Blog
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Young People, Sexual Violence, and Title IX
1 in 4 college women will experience rape or attempted rape by the time she graduates. Approximately 1 in 5 female high school students report being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner. 1 of every 10 victims is male, and transgender students are at higher risk for sexual assault. And teens 16 to 19 years of age are 3 ½ times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault. This year, PHE will teach the importance of consent – actively saying yes at every step of sexual activity – to 16,800 ninth grade students. We will recruit, select, and train ...
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Young People and the Impact of Rescinding DACA
Peer Health Exchange strongly condemns the move to rescind the protections afforded to young people in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). DACA protected almost 800,000 young people, known as “Dreamers,” from deportation, many of them in the communities where we teach. Peer Health Exchange exists to help young people achieve more positive and equitable health outcomes. The move to rescind DACA endangers the lives and health of many young people across the country. Families and young people living under the continued threat of deportation can see a significant increase in health problems, such as anxiety and sleeplessness. This fear can also lead to challenges in school, as ...
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Young People and the Impact of Community Violence and the Healthcare Bill
Day in and day out, young people – especially black, brown, and LGBTQ young folks – experience horrendous violence against themselves and their communities. Nabra Hassan was just 17 when she was killed. Jaquarrius Holland was just 18. Both were not much older than the young people we engage in PHE’s workshops. Maybe they would have been PHE volunteers if they had made it to college. June 25th would have been Tamir Rice’s 15th birthday. The list of young people falling victim to senseless violence goes on and on. This relentless violence and discrimination creates acute and chronic stress for black, brown, and LGBTQ young people, which leads to ...
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Peer Health Exchange Disapproves of House-Passed American Health Care Act
With our partners, Peer Health Exchange aims to advance health equity and improve health outcomes for young people. PHE stands with organizations like the School-Based Health Alliance in expressing our deep concern about the House passing the American Health Care Act (AHCA). If signed into law, the AHCA could endanger millions of young people and their ability to access health care. In particular, we are disappointed to see that under the AHCA, Medicaid and individual market providers could eliminate substance use and mental health treatment from coverage. Medicaid restructuring could also jeopardize students’ ability to access critical health services in school-based health centers. We urge you to show up ...
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Verizon Innovative Learning at Fordham University
Submitted by Benjamin Delikat, Program Director for Peer Health Exchange NYC I am an alum of Fordham University at Rose Hill, and am very grateful for the education I received and the friends I made while I attended undergraduate studies there. One incredibly important part of my college experience was volunteering with the Fordham Peer ...
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Peer Health Exchange Stands with Planned Parenthood
We are deeply disappointed about the Senate vote to defund Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood provides critical information and health care services to young people across the country. This vote to defund Planned Parenthood has the potential to jeopardize healthy futures for young people everywhere. We believe all young people deserve access to the health resources and services they need to live healthy lives.
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The Best Defense is a Good Offense: A Walk for HIV Prevention
In the US, HIV/AIDS is a serious public health issue in the United States and can happen to people of any race, ethnicity, age, or sexual orientation. Cis-women are more likely to get HIV during vaginal sex than men. In fact, 1 in 4 women will HIV positive in 2017. Every year on March ...
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PHE is Committed to Show Up for Trans Youth
All young people deserve to be healthy and to learn in an environment that supports their health. We stand with trans youth and organizations like the Trevor Project and GLSEN in speaking out against rescinding Title IX protections in schools for trans youth. Acceptance and safety measures for trans youth in schools are critical to their mental and physical health. Please join us to make sure that your community, your schools, and your family show up for and support trans youth.
How can I join Peer Health Exchange's mission?