Sexual & Reproductive Health

Research shows that youth experience better sexual and reproductive health outcomes when they have access to sexual and reproductive health care and information that meets their individual needs. This level of care includes comprehensive, accurate, and inclusive person-centered care and information, the ability to engage in and plan for safe, consensual, and healthy sexual activity, and the autonomy to make informed sexual and reproductive health decisions.

Child Trends’ sexual and reproductive health portfolio is designed to equip practitioners, policymakers, and leaders in the field with research, technical assistance, and strategic communications to strengthen sexual and reproductive health services and systems in their communities. Grounded in rigorous, evidence-based approaches, Child Trends takes a holistic approach to research, ensuring that our findings are actionable, practical, and tailored to the diverse needs of communities.

We also embed an equity lens in everything we do, focusing on the people who have and continue to face discrimination in and inequitable access to care. These populations include families with low incomes; Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous populations; youth with disabilities; and LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning) youth.

Our interdisciplinary expertise includes: