In 2016, California legislators signed the California Healthy Youth Act (CHYA) that requires all public schools to provide comprehensive reproductive education to all students 7-12th grade.

The California Healthy Youth Act aims to delay early sexual activity, establish the importance of healthy relationships, and prevent sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies. FCSS supports Fresno County School Districts by providing direct services to students, resources, training, and informative workshops for parents. For staff development training, please see the resources below.

California Healthy Youth Act

The CHYA mandates that public and charter schools must provide comprehensive reproductive education to all students 7-12th grade. The education must be unbiased, medically accurate and inclusive to all genders and sexual orientations. The purpose of the California Healthy Youth Act is to provide every student with the knowledge and skills necessary to protect their sexual and reproductive health from unintended pregnancy, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

CDE CHYA Toolkit Curriculum Information

Pregnant and Parenting Students

Federal law prevents any student from discrimination based on their pregnancy or parental status. Students cannot be forced to attend other schools, denied involvement of activities or harassed by other students/staff. Get more information on Title IX and supporting adolescent parent.

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).

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.

Child Abuse/Sexual Abuse

Mandated reporters are individuals who are mandated by law to report known or suspected child maltreatment. They are primarily people who have contact with children through their employment. All school staff are mandated reporters of suspected child abuse. Child abuse includes neglect, emotional, physical and sexual abuse. Get more information on local trainings and resources.

Sex Trafficking of Minors

Sex trafficking, a form of human trafficking, is a very serious issue in Fresno County. It is a form of modern day slavery where victims under the age of 18 are forced, coerced, manipulated or threatened to engage in commercial sex acts. A commercial sex act is when anything of value is exchanged for a sexual act. Although the majority are women and girls, victims of sex trafficking can be women, men, girls, or boys. There are a number of common patterns for luring victims into situations of sex trafficking, including:

  • A promise of a good job in another country
  • A false marriage proposal turned into a bondage situation
  • Being sold into the sex trade by parents, husbands, boyfriends
  • Being kidnapped by traffickers

Underage sex trafficking should be reported as suspected child abuse. Get more information on sex trafficking and local resources.

Get information on school staff training Get information on sex trafficking education

Mental Health Services

Educators assisting families in receiving mental health services can be very challenging. FCSS and the Fresno County Department of Behavioral Health collaborated on enhancing and expanding mental health services for our youth in the county. This partnership aims to significantly enhance and expand an integrated system of care for behavioral health service needs of youth and families, as well as to expand Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS) in school settings. Schools can now help students receive mental health services at their school site in a very short time.

Get more information on the services and collaboration.