How We Began

Answer, formerly known as the Network for Family Life Education, was largely shaped during the 23-year tenure of Susan N. Wilson, MS.Ed., who currently serves as its senior advisor.

Ms. Wilson’s strong interest in sexuality education began when she served on the New Jersey State Board of Education from 1977 to 1981. During a presentation on teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, she asked at what age young people should learn about their bodies. With that simple question, Ms. Wilson became an instrumental force behind a state mandate requiring family life education in all New Jersey public schools.

In 1981, Ms. Wilson helped found the Network for Family Life Education, initially to protect and facilitate the new educational mandate, and she served as executive coordinator from 1984 to 2004.

Since our founding, we have provided professional development opportunities in sexuality education for teachers and other youth-serving professionals through our Sexuality Education Training Initiative. In 1994, we began using the power of peer-to-peer communication to offer sexuality education directly to teens through our national Teen-to-Teen Sexuality Education Project, which features our award-winning Sex, Etc. national magazine and Web site. In May 2005, we changed our name to Answer to reflect our commitment to providing honest, accurate answers about sex to teenagers and adult professionals.

Over the years, Answer has grown from a state organization to a national one, and we have received significant honors and media attention. Even more importantly, however, we have provided valuable sexuality education resources to millions of teenagers and the adult professionals who serve them.

To find out more about Answer and the history of sex education in New Jersey click here.