Sexual Health Services in Schools

Schools can play an important role in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), sexually transmitted infection (STI) and pregnancy prevention through various means including delivering sexual health education, fostering a supportive climate and providing access and/or referrals to key sexual health services. With a captive audience and direct access to students each day for at least 6 hours a day, schools have a tremendous opportunity to positively impact and promote adolescent sexual health.

State statutes or school policies can limit the services available on school grounds but typically school staff are able to refer out for services unavailable in the school-setting. Strategies to facilitate school-medical home referrals include the following resources developed jointly by CAI Associates and the National Coalition of STD Directors:  

• Developing a Referral System for Sexual Health Services – (this requires a form to be completed for download) 
• Establishing Organizational Partnerships to Increase Student Access to Sexual Health Services​​

For more information, visit the AAP’s page devoted to Adolescent Sexual Health.

Additional Resources

AAP: Hosting an STI Testing Event at Your School
This new resource is designed to support school administrators and health support staff in planning and identifying best practices to host an STI testing event at school.

Learning Module – Supporting LGBTQIA+ Youth in Schools
This self-paced learning module and corresponding infographic provide school health professionals and school staff with information and resources to help support the health and wellbeing of LGBTQIA+ youth in schools. These resources were developed by RMC Health for the American Academy of Pediatrics through funding made possible by cooperative agreement NU87PS004365 funded by the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention.

Child Trends: School-based Strategies to Support Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
This resource provides an overview of strategies that schools and school-based health service providers can use to better meet the sexual and reproductive health care needs of their students.

Guttmacher Institute: Meeting the Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs of Adolescents in School-Based Health Centers
This publication details how school-based health centers can provide a range of sexual and reproductive health services.

National Association of School Nurses (NASN) Position Statement: Sexual Health Education in Schools
Appropriate evidence-based sexual health education should be included as part of a comprehensive school health education program and be accessible to all student.