration for Children & Families, National Clearinghouse on Families & Youth)
• Voices from the Field: Teen Pregnancy Prevention for LGBTQ Youth: Bryan Samuels (HHS, Administration for Children & Families, National Clearinghouse on Families & Youth)

Find more resources on Engaging Diverse Populations