Eyes Open Iowa

10/22/2026

Let’s be very clear: schools don’t do surgery. Not in Iowa. Not anywhere. Period.

Your kid’s school nurse can’t even hand out a Tylenol without your signature.* Ads claiming otherwise are designed to scare you, not inform you. And since September 2023, Iowa law has banned gender-affirming surgeries and hormone prescriptions for minors.**

👀 Look past the ads. Check the facts.
🗳️ Vote Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Sources:
*Iowa school district medication policies (Iowa Code 280.23) require a parent’s written permission for any medication, including over-the-counter.

, oneiowa.org/resources/medicalcareban

10/22/2026

Honest conversations start here. For more than 30 years, EyesOpenIowa has helped educators, professionals, and families give young people accurate, inclusive s*xual health education. We’re Iowa’s only statewide organization devoted to adolescent s*xual health.

Swipe to see what drives us 👉

Our mission: to empower communities to provide young people with the information and support they need to make healthy, informed decisions, both now and in the future.

Our vision: a world where every adult is equipped to have these conversations, and every young person can take charge of their health with confidence and knowledge.

Want to start the conversation? Trainings, resources, and free monthly sessions for parents and caregivers are at the link in our bio. 🔗

💛 Save this post and share it with someone who cares about Iowa youth.

*xEd *xualHealthEducation

10/21/2026

𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗸𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝘅 𝗲𝗱.

In Iowa, the curriculum is decided by your local school district. Parents can review the lessons and materials, and can opt their child out with a written request.
Have questions? Ask your school. Then make your plan to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

*xeducation

10/20/2026

Our Executive Director, Kristin Fairholm, spoke with NPR about what happened to the federal Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, and why it matters for Iowa youth. 🎧 Listen to the clip at the link below.
https://www.npr.org/2026/10/17/nx-s1-6003966/86m-in-teen-pregnancy-prevention-funds-diverted-to-trump-linked-contractor

For more than a decade, this program funded proven s*x education across the country through an open, competitive process. In June, every grant was canceled, including ours. That funding was a large piece of EyesOpenIowa's budget.

𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗡𝗣𝗥 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 $𝟴𝟲 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗻𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

"We were already short-staffed and under-resourced, and so trying to make up such a large gap has just been hard," Kristin told NPR.

This money was meant to reach young people through programs that work, not to sit with a contractor that describes itself as a "𝗔𝗜-𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺". A court hearing on the award begins this week, and we'll keep you updated.

In the meantime, EyesOpenIowa is still here, teaching. If you believe kids deserve accurate, age-appropriate health education, here's how to help:
💙 Share this post
💙 Leave a comment.
💙 Donate to keep our programs going - link in the comments.

*xEdWorks

NPR has learned that $86 million in teen pregnancy prevention funds meant for local grantees nationwide is instead going to a single large contractor with ties to the Trump administration.

10/19/2026

15 days until Election Day. Let's talk about the ads. 📺

If you're tired of nonstop political ads, you're not alone. Many of them leave out context or get the facts wrong, which makes it hard to know what's true. Before you vote, look past the 30-second spots.

Here's one topic we keep seeing: s*x education in kindergarten.

S*x education is what we do at EyesOpenIowa, so let us clear this one up. At the kindergarten level, it means age-appropriate lessons on:
✅ Healthy relationships
✅ Correct names for body parts
✅ Consent and personal boundaries

What does "consent" look like for a 5-year-old? Asking before borrowing a crayon, playing with someone's toy, or sharing a snack. When it's taught, it's matched to children's age and development, and that's the standard we hold ourselves to.

👀 Keep your eyes open: When an ad makes a claim, check it against the source. That could be the actual curriculum, your school district, or a local expert. Share this with your friends!

🗳️ Iowa voters, make your plan:
- Not registered yet? You can still register and vote at early voting or on Election Day. Bring a photo ID and proof of where you live.
- Early in-person voting is open now at your county auditor's office through Monday, Nov. 2.
- Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Check your registration and find your polling place at sos.iowa.gov.

10/15/2026

Our October Monthly Memo is here, and it might change how you talk with the kids in your life 💛 Swipe for a peek inside 👉
📖 Why “I don’t know” can be great s*x ed
💛 How empathy prevents harm before it starts
📱 What Meta’s settlement means for kids online
💬 Raising boys who speak up
🗓️ A free consent training on Nov. 10

Read the full issue and subscribe free at the link in our bio, or tap “Read the Latest Memo” on our homepage at eyesopeniowa.org ☕

💬 Tell us in the comments: what’s one conversation you wish someone had with you growing up?

📌 Save this for later, and share it with a parent, teacher, or friend who’d love it.

*xEd

10/12/2026

Consent isn't a one-time conversation about s*x. It starts years earlier, in the small everyday moments: asking before a hug, knocking before entering, respecting a "no" even when it's about tickling.

Join us for a free, 30-minute Zoom for parents and caregivers: Consent Starts Before Dating: Teaching Boundaries at Every Age.

You'll learn how ordinary conversations about personal space, privacy, affection, and asking permission build the foundation your child will draw on for the rest of their life.

Free · Tuesday, Nov 10 · 12:00 to 12:30 PM · Virtual

Cameras optional, no pressure, just practical tools. Know a parent who'd appreciate this? Pass it along.

Link in bio or you can register here: www.lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/9w2vsws/lp/ba870d22-a090-4e9d-a3cc-366dcc8c89ee

*xEdStartsAtHome

10/07/2026

LAST CALL. Ticket sales close at NOON today. ⏰ Designer Purse Bingo is TONIGHT at The Monroe in West Des Moines. Doors at 5:30, bingo at 6:00. We can't sell tickets at the door, so this is your last chance. Buy online before noon at the link in our bio.

Designer purses, catered bites, a drink, raffle prizes, tarot, reiki, and a room full of people showing up for Iowa's young people. Come work a little magic with us.

10/07/2026

Tomorrow night, the magic happens!! Designer Purse Bingo is Wednesday, October 7 at The Monroe in West Des Moines. Doors open at 5:30, bingo starts at 6:00.

Your ticket gets you at least 10 chances to win a designer purse, catered bites, and a drink. There's also a raffle, tarot readings, reiki, a photo booth, and two signature cocktails: the Belladonna and the Midnight Margarita.

Good news if you've been putting it off: we have a few tickets left, and we're keeping sales open until NOON tomorrow. After that, they're gone. No tickets at the door.

Grab your coven and get yours at the link in our bio.

Every ticket supports honest, medically accurate s*x education for Iowa's young people.