TRAINING & Event CALENDAR

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. Cost: $175 per person.

Training Format & Schedule: Trainings are available virtually or in-person. Registration is open year-round and sessions are scheduled based on demand.

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.

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.

“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. Trainer and licensed therapist Emily Gillon will share language for kids ages 3 to 9, five sample scripts you can try at home, and tips for staying calm and confident.

“Lunch-N-Learn” Series: March Session

Topic: Beyond the Birds & Bees: Reframing Sex Ed as Lifelong Health Education

Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2026     Time: 12:00–12:30 PM or 6:00–6:30 PM CT

Format: Virtual via Zoom     Cost: Free

Sex ed is not a one-time conversation, it’s a lifelong learning process. In this session, we’ll reframe sexuality education as a foundation for lifelong health and wellbeing. From puberty to parenting, sexual health to communication skills, we’ll examine the broad impact of quality sex ed and how to communicate that value to parents, schools, and communities.

“Sex Ed Starts at Home” Series: March Session

Topic: Technology and Sexually Explicit Material: Protecting and Preparing Your Tweens and Teens

Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026     Time: 12:00–12:30 PM CT

Format: Virtual via Zoom     Cost: Free

Curious what your tween might accidentally (or intentionally) stumble across online? This session offers practical tips on talking to kids about sexually explicit content in a way that’s age-appropriate and shame-free, while giving parents tools to set boundaries and build trust.

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.

“Lunch-N-Learn” Series: April Session

Topic: Teaching with Trauma in Mind

Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2026     Time: 12:00–12:30 PM or 6:00–6:30 PM CT

Format: Virtual via Zoom     Cost: Free

Explore how trauma, past or ongoing, shapes the classroom experience. This session offers practical, strengths-based strategies for trauma-informed teaching, including how to balance student safety with curriculum fidelity.

“Sex Ed Starts at Home” Series: April Session

Topic: Resource Rundown: Some of Our Favorite Tools for Parents

Date: Thursday, April 16, 2026     Time: 12:00–12:30 PM CT

Format: Virtual via Zoom     Cost: Free

We’ve tried them all so you don’t have to! This session shares our favorite books, websites, social media accounts, and conversation tools that make talking about sex and relationships with kids a little easier, and a lot less awkward.

“Lunch-N-Learn” Series: May Session

Topic: Empowering Parents as Primary Sex Educators

Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2026     Time: 12:00–12:30 PM or 6:00–6:30 PM CT

Format: Virtual via Zoom     Cost: Free

May is Sex Ed For All Month and we believe that sex education belongs in schools AND at home. Join this bite-size professional development opportunity to learn more about how educators can empower parents and caregivers in their roles guiding young people through body changes, understanding consent, and so much more!

“Sex Ed Starts at Home” Series: May Session

Topic: Fostering a Space for Conversations Around Sexual Health

Date: Thursday, May 21, 2026     Time: 12:00–12:30 PM CT

Format: Virtual via Zoom     Cost: Free

Not sure how to even start the conversation? We’ll explore how to create an open, trusting family environment where questions about sex, relationships, and bodies are always welcome.

“Lunch-N-Learn” Series: June Session

Topic: Sex Ed as Social Justice

Date: Tuesday, June 2, 2026     Time: 12:00–12:30 PM or 6:00–6:30 PM CT

Format: Virtual via Zoom     Cost: Free

Sexual health education is a tool for equity. Learn how to incorporate a justice lens into your lessons and promote liberation, not just information.

“Sex Ed Starts at Home” Series: June Session

Topic: Fostering a Space for Conversations Around Sexual Health

Date: Thursday, June 18, 2026     Time: 12:00–12:30 PM CT

Format: Virtual via Zoom     Cost: Free

Not sure how to even start the conversation? We’ll explore how to create an open, trusting family environment where questions about sex, relationships, and bodies are always welcome.

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?

• Community-based educators

• Clinic-based educators

• Health teachers

• Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) teachers

• School nurses

• Physical education teachers

• School counselors

• Curriculum leads

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.