For Families

We offer educational workshops to youth and families to help guide them through difficult conversations. Read on or contact us to learn more about this program!

Register for Our Youth and Family Workshop

Prepping for Puberty is for youth aged 8-12 and their parent(s) or supportive adult(s). Youth learn about physical, emotional & social changes of puberty. Adults discuss how to support their kids emotionally during puberty.  We are offering two sessions (March in Bozeman and May in Livingston) this spring.

  • This is an excellent opportunity for kids ages 8-12 and their adult to learn more about the facts of puberty with fun and interactive activities that facilitate positive communication between children, adults and their community. 

    During the workshop: 

    •  Youth participants learn about the physical, emotional and social changes of puberty from trained high school Peer Educators. 

    • Adult participants focus on usable strategies to support youth emotionally during this period of transition as well as identify recommended puberty education resources. 

    • Both youth and adults learn how to communicate more comfortably and effectively about puberty and have fun (no, really, there’s always plenty of laughter)! 

Strategies for Hard Conversations with Kids

Adapted from Speak About It!

    • There are age-appropriate ways to incorporate information about healthy and safe bodies for youth as young as babies all the way to adulthood 

    • By talking early, you set yourself up as the expert so your kids know that they can ask you questions rather than relying on their friends or the internet 

    • By establishing that you’re willing to engage in these discussions, kids are less likely to feel shame around asking questions as they grow up  

    • Model speaking openly and honestly about hard topics 

    • Kids are learning from you even when you’re not actively teaching them 

    • Try to remain open and honest during sensitive conversations, even if they get flustered 

    • If you get flustered, name how you are feeling and why 

    • Acknowledge when you don’t know the answer to something, then model looking up the answer from a reputable source

    • Try having hard conversations in low stakes context 

      • Make a casual observation, followed by a question 

      • Use media as a doorway into a conversation 

    • Practice curiosity when they bring something up 

      • Ask open-ended follow-up questions 

    • Let them teach you something 

      • It can feel scary to find out that they know more or different information than you

    Example Follow Up Questions 

    1. Could you tell me more about that? 

    1. What does that mean to you? 

    1. Hmmm, I’m wondering if you’re talking about... 

    1. I’ve never heard that term before. What does it mean? 

    1. What do you think about that? 

    1. How do you feel about _______?

    • This is likely the first time they’re going through a particular scenario 

    • Acknowledge that relationships, friendships, and peer dynamics can be really hard, even as adults 

    • Practice echoing back information they’re giving you 

      • Echoing Back Sentence Starters 

        • It sounds like... 

        • I’m hearing... 

    • Help them understand that rejection (romantic and friendship) is a part of life, but is very challenging 

    • Keep an eye out for signs of unhealthy relationships and physical, verbal, and mental abuse in relationships 

    • It’s important to understand your own values and recognize that your child might not share those same values

    • We want young people to be happy and safe 

    • Talk positives 

      • What are your wants for them? 

        • To be in respectful relationships 

        • To be safe 

        • To have positive experiences 

    • Try not to focus on what you don’t want them to do  

    • Discuss family and personal values and why you hold those values for yourself – share relevant experiences that are important

Resources for Families Based on Developmental Stages

Stay in the Loop on Bridgercare’s Education Programs!

Meet Our Educators!

  • Anna Couch (She/Her)

    EDUCATION DIRECTOR

    Anna started as the Education and Outreach Coordinator in October of 2022, and has since become Bridgercare’s Education Director. She is thrilled to be providing education to this community because she received sex education in this valley herself! She graduated from Montana State University, where she was on a student-led research team that studied the experience of young adults who received sex education in Montana. When not advocating for sexual health, you can find Anna playing in the mountains with her pup or singing loudly to one of her new favorite songs in the car.

  • Anne McBride (She/Her)

    EDUCATION PROGRAM COORDINATOR

    Anne joined the Education Team after a year and a half of working at Bridgercare's front desk. She is deeply proud of the work that Bridgercare does in the community, and is excited to continue that work as the Education Program Coordinator! When not nose-deep in data and program expansion, you can find Anne on one of Bozeman's many world-class trails, watching competition baking shows, and pretending other people's dogs are her own. 

  • McKeely Shannon (She/Her)

    EDUCATION SPECIALIST

    McKeely was an education and development intern at Bridgercare from 2018-2019 and is stoked to rejoin the team as an educator! Her mother has been a nurse for 40 years and provided age-appropriate sex education conversations throughout her childhood. She felt prepared and confident in making decisions about her sexual health due to this education, but also witnessed friends and classmates in college not having the same foundational understanding. As a nursing student, and then as a Community Health major McKeely became passionate about sexual and reproduce health. When not teaching you can find McKeely reading speculative fiction and foraging tasty things to cook and bake. 

  • Kylie Bachich (She/Her)

    EDUCATION SPECIALIST

    Kylie grew up in Bozeman, her involvement with Bridgercare started in 2017-2019 as Peer Educator for her classmates in the Gallatin Valley. She is beyond excited to join the team as an Education Specialist and continue to provide comprehensive sex education around the state. Completing a degree in Public Health at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Kylie is passionate about supplying people with the tools needed to make informed and empowered decisions about their reproductive health. Outside of work Kylie is likely hiking, camping, or doing some other variety of outdoor activity with friends and family.

This website is supported by the Office of Population Affairs (OPA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $1,011,249.00 with 100 percent funded by OPA/OASH/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by OPA/OASH/HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit https://opa.hhs.gov/.