Resources and Advice

Physical Activity

Being active helps contribute to a healthy mind, a healthy body and overall well-being. For older adults (65+) regular moderate to vigorous physical activity is also a key factor in the prevention of serious injuries from falls. Being active can lead to better balance, motor function, muscle strength, mobility and also reduces the risk of many potential chronic diseases that can develop as we get older (Morgan et al., 2016).

Nurse Practitioner

Our Nurse Practitioner (NP) clinic provides FREE regular prenatal and postnatal care for women and care for infants and children up to six years who do not have a health care provider OR do not have OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) coverage.

Caring for Mom after Birth

The postpartum period is the time following the birth of your baby up until around 6 to 8 weeks. The postpartum period can come with many changes, both physically and emotionally, as you learn to care for your newborn.

It is important during this period to take the time you need such as getting plenty of rest, good nutrition and accepting help. Below are some websites and resources that can help as you navigate the postpartum period and care for your baby.

Sexually Transmitted Infections

STBBIs are common infections that can pass from one person to another during sexual contact.


Resources & Information for:

Resources

Lessons 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.
  • OPHEA - A free online resource to support educators in implementing sexual health education curriculum (Grades 1-12). Register for a free account and access lesson plans, classroom activities, and professional teaching supports. Also accessible in French.
  • Teachingsexualhealth.ca - Teacher and parent portals providing evidence-based sexual health information, lesson plans, tools, videos, and resources including Kahoot activities. Resources are also available for differing abilities. This is an Alberta-hosted site and grade-specific curriculum links may need to be verified.  Search for resources by grade or topic. In addition, the educator can search for available lesson plans in French.
  • Toronto Public Health-Sexually Transmitted Infections: provides an interactive lesson plan that differentiates between sexually transmitted infections, diseases, and blood-borne illnesses (STBBIs). Discusses common infections, prevention, and treatment to support the development of informed decision-making.  
  • WECHU-Jeopardy: an interactive game to support fun and learning around sexual health meant for grades 7-8. Available in French.
  • 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.
  • Student council or student wellness council can actively participate in identifying school needs and activities to address those needs.
  • OPHEA Ideas for Action- Growth and Development (French Version) - Can be used alone or with the OPHEA Healthy School Certification process for education about healthy growth and development. This is a starting point to encourage students to start conversations about topics related to healthy growth and development in your school and community. This guide provides key information about existing programs and resources, tips for getting started, things to consider, sources of support in your community, in Ontario, and across Canada, and activity ideas in the following areas:

School Campaigns and Social Media

  • Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights offers several campaigns that promote sexual and reproductive health and rights.
  • School Wellness Bulletin Board - Use the school bulletin board to post various health messages throughout the year.
  • Wellness Wall - Create a research project for students to create a wellness wall listing local agencies available to support youth sexual health and wellness, and why this is important to their health. 
  • CATIE (Canada’s source for HIV and hepatitis C information) - World Aids Day: On December 1st create support on a wall/bulletin board to recognize World Aids Day.

Support in the Community

  • Windsor-Essex Youth Services Card: Provides contact information related to sexual health, HIV and STI testing in Windsor-Essex County.
  • Youth Wellness Hub Windsor-Essex: For youth aged 12-25 offering walk-in mental health services, substance use and addiction services, access to a Nurse Practitioner for primary care, and community social services. The Youth Wellness Hub also offers recreational activities and peer support. Services are available in Windsor and Leamington locations.
  • weCHC – Teen Health: Free and confidential primary care service and counselling for youth aged 12-24 years.
  • Pozitive Pathways: Provides client advocacy, support, 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 (STBBIs) in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent.

Additional Resources and Support

  • Kids Help Phone: 24/7 resource offering crisis support, mental health support, and counselling via text, messenger, or phone by calling 1-800-668-6868 or TEXT 686868. 
  • Every Body Curious: YouTube series about sexuality and healthy relationships for youth, ages 9-12. Each episode is guided by two expert hosts leading the respectful and authentic dialogue on sexual health, and guiding participants through fun and thought-provoking activities about specific topics including: sex, love, healthy relationships, and consent.
  • Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights - Sex Positive Parenting: addresses sex-positive parenting as ‘teaching in an age and developmentally appropriate ways – that learning about bodies, relationships, and eventually, sexuality is a