TRAINING & Event CALENDAR
📣 New Trainings Just Added! Scroll Down to Register Now for Winter & Spring Sessions!
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📣 New Trainings Just Added! Scroll Down to Register Now for Winter & Spring Sessions! 〰️
Empower Teens. Elevate Your Skills. Transform Your Impact.
Unlock Your Potential. Transform Sex Ed.
Ready to build confidence, boost your skills, and stand out as a trusted, transformative educator? EyesOpenIowa offers dynamic, inclusive, and research-based trainings designed for educators, health professionals, and advocates who are serious about leveling up.
Whether you’re looking to:
Earn your Certified Sexual Health Educator (CHSE) certification
Refresh your toolkit with real-world strategies
Strengthen your professional resume
Or gain confidence tackling tough conversations...
You’re in the right place.
🎯 All trainings are built to engage adult learners with actionable tools, peer connection, and expert-led instruction. New sessions are added regularly; many sell out fast!
💡 Curriculum Trainings Available: Join the Waitlist Today!
We provide training on some of the most widely used and trusted sex ed curriculums in the country: Rights, Respect, Responsibility (3Rs), Draw the Line/Respect the Line (DTL/RTL), and FLASH
Training Format & Schedule:
Trainings are available virtually or in-person. Registration is open year-round and sessions are scheduled based on demand. Cost: $175 per person.
How It Works:
We organize curriculum trainings based on interest. When enough people join the waitlist for a given curriculum, we schedule a training date. If you’re eager to get trained sooner, custom sessions for individuals or small groups may also be arranged upon request.
Join the Waitlist or Request a Session:
Email us at info@eyesopeniowa.org to get started.
“Sex Ed Starts at Home” Series: January Session
Topic: Can I Still Be Naked Around My Kid? Modeling Consent in Real Life
Date: January 15, 2026 Time: 12:00–12:30 PM CT
Format: Virtual via Zoom Cost: Free
Not sure when it’s time to stop walking around in a towel or changing clothes in front of your child? You’re not alone. This session helps you navigate everyday parenting moments like nudity, tickling, or roughhousing through the lens of consent and body autonomy. Learn how to model respectful boundaries without making it weird.
“Lunch-N-Learn” Series: February Session
Topic: Rights, Respect, Responsibility: Teaching Consent from a Justice Lens
Date: Tuesday, February 3, 2026 Time: 12:00–12:30 PM or 6:00–6:30 PM CT
Format: Virtual via Zoom Cost: Free
Go beyond “no means no” and explore how power, identity, and equity shape consent education.
“Sex Ed Starts at Home” Series: February Session
Topic: Where Do Babies Come From? Exactly What to Say (and How Much)
Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026 Time: 12:00–12:30 PM CT
Format: Virtual via Zoom Cost: Free
Whether your kid asks out of the blue or you’re just ready to start the conversation, this session gives you age-appropriate, shame-free ways to talk about where babies come from. We’ll share language for kids ages 3 to 9, five sample scripts you can try at home, and tips for staying calm and confident.
Unmasking Crisis Pregnancy Centers
Date: Tuesday, February 18, 2026 Time: 9:00–11:00 AM CT
Format: Virtual via Zoom Cost: $75
Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) are operating in communities across the country and presenting themselves as legitimate clinics, yet many of them are unlicensed, medically misleading, and driven by agendas rooted in shame and control. If you work with young people or support individuals making decisions about pregnancy and sexual health, this training is essential. Created and led by EyesOpenIowa’s Training Coordinator Val Cumming, this session was first presented at the 2025 Healthy Teen Network Conference, where it received rave reviews for its clarity and engagement. Built on years of research and frontline experience, it unpacks the ways CPCs exploit purity culture, distort facts, and use manipulation to delay or prevent access to real healthcare.
You’ll learn how to:
Identify CPCs in your area and understand their tactics
Talk to students, clients, or community members about how to spot red flags
Direct people to trustworthy, medically accurate, and nonjudgmental reproductive health services
Reflect on the broader systems and ideologies that allow CPCs to thrive
This training is designed for educators, counselors, healthcare providers, advocates, and anyone committed to reproductive justice. You’ll leave not only informed, but equipped to take action. Register today and join a growing movement to protect truth and care in reproductive health.
