After a long period of study, discussion, meetings, and consultation with numerous people, the Archdiocese of Omaha initiated an effort in 2000 to help adults, mostly parents, communicate more effectively regarding human sexuality. The hope was to equip adults not only with improved communication skills but also to help them grow in their understanding of human sexuality in the context of spirituality and faith. The Office of Formation & Education in Sexuality was born.

An initial group of parents gathered in 2000-2001, meeting over several months. Out of that experience, the H.E.A.R.T.S. for Parents program was born. Now into its fourth year, it continues to be developed and refined. This program is also available in Spanish as Corazones. Additional programs continue to be developed.

We believe that:

• Human sexuality is a good gift of God aimed at blessing and bringing life through embodied loving
• Human sexuality is holistic with physical, psychological, emotional, relational, social, spiritual, and moral dimensions
• Sexual energy is powerful and can bless or wound
• Sexuality and spirituality are intrinsically linked
• Parents can impact how their children understand human sexuality
• Children do want to know what their parents and the other respected adults in their world believe about human sexuality
• Each person is to be received with respect and treated as a person of intrinsic worth and dignity