Healthy Relationships Utah Teens
April 2022
TEEN TALK
What is Consent?
Consent can be a difficult topic for many people. To help, we have some key points to clear up any confusion. Consent is a clear and enthusiastic “yes” to any sort of physical and sexual involvement. A person must be legally of age to consent (18 in Utah), and not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or have anything impairing their cognitive decision-making ability like sickness or disability. Consent must also be given each and every time something physical or sexual is taking place in a relationship.  

So how do you know if consent is given? You need to talk about it! Some tips for getting more comfortable with consent on a small scale are asking before you hug or touch someone, being clear with your physical boundaries, and practicing saying no when something makes you uncomfortable.  
SOCIAL MEDIA
Find us on Social Media!

TikTok: @hruteens
Instagram: @hruteens
RESOURCES
RAINN.org
One of our favorite resources is Rainn.org. It has so much information about relationships, consent, sexual assault and more. Here is more information on consent here.

PARENTING TIP
Talking about Consent
There may be some uncomfortable feelings when you talk to your child about sex and consent. Instead of running away from these feelings, check in with yourself about why you feel uncomfortable. If you can address the reasons for discomfort, you will be able to have meaningful conversations with your teen. Some good ways to explore your feelings are talking with a trusted friend and finding resources so you have a clear understanding of the topic.

Consent is so important to teach our children. We can start conversations at a young age and continue to teach consent as circumstances change with age and dating. Here are a few talking points to help you get started with your teen.  
  • Discuss what consent means to your teen. 
  • Discuss their boundaries and what it means to respect someone's boundaries? 
  • Help them understand consent cannot be given if under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or if someone is unconscious.  
  • Keep an open dialogue with this conversation. Check in and look for understanding.  
  • Remember that consent is an ongoing process, not a one-time question. Even if consent has been given in the past around sexual activity, a person can change your mind and choose to stop. Past consent does not mean future consent.  
QUOTE CORNER
Quotes About the
Love Notes Curriculum
“The consent portion of the lesson was really important to me. I learned a lot of things I wasn’t aware of when it came to when you can or can’t give consent.”

-Male Participant, Weber County 
Did you know? Free classes are offered for singles, couples, parents, and blended families along the Wasatch Front! Anyone can sign up at HealthyRelationshipsUtah.org 
Funding for this program was provided by the OPA Grant: TP1AH000232. Additional support was provided by Utah State University Extension. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed are those of the presenters/authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the funders. Utah State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution and is committed to a learning and working environment free from discrimination, including harassment. For USU’s non-discrimination notice, see