Awkward to Awesome: Core Skills
Date: Monday, March 30, 2026 Time: 9:00am-4:00 PM CT
Format: In-Person at EyesOpenIowa in West Des Moines, IA Cost: $200
From uncomfortable to unstoppable: gain the skills every sex educator needs.
This dynamic, in-person training builds your confidence and competence in navigating the most challenging parts of sex ed facilitation. Designed to equip educators, health professionals, and youth-serving adults with the foundational skills to deliver inclusive, shame-free sex education, Awkward to Awesome: Core Skills focuses on how to handle sensitive questions, set boundaries, and manage personal disclosure.
Whether you're just getting started or want a skills refresh, this session will help you shift from awkward to authentic—without losing impact.
You’ll walk away with:
Practical strategies to handle tough or inappropriate questions
Clear guidance on professional boundaries and values-neutral responses
Inclusive facilitation techniques for diverse youth audiences
Tools to support medically accurate and youth-centered dialogue
This training fulfills a core requirement for Certified Sexual Health Educator (CSHE) designation and is always scheduled alongside Sex Ed Staples: Core Content.
We strongly recommend registering for both sessions to get the most comprehensive training experience.
Sex Ed Staples: Core Content
Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2026 Time: 9:00-4:00 AM CT
Format: In-person at EyesOpenIowa in West Des Moines, IA Cost: $200
Master the foundational knowledge behind high-quality sexual health education.
Sex Ed Staples: Core Content provides participants with a solid foundation in what effective, inclusive, and legally compliant sex education looks like. This training is ideal for new educators, youth program staff, health professionals, or anyone delivering sex ed content who wants a refresher on the basics.
We cover critical content areas, bust common myths, and introduce best practices to ensure you're delivering accurate, age-appropriate, and culturally responsive information.
You’ll walk away with:
A working knowledge of core sex ed concepts, terms, and principles
Up-to-date legal and policy guidance relevant to Iowa educators
Overview of the National Sex Ed Standards and implementation tips
Ready-to-use strategies and sample activities for classroom or community settings
This training fulfills a core requirement for Certified Sexual Health Educator (CSHE) designation and is always scheduled alongside Awkward to Awesome: Core Skills.
We highly recommend registering for both sessions to round out your knowledge and facilitation toolkit.
Awkward to Awesome: Core Skills
Date: Monday, June 29, 2026 Time: 9:00am-4:00 PM CT
Format: In-Person at EyesOpenIowa in West Des Moines, IA Cost: $200
From uncomfortable to unstoppable: gain the skills every sex educator needs.
This dynamic, in-person training builds your confidence and competence in navigating the most challenging parts of sex ed facilitation. Designed to equip educators, health professionals, and youth-serving adults with the foundational skills to deliver inclusive, shame-free sex education, Awkward to Awesome: Core Skills focuses on how to handle sensitive questions, set boundaries, and manage personal disclosure.
Whether you're just getting started or want a skills refresh, this session will help you shift from awkward to authentic—without losing impact.
You’ll walk away with:
Practical strategies to handle tough or inappropriate questions
Clear guidance on professional boundaries and values-neutral responses
Inclusive facilitation techniques for diverse youth audiences
Tools to support medically accurate and youth-centered dialogue
This training fulfills a core requirement for Certified Sexual Health Educator (CSHE) designation and is always scheduled alongside Sex Ed Staples: Core Content. We strongly recommend registering for both sessions to get the most comprehensive training experience.
Sex Ed Staples: Core Content
Date: Tuesday, June 30, 2026 Time: 9:00-4:00 AM CT
Format: In-person at EyesOpenIowa in West Des Moines, IA Cost: $200
Master the foundational knowledge behind high-quality sexual health education.
Sex Ed Staples: Core Content provides participants with a solid foundation in what effective, inclusive, and legally compliant sex education looks like. This training is ideal for new educators, youth program staff, health professionals, or anyone delivering sex ed content who wants a refresher on the basics.
We cover critical content areas, bust common myths, and introduce best practices to ensure you're delivering accurate, age-appropriate, and culturally responsive information.
