HPV Prevention Education & Training

You are here

HPV Prevention

At OSBHA, we believe youth voice is critical to healthcare programming, policy, and advocacy. We strive to center the youth voice in everything that we do, and we are actively engaging in practices that redistribute, share and build power with youth to change systems of inequity.

When OSBHA Student Health Advocates were invited to submit a proposal to present at the 2018 Oregon HPV Summit, they had a couple key questions, including:
  1. What is HPV exactly?
  2. Why haven't we learned about this in school?
The Student Health Advocates are all committed to youth health access and equity, and the fact that they weren't familiar with HPV pointed to a real problem in our state. So we got to work creating a model for youth-driven HPV prevention. OSBHA Student Health Advocates and staff have worked together this past year to create a model for HPV prevention resources that are accurate, equitable, and youth-friendly.

 Here's how we're doing this work:
  • OSBHA Student Health Advocates have developed peer-to-peer HPV prevention education based on evidence and best practices. In November 2019, education sessions were provided to high school students as part of our feasibility study project, funded by the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute. We are pleased to share the results of our HPV peer-to-peer feasibility project here.
  • Student Health Advocates have provided the youth voice in HPV training for professionals, including leading sessions at the 2018 and 2019 Oregon HPV Summit hosted by the American Cancer Society.
A few ways to support youth in accessing the HPV vaccine:
  • Make sure HPV resources are available in your clinic. The Oregon Health Authority provides a brochure for youth and a brochure for parents.
  • Have empathy & hold space for youth with needle anxiety.
  • Make information accessible and youth-friendly.
  • Inform youth about their rights to consent for medical care & records. While youth 15 and older can consent to their own medical care, we've worked with many youth who don't know whether they received the HPV vaccine before the age of 15. Support them in accessing that information.
  • Invite OSBHA Student Health Advocates to present the peer-to-peer HPV curriculum at your school. Contact Ashley McAllister at ashley@osbha.org for more info.