Focus Areas

MOASH supports and advocates for unrestricted access to safe, legal, and affordable healthcare services for adolescents in accordance with federal law.

It is the right of all people, including young people, to have the tools necessary to control their sexual and reproductive health.

Often youth are disproportionally impacted by the challenges (finances, transportation, insurance, proximity to quality care facilities, provider competence and support, etc.) that most people face in seeking care, and they also face unique challenges as minors regarding confidentiality and parental consent.

Photo Credit: Inclusive Stock Photography Collection. Adolescent Health Initiative. Photographer Bryan McCullough. 2024

MOASH works to promote a culture of safety and respect by championing policies for gender equity, as well as clear consent communication in sexual relationships.

We support many efforts around sexual assault prevention, awareness, and services for survivors; consent-inclusive sexual health education; affirmative consent policies; anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies related to sex, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), or marital or parental status; and more.

MOASH​ ​supports​ ​the​ ​implementation​ ​of​ ​medically accurate,​ ​evidence-informed,​ ​age-appropriate,​ ​and​ ​comprehensive​ ​sexual​ ​health​ ​education​ ​in​ ​schools​ ​that​ ​is inclusive​ ​and​ ​affirming​ ​of​ ​all​ ​sexual​ ​identities.​

Youth​ ​have​ ​the​ ​right​ ​to​ ​accurate​ ​and​ ​complete​ ​information​ ​in order​ ​to​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​make​ ​informed​ ​decisions​ ​about​ ​their​ ​own​ ​sexual​ ​and​ ​reproductive​ ​health.​

​MOASH​ ​believes sexual​ ​health​ ​education​ ​starts​ ​at​ ​birth​ ​and​ ​is​ ​a​ ​lifelong​ ​learning​ ​process​ ​that​ ​respects​ ​cultural​ ​norms,​ ​values, and​ ​beliefs.