You’ll walk away with:
A working knowledge of core sex ed concepts, terms, and principles
Up-to-date legal and policy guidance relevant to Iowa educators
Overview of the National Sex Ed Standards and implementation tips
Ready-to-use strategies and sample activities for classroom or community settings
This training fulfills a core requirement for Certified Sexual Health Educator (CSHE) designation and is always scheduled alongside Awkward to Awesome: Core Skills. We highly recommend registering for both sessions to round out your knowledge and facilitation toolkit.
Adult Workshop Series: Grown-Up Sex Ed
Date: Thursday, May 21, 2026 Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM CT
Format: In-person (EyesOpenIowa Training Hall, West Des Moines) or Virtual via Zoom Cost: $30
In this upbeat, no-shame workshop, sex educator and trainer Val Cumming is here to spill the tea on all the sex ed topics we should’ve learned but didn’t. We’ll talk about real stuff like consent, birth control, STI testing, how and when to use condoms, and navigating awkward (but important!) convos with partners and providers. It’s the perfect mix of “Ohhh, that makes sense now” and “Wait… why did no one ever teach me this?” Expect laughs, lightbulb moments, and a whole lot of useful info to take into your real life. You’ll leave smarter, more confident, and better equipped.
If you loved our menopause sessions… buckle up. You’re going to love this one too.
Who should attend EOI Trainings?
School and organizational administrators involved in overseeing sex education programming
Youth-serving adults
Social workers
Public health specialists
College students
Individuals passionate about learning more about sexual health education
…and more!
Community-based educators
Clinic-based educators
Health teachers
Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) teachers
School nurses
Physical education teachers
School counselors
Curriculum leads
Not Finding the Training Opportunity You're Looking For?
New trainings are always being added to our calendar! Subscribe to our newsletter to get training announcements straight to your inbox at the beginning of each month.
Looking for custom trainings or professional development opportunities for your group?
Check out our Book a Training or Speaker page to learn about our customized training options.
How Do Lunch-N-Learns Work?
Professional development in bite-sized chunks…on us!
While Lunch-N-Learns are typically held on the first Tuesday of each month from 12:00pm-12:30pm CT and from 6:00pm-6:30pm CT, dates & times may vary.
Our Lunch-N-Learns are dynamic, concise Zoom sessions packed with valuable education related to adolescent sexual health. They're designed to empower youth-serving professionals, educators, healthcare workers, college students, and any adults passionate about making a difference in the lives of young people.
Each session is offered at two convenient times:
Afternoon session: 12:00 to 12:30 PM CT
Evening session: 6:00 to 6:30 PM CT
Both times are live, interaction-optional sessions filled with robust information. Choose the time that fits your schedule best!
Why Should I Join In?
Engaging Content
Dive into relevant topics that offer practical tools and insights you can apply immediately.Flexible and Convenient
Join us during your lunch break or catch the evening session; our sessions fit seamlessly into your busy schedule.No Cost
All Lunch-N-Learns are provided free of charge, thanks to our generous donors.Relaxed Atmosphere
Munch, crunch, and enjoy your meal! There's no pressure to contribute or have your camera on. Participation is optional; you can choose to engage or simply listen in.Professional Development
Enhance your credential; most sessions count as 0.5 hours towards Certified Sexual Health Educator (CSHE) initial and re-certification. Click here to learn more about becoming CSHE certified.
How Do I Join In?
Pre-registration is required. Scroll up to view the training calendar and select your session to get registered. You will receive a Zoom link via email.
Cancellation/Postponement Policy
EyesOpenIowa reserves the right to cancel a training or event if we do not reach the minimum number of participants to make the event viable by the registration closing date. In the event that we cancel a training, we will notify you using the email you used during registration and refund your full registration amount using the same method you used for payment.
In the event of inclement weather we will work to reschedule the training. If we must cancel due to weather, we will contact you via the information you provided on your registration form.
Full refunds will be provided to registrants who provide at least one week’s notice of cancellation prior to training. No refunds will be given after that time.
Note: Accessibility accommodations are available. Please email info@eyesopeniowa.org at least two weeks prior to your session.