Community Engagement and Health Promotion

Sexual Health Promotion

The Office of Sexual Health and Epidemiology (OSHE) is dedicated to serving as a leader in
sexual health through innovative public health practice and ethical use of data to promote sexual positivity and provide resources that directly and indirectly influence everyone to live a sexually healthy life. 

OSHE defines sexual health as, “the ability to embrace and enjoy our sexuality throughout our lives.”

Currently, there are six concepts of sexual health:

  1. Understanding that sexuality is a natural part of life and involves more than sexual behavior.
  2. Being able to experience sexual pleasure, satisfaction, and intimacy when desired.
  3. Being able to communicate about sexual health with others including sexual partners and health care providers.
  4. Recognizing and respecting the sexual rights we all share.
  5. Having access to sexual health information, education, and care.
  6. Making an effort to prevent unintended pregnancies and STIs and seek care and treatment when needed.

The sexual health definition and concepts are adopted from the American Sexual Health Association (ASHA).

Aspects of programming include:

  • Utilize a sexual health framework that is contributed towards public health practice.
  • Promote diverse, sexual-health, cultural and behavioral-based education, and resources.
  • Provide sexual health capacity and support for internal and external partners.
  • Participate in community engagement activities such as health fairs, social media, community workshops/presentations.
  • Influence sexual health equity through policy and programming.

Activities include:

Contact:

Bethsabet de Leon Stevens
Associate Director
Office of Sexual Health & Epidemiology
518-474-3598
Bethsabet.deLeon-Stevens@health.ny.gov