The Power of Plain Talk

Plain Talk is a community-based initiative that helps adults develop skills to communicate effectively with teens about reducing sexual risk-taking. Plain Talk’s primary goals are: 1) to create consensus among parents and other community adults about the need to protect sexually active teens by encouraging early and consistent use of contraceptives; 2) to provide parents and adults with the information and skills they need to communicate more effectively with teens about responsible sexual behavior; and 3) to improve adolescents’ access to high-quality, age-appropriate and readily available reproductive health care, including contraception.

Beyond basic public opinion polling, some interviewees expressed a desire for more research on important topics such as: the barriers to good communication in communities of color; attitudes and perceptions about the spread of HIV in these communities; and the role of family structure and economics in new immigrant communities, including views on contraception and parental consent.