Honest, Shame-Free Education for Families
Growing Into You!™ provides virtual interactive workshops and self-paced courses for tweens, teens, and trusted adults – of all genders – to learn about puberty, bodies, consent, media, porn literacy, and sex.
Our programs help families connect without taboo!
Our Team
Melissa Pintor Carnagey, LBSW
Founder & Lead Educator
Melissa is the visionary and primary educator behind the Growing Into You!™ virtual workshops and self-paced courses. She is the author of two highly-rated books that foster shame-free talks in families: Sex Positive Talks to Have With Kids: A guide to raising sexually healthy, informed, empowered young people and Growing into You!: An Inclusive, Shame-Busting, Get-Real Guide to Your Changing Body and Mind.
Caitlin Long, M.Ed.
Head of Curriculum & Educator
Caitlin (they/them) co-designs and co-facilitates virtual workshops and self-paced courses in our Growing Into You!™ education programming.
Aubrey Hanus, RN, BSN
Educator & Course Designer
Aubrey (she/her) co-designed the original self-paced puberty course, co-facilitates live workshops, and provides valuable insights that guide the direction of our programs. As Melissa’s oldest daughter, she is also the inspiration for this work.
Ashley Gutierrez, BA
Virtual Assistant
Ashley (she/her) moderates all Growing Into You!™ virtual workshops and has provided administrative and content management support to the program.
Tyson Carnagey
Peer Educator + Youth Consultant
Tyson (he/him) co-facilitated one of the first in-person Growing Into You!™ workshops in 2019. Now as a teen, he co-facilitates the virtual puberty workshops. Tyson regularly provides valuable insights that inform the direction of our programs. He is also Melissa’s oldest son and inspiration for the work.
Our History
2019
Our First Workshop
The first Growing Into You!™: Puberty workshop was held in a school cafeteria in Austin, Texas in 2019 for a group of 3rd graders and their parents. It was such a hit, they invited us back a few months later to teach a group of 4th graders and parents.
2020
Virtual Workshop Creation
In March 2020, at the start of the pandemic lockdowns, Growing Into You!™ went fully virtual serving tweens and families with interactive, gender-inclusive puberty education while they sheltered in place.
2021
Self-Paced Course Added
In August 2021, we created Growing Into You!™: Puberty as a self-paced course to allow families to participate in their own timing. This version has served over 700 families.
2023
Additional Self-Paced Course Added
In September 2023 we designed and began offering Growing Into You!™: Media & Porn Literacy virtual workshops- by popular request from our GIY Community- which teaches 9-15 year olds and their trusted adults how to stay safer and develop a critical lens in this highly digital world.
Now
Current Status
Since 2019, Growing Into You!™ has served THOUSANDS of tweens, teens, and trusted adults from around the globe! We are honored to be a leading resource helping families learn and connect in shame-free ways!
Growing Into You!™ is an initiative of Sex Positive Families, which provides education and resources that help families raise sexually healthy children using a shame-free, comprehensive, and pleasure-positive approach.
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