Educating young people with accurate information about contraceptive methods is important so they can make responsible and informed choices about their sexual health.
An understanding of the advantages of making a healthy decision around sexual health may also help young people postpone their first sexual experience, as well as prevent unintended pregnancies, and sexually transmitted blood-borne infections (STBBIs).
The only 100% safe method of preventing unplanned pregnancy and STBBIs is abstinence. Abstinence can mean different things to different people. When it is talked about in sexual activity, it means a conscious decision to not have vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse, and to refrain from sexual touching or skin-to-skin contact.
Locally, the rate of pregnancies (per 1,000 females) in Windsor-Essex County for teenagers (between the ages of 15-19 years) was 6.8 in 2020. This is significantly higher than Ontario’s rate of 4.8. It’s important to educate our young people starting in childhood concepts around the body, relationships and eventually sexuality. Having important conversations like birth control builds responsible understanding about safe sex.
Using the Ministry of Education’s Foundations for a Healthy School framework, schools, school boards, parents, and community partners can work together to develop healthy school environments that promote and support student well-being.
Resources & Information for:
Resources
- WECHU - Tips for Delivering Human Development & Sexual Health Information to Students: General information to support effective implementation of sexual health education class. This is also available in French.
- WECHU-Sexually Transmitted Infection fact sheets: Provided are up-to-date information on many STIs.
- Ophea: A free online resource developed by Ophea to support educators in implementing the Ontario Health and Physical Activity Curriculum (Grades 1-12), including lesson plans and resources regarding birth control, STBBI prevention, relationships, consent, and more. Must create an account to access resources.
- Ophea- Teachers Talk Sex Ed: Practical Approaches to Implementation – Recorded Webinar: Listen to experienced educators implement sexual health curriculum in the classroom and how they respond to gender identity and sexual orientation scenarios with a focus on consent using instructional strategies and practical approaches. Available in French.
- Human Development and Sexual Health in the Elementary H & PE Curriculum - Recorded Webinar: A webinar focused on the sexual health Strand D of the 2019 Elementary Physical Health Education curriculum which explores a variety of sexual health topics including consent. Available in French.
- Sex Information and Education Council of Canada (SIECCAN): Access to resources and guidance to assist educators in providing evidence-based sexual health education to students.
- Sex & U- Contraception Booklet: A resource from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) that reviews the hormonal, non-hormonal and emergency birth control methods in one booklet. French
- How Effective is my Birth Control: This fact sheet demonstrates the effectiveness of various birth control methods based on perfect and typical use. French
- Sex and Contraception – Your Quick Guide: A booklet about contraception, Sexual Transmitted Infections (STIs), testing/screening, and common myths. Quick activities including quizzes, myths versus facts, name the image and connect the dots. French
- Sexualhealthontario: Needed information provided in English and French on sexually transmitted infections to contraception and fertility. Live chat is offered at certain times, plus support to find a clinic for testing, treatment and counselling.
Lesson Plans and Activities
- WECHU - Jeopardy Game/Tips for Teaching Sexual Health: This is an interactive game supports learning in a fun way. Available in French.
Faciliator Guides are available in English and French. - Toronto Public Health- Relationships: Human Development and Sexual Health Curriculum Support on identifying characteristics of a healthy relationship and consent meant for Grades 7 and up.
- Birth Control: Support focused on birth control options for the prevention of unplanned pregnancies and STBBIs.
- Sexual Health Resources for Teachers: Lesson plans divided into grades to support and guide educators.
- WECHU- Birth Control Education Lending Kit: The kit support grades 7 and up includes hormonal and non-hormonal birth control method samples, barrier method samples, a birth control option fact sheet, and links to additional resources. Contact the WECHU Healthy Schools Helpline to reserve the kit at 519-258-2146, ext. 1555, or write csh@wechu.org or if applicable contact your assigned School Nurse.
- Teachingsexualhealth.ca: Teacher and parent portals providing evidence-based sexual health information, lesson plans, tools, and resources including Kahoot activities. This is an Alberta-hosted site and grade-specific curriculum links may need to be verified. Search for resources by grade or topic. Also available in French provided you filter the request.
- Ophea- Healthy Schools Certification: Gives your school the tools to promote and enhance the health and well-being of students, school staff, and the broader school community. Contact your school nurse at 519-258-2146 x 1555 for more information on how they can support your school in achieving a Healthy Schools Certification.
- September has two health promotion-themed days that could be acknowledged in the schools: the 4th is World Sexual Health Day, which is committed to promoting best practices in sexual health. A recent theme was celebrating sexual health, well-being, and rights for all. On September 26th it is World Contraception Day, with educational material provided to teachers to build understanding to avoid unplanned pregnancies and STIs.
Student council or student wellness council can participate in identifying school needs and activities to address those needs.
School Campaigns and Social Media
- Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights offers a number of campaigns that promote sexual and reproductive health and rights.
- School Wellness Bulletin Board: Post messages about healthy sexuality and relationships throughout the year.
- World Contraception Day: This annual campaign on September 26th centres on a vision where every pregnancy is wanted.
Support in the community
- Windsor-Essex Youth Services Card: Provides contact information related to sexual health, HIV and STI testing in Windsor-Essex County. A downloadable and printable resource to share that has information on various community agencies.
- weCHC- Teen Health: Local health services for ages 12 to 24 years for medical care (including sexual health), counselling, groups, e-library, support for those affected by eating disorders or substance use problems.
- Pozitive Pathway: Provides local support, advocacy, harm reduction, health promotion and education services for people living with, affected by, or at risk of HIV, Hepatitis C, and other sexually transmitted blood-borne infections.
Additional Resources and Support
- Kids Help Phone Line (French): A 24/7 resource offering support and counselling via text, messenger, or phone by calling 1-800-668-6868 or TEXT 686868. The webpage has information to build understanding; reach out if you need to chat about birth control with a trained volunteer.
- Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights-Sex Positive Parenting (French): Parents are given support on how to teach through childhood, adolescence and adulthood concepts around the body, relationships and eventually sexuality. Bring important conversations into the home like gender and sexuality so that a positive body image develops.
- Your Life- Educational Material (French): Support for parents to build their confidence to have the “talk” in an honest way. Resources that can help you give guidance and correct information.
Support in the community
- Windsor-Essex Youth Services Card: Provides contact information related to sexual health, HIV and STI testing in Windsor-Essex County. A downloadable and printable resource to share that has information on various community agencies.
- weCHC- Teen Health: Local health services for ages 12 to 24 years for medical care (including sexual health), counselling, groups, e-library, support for those affected by eating disorders or substance use problems.
- Pozitive Pathway: Provides local support, advocacy, harm reduction, health promotion and education services for people living with, affected by, or at risk of HIV, Hepatitis C, and other sexually transmitted blood-borne infections.
Additional Resources and Support
- Kids Help Phone Line (French): A 24/7 resource offering support and counselling via text, messenger, or phone by calling 1-800-668-6868 or TEXT 686868. The webpage has information to build understanding; reach out if you need to chat about birth control with a trained volunteer.
- Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights-Sex Positive Parenting (French): Parents are given support on how to teach through childhood, adolescence and adulthood concepts around the body, relationships and eventually sexuality. Bring important conversations into the home like gender and sexuality so that a positive body image develops.
- Your Life- Educational Material (French): Support for parents to build their confidence to have the “talk” in an honest way. Resources that can help you give guidance and correct information.
- Sexualhealthontario: offers information, clinic locations, and support to answer questions on an array of topics. Available in French.
- Teen Health Source: Teen-focused website with information regarding relationships and sexual health. Teens can review key information about a variety of topics, read blogs, chat online, text, email or phone a trained peer educator with questions.
- Your Life- Let’s Talk About Contraception: A video that encourages youth to get the contraception facts and ask their health care provider which one is best for them. Youth from around the world discuss options available to them.
- AMAZE.org- Contraceptives Got Talent: The Pill, The Shot and IUD (and condom): A video explaining four types of birth control. Visit amaze.org for additional birth control videos, sexual health-related educational content and activities. This is an American website.
- HealthSOGC- Falling in love…with the right contraception Facebook Live: An hour recording meant for all stages of life about making decisions regarding contraception for both men and women.
Student council or student wellness council can participate in identifying school needs and activities to address those needs.
School Campaigns and Social Media
- Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights offers a number of campaigns that promote sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Support in the community
- Windsor-Essex Youth Services Card: Provides contact information related to sexual health, HIV and STI testing in Windsor-Essex County. A downloadable and printable resource to share that has information on various community agencies.
- weCHC- Teen Health: Local health services for ages 12 to 24 years for medical care (including sexual health), counselling, groups, e-library, support for those affected by eating disorders or substance use problems.
- Pozitive Pathway: Provides local support, advocacy, harm reduction, health promotion and education services for people living with, affected by, or at risk of HIV, Hepatitis C, and other sexually transmitted blood-borne infections.
Additional Resources and Support
- Kids Help Phone Line (French): A 24/7 resource offering support and counselling via text, messenger, or phone by calling 1-800-668-6868 or TEXT 686868. The webpage has information to build understanding; reach out if you need to chat about birth control with a trained volunteer.
- Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights-Sex Positive Parenting (French): Parents are given support on how to teach through childhood, adolescence and adulthood concepts around the body, relationships and eventually sexuality. Bring important conversations into the home like gender and sexuality so that a positive body image develops.
- Your Life- Educational Material (French): Support for parents to build their confidence to have the “talk” in an honest way. Resources that can help you give guidance and correct information.