FLASH sex education developed by King County is clinically proven to reduce teen pregnancy in national study

New published research demonstrates what King County families and public health experts have long observed – that the FLASH sexual health curriculum plays a key role in preventing unintended pregnancy among teens. The research also shows FLASH is well-liked by students. The FLASH curriculum is widely-used and was developed by Public Health – Seattle & King County. It has been revised and updated to remain a cutting-edge program.

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Undermining the federal Family Planning program is tragic – and threatens a proud history serving King County

A federal decision to rewrite the rules for America’s only national family planning program has been justifiably condemned by King County Executive Dow Constantine, Washington Governor Jay Inslee, the American Medical Association, and countless others concerned about health care and justice. “This change to our family planning program threatens the whole idea that all women […]

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After King County’s lawsuit win, sex-ed research funding restored

After U.S. District Court Judge John Coughenour ruled on May 29 that the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) failed to adequately explain why it cut King County’s funding to study the efficacy of its FLASH sexual health education program, HHS has now approved the $1 million in funding. As explained in a News […]

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King County wins lawsuit, blocks federal government from terminating science-based teen pregnancy prevention program

(This News Release comes from the King County Executive Office) King County has won an important victory in U.S. District Court after demonstrating that the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) acted unlawfully in abruptly cancelling its Teen Pregnancy Prevention grants two years early. “We sued the federal government because they are attempting […]

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How a King County Family Planning clinic earned a national stamp of quality

When a woman comes into King County’s Eastgate Public Health Center for a birth control consultation, or STD testing, the clinician she sees is coordinating with her other medical providers (such as family practice, ob/gyn, etc.), which saves her time and prevents future confusion. That coordination is now standardized in a way that’s won a national […]

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New High School FLASH curriculum gets evaluation funding

Most students in King County and many other students around the country (and the world) are taught sexual health education (or, “sex ed”) using a comprehensive curriculum called FLASH. Last year about 80,000 FLASH lesson plans were downloaded from all over the U.S., but this ubiquitous curriculum was developed right here at Public Health by our staff of family planning health educators.

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