The CrAFT Curriculum: A Deeper Dive into the How’s and Why’s of IWES’ Unique Spin on Comprehensive Sex Ed

The CrAFT Curriculum does not have a brief elevator pitch. In short, CrAFT—which stands for Creating A Future Together—is a comprehensive sex education program rooted in a human rights framework that integrates a gender-transformative and trauma-informed approach to educate young people about their health and rights. It may sound complex, but the CrAFT curriculum is an innovative new educational tool developed by IWES to serve the needs of students across Louisiana. To find out why we created it, how it accomplishes its goals, and what’s been happening with the curriculum for the past few months, check out our blog!

Iman ShervingtonFebruary 1, 2019Comment

IWES, Metropolitan Human Services District, and the Opioid Epidemic

This year IWES began collaboration with Metropolitan Human Services District (MHSD) to expand services for women in the Greater New Orleans Area who have substance use disorders and a history of trauma. With the national spotlight focused on the ongoing opioid crisis, IWES is especially concerned with the vulnerability of women with substance use disorders and the impacts these issues may have on their children and families. Find out how more about our Women’s Recovery Groups and our work around substance abuse by checking out this piece.

Christina IllarmoOctober 31, 2018Comment

BY-LA Is Back!!!

Believe in Youth-Louisiana (BY-LA), one of our positive youth development programs, is back! This trauma-informed teen pregnancy prevention program teaches age-appropriate and medically accurate sexual and emotional health to youth in Louisiana. After taking a brief hiatus in the summer of 2018, BY-LA resumed implementation at the start of the 2018 school year, expanding into new territory within the state. Find out more about BY-LA’s rebirth here!

Iman ShervingtonOctober 31, 2018Comment

Understanding Our Mental Health Systems

We are excited to embark on our latest project, “A Situational Analysis: Understanding the Mental Health Infrastructures in the U.S.” In collaboration with and through financial support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and Baptist Community Ministries, we are conducting a situational analysis of the mental health systems in New Orleans, Louisiana, Buffalo, New York, Columbus, Ohio, and San Antonio, Texas in an effort to identify systems- and community-level mental health service gaps.

Iman ShervingtonOctober 31, 2018Comment

Letter from the Editor - November Edition: Healing is the Revolution

25 years ago, I had a dream. That I could create a public health organization that would respond to the need to address health inequities and disparities in communities of color, women and their children in particular. As we celebrate a quarter of a century with our upcoming gala, I reflect upon my journey with IWES and what this organization truly means to me.

Denese ShervingtonOctober 31, 2018Comment

Letter from the Editor - August Edition: Trauma in Our City

In 2014, data we collected showed rates of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Depression two to three times the national rate among youth in our programs. In response to these alarming statistics, we created a citywide public awareness campaign to advocate for compassion and transformative responses to address the suffering of young people in New Orleans. This editorial tracks the history of the In That Number campaign forward to today when we are proud to say that we see concrete action being taken to address the needs of our most vulnerable youth. Read this Editorial by our Guest Editor, Dr. Denese Shervington, to learn about the past, present and future of In That Number

Denese ShervingtonJuly 31, 2018Comment

Right Now at IWES: HIV Testing & Prevention Program

This year saw our HIV Testing & Prevention Program’s biggest testing numbers yet, plus further growth of our other program components such as ARTAS, which offers individuals living with HIV one-on-one assistance for linking to treatment services, and PROMISE, a community-level intervention in which peer advocates are selected and tasked with encouraging testing, distributing safer sex materials and role model stories in their communities. Read our blog to see what the HTP team has been up to and how you can get involved in the fight against HIV and HIV stigma in our community.

Michael ChancleyJuly 31, 2018Comment

The Future of IWES: Global Early Adolescent Study

Beginning in the Fall of 2018, IWES will transition its sexual health education away from the Believe in Youth - Louisiana (BY-LA) program to participate in the Global Early Adolescent Study (GEAS). The goal of GEAS is to understand the circumstances and experiences in early adolescence that predispose young people to sexual health risks and promote healthy sexuality. As the only North American site, find out what we’ll be doing to participate in GEAS and see how you can get involved.

Danielle BroussardJuly 31, 2018Comment

When Responsibility Becomes Action

On the first day of every class our students are asked, “When you think of the word responsibility what comes to mind?” They often have a variety of “typical” answers like doing their homework, being kind to their friends, taking care of their siblings, etc. However, the students at Morris Jeff interpreted the question through another lens, by branching outside of themselves to discuss their obligation to do something in the current national gun violence movement. Check out this article to see what they did to take responsibility for their future!

Iman ShervingtonApril 30, 2018Comment

It Takes A Village

The HIV Testing and Prevention Program (HTP) at IWES focuses on reducing stigma and providing increased access to HIV testing, linkage to care for people living with HIV and support service referrals to communities, specifically African American and Latinx communities, that have barriers to accessing these resources. Recently, HTP has shifted its focus to the Hispanic/Latinx population, a community that has been repeatedly left out of the conversation about HIV/STIs locally due to the lack of cultural competence and services offered in Spanish. To address these barriers, HTP has partnered with NOLA Village, or El Pueblo NOLA, an organization that is a hub for the Latinx community. Find out more about the unique partnership between IWES and NOLA Village, and how this approaching is breaking down barriers to provide vital health resources.

Iman ShervingtonApril 26, 2018Comment

Institute of Women & Ethnic Studies

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