Reproductive health is addressing the complete physical, mental and social well-being relating to the reproductive system.

Unhealthy habits and misinformation on sexual health can significantly impact a young person’s future physically, emotionally, socially and economically. Providing reproductive education to youth empowers them with the skills and knowledge to make informed healthy decisions about their sexual behaviors. The adolescent years can be a difficult time for parents and teens. Parents often have a difficult time discussing puberty and sex with their children. Youth face many different challenges as they develop into young adults. It is important that young people are able to access information, resources and services that can assist them in making healthy decisions. The Fresno County Superintendent of Schools wants to ensure that students and their families are informed about current trends, statistics and behaviors.

Reproductive Education

In January 2016, the California Department of Education (CDE) passed the California Healthy Youth Act (CHYA) mandating that all public and charter schools must provide comprehensive reproductive education once in middle school and once in high school. Education provided to students must be medically accurate, unbiased, inclusive of all genders and sexual orientations. Read up on the list of mandated topics.

Parent Communication

Parents are essential in a child’s health and emotional well-being. Every parent wants their child to be safe and healthy. As children grow older, conversations about puberty and reproductive health can be uncomfortable to discuss. FCSS offers workshops to support parents on the importance of discussing sex, healthy attitudes and positive relationships with their children. To see if workshops are available in your district, please contact the Student Intervention and Prevention Department.

Parent-Child Communication Tips and Resources

Talking With Your Kids - English | Spanish

CA Health Education Framework

Healthy students are essential in academic performance. Providing comprehensive health education can help students improve and maintain healthy attitudes and behaviors that can lead to academic success. The CDE has created a guide for districts to utilize to promote health for all students K-12.

Download the guide

Minor Consent

Minors over the age of 12 have the legal right to access confidential medical services without parental consent or notification in California. (Cal. Health & Safety Code §§ 123110(a), 123115(a)(1); Cal. Civ. Code §§ 56.10, 56.11).M

This right to access care includes the ability to be released from school to received confidential reproductive health care. Education Code section 48205, allows schools officials to excuse students from school to attend confidential medical appointments without parental consent or notification.

Local STI Data

Fresno County has one of the highest Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) rates for youth between the ages of 15-24 in the state. STIs are infections that individuals may contract through sexual contact. STIs do not discriminate. All sexually active people are at risk of contracting STIs if they are engaging in unprotected sexual contact.

Pregnant and Parenting Students

Pregnant and parenting students have very defined educational rights. Federal and State law prohibits pregnant and parenting students from discrimination or harassment at school. Students cannot be forced to leave school solely based on their pregnancy or parenting status. To learn more about educational rights of pregnant and parenting teens, click the links below.

Preterm Birth

The physical, emotional, and mental health of a woman is an important factor in her having a healthy pregnancy and baby. Often, women do not think of their own personal health before conceiving. It is vital to learn the importance of pre-conception health to reduce the risk of prematurity and infant mortality. Fresno County has one of the highest preterm birth rates and infant mortality rate in the state. Healthy communities need to learn about the importance of being healthy before, during, and after pregnancy

Healthy Relationships

1 in 5 teenagers report being physically or sexually abused by their partner. Having unhealthy friendships and relationships can greatly impact emotional, mental and physical health of young people. Learn about behaviors that may be warning signs and where to get help.

Sex Trafficking

Sex trafficking is modern slavery and a form of human trafficking. Victims of sex trafficking are forced, manipulated, threatened or coerced into a commercial sex act. Commercial sex act is defined by the Federal Department of Health and Human as "any sex act on account of which anything of value is given to or received by any person.” Traffickers use psychological and physical forms of abuse that often prevent victims from leaving their abuser or from seeking help. Girls are most vulnerable to be victims of sex trafficking. Get more information on sex trafficking.

Victims of sex trafficking are often recruited through social media. You should avoid the following:

  • Responding to messages from someone you do not know
  • Do not give out personal information you share on social media
  • Do not send pictures, nude pictures or engage in sexual conversations with people you don’t know
  • Do not meet strangers
  • Do not meet someone out of town

Understand that traffickers will spend time and energy ensuring their victims feel safe and unsuspecting of the true intent of the relationship. Traffickers will appear to be kind and supportive. Many victims believe they are in a relationship with their trafficker.

The Fresno Economic Opportunity Commission’s Youth Sanctuary Center is available as a resource for sex trafficking victims. The Sanctuary is located at 1545 N. Fresno Street, Fresno, CA 93721.

Mental Health Services

Youth in California can access mental health services without parent consent or notification. In many cases, students can receive mental health intervention at their school. Mental health is an extremely important component to the over-all physical health of youth. Youth may have experienced early childhood trauma, abuse, neglect, or death of a parent that may have a long term effect on their overall well-being. Individuals may struggle with depression, anxiety or an undiagnosed mental illness. There is help. No one should suffer alone. Reach out and find support.

National Youth Crisis Helpline
1-800-999-9999

National Suicide Prevention Hotline
Call 1-800-273-8255

Fresno County Children's Mental Health
Visit the website

All4Youth
Visit the website