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!

Sign-up Now!

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.

Upcoming Trainings

Awkward to Awesome: Core Skills

Date: Monday, September 21, 2026

Time: 9:00am-4:00 PM CT

Format: In-Person 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, September 22, 2026

Time: 9:00-4:00 pM CT

Format: In-person 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.

Sex Education Laws and Policies in Iowa: A Refresh on Current Impactful Policy

Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026

Time: 3:45–4:45 PM

Format: Virtual

Price: $25

Description:

Stay current on the Iowa laws and policies shaping sex education in schools. This training provides a practical overview of Iowa’s Human Growth and Development Mandate and updates affecting implementation, including the fetal development video requirement. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of current requirements and their impact on sex education and human growth and development instruction.Sex Education Laws and Policies in Iowa: A Refresh on Current Impactful Policy

Free Parent, Caregiver, or Educator Trainings

Sex Ed Starts at Home: It’s Not “The Talk”: Making Sexual Health an Everyday Conversation

Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Time: 12:00–12:30 PM

Format: Virtual

Price: Free

Description:

How to move away from one big, awkward conversation and make sexual health a normal part of family communication. Parents leave with conversation starters and examples of everyday “teachable moments.”

Sex Ed Starts at Home: Growing Up: Talking About Puberty Before It Happens

Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Time: 12:00–12:30 PM

format: Zoom

Price: Free

Description:

How parents can prepare children for physical, emotional, and social changes associated with puberty while creating a positive, shame-free understanding of bodies.

Sex Ed Starts at Home: Consent Starts Before Dating: Teaching Boundaries at Every Age

Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2026

Time: 12:00–12:30 PM

Format: Virtual

Price: Free

Description:

Consent education doesn't have to begin with sex. Explore how everyday conversations about personal space, affection, privacy, asking permission, and respecting “no” create a foundation for sexual consent later.

Sex Ed Starts at Home: Green Flags, Red Flags & Everything Between: Talking About Healthy Relationships

Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2026

Time: 12:00–12:30 PM

Format: Virtual

Price: Free

Description:

Give parents tools for helping tweens and teens recognize respect, trust, communication, boundaries, jealousy, control, and other characteristics of healthy and unhealthy relationships.

Check back soon for additional upcoming professional development opportunities, Lunch-N-Learns, curriculum trainings, and special events.

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.

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?

Free Professional development in 30 minutes

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.