HiTOPS

Specialties

HiTOPS’ goal is healthy, empowered youth who make health enhancing choices and avoid long-​term negative health outcomes.

For 25 years, HiTOPS has served the community by catching and addressing health issues early through:

* Age-​appropriate, interactive, skills-​based health education in schools, community organizations, government agencies, juvenile detention centers.

* Confidential, integrated healthcare in a youth-​friendly environment.

* Safe space and support for LGBTQ youth and female survivors of sexual assault

History

Established in 1987.

Established in response to an unmet need in the community for adolescent reproductive health care and education, the center has since grown to become a comprehensive adolescent health and education facility.

Health education is integral to the center’s mission, and HiTOPS’ educational programs have received national recognition. Adult educators lead programs that convey factual information and teach risk-​reduction strategies and skills for decision-​making.

The center is staffed by a range of professional clinicians and educators, including social workers, certified midwives, nurse practitioners, certified education specialists and health educators.

Meet the Manager

Elizabeth C.

Manager

Elizabeth M. Casparian, Ph D is the Executive Director of HiTOPS Adolescent Health and Education Center in Princeton, NJ. Prior to coming to HiTOPS, Dr. Casparian managed the «Ask the Experts» section of the award-​winning website, Sex, Etc which is based at Answer at Rutgers University. Dr. Casparian has spent the last twenty-​five years as an educational consultant providing assistance in the development of sexual health education curricula, videos and other health education materials. She has given hundreds of lectures, workshops and presentations on all aspects of sexual health, parenting and adolescent development to audiences nationwide, on topics including; Raising Self-​Esteem, Body Image, Fitness and Nutrition, Coping with Bullying, and Teens, Parents and Media Messages. Dr. Casparian authored and edited several books, curricula and book chapters on parenting, sexuality education and adolescent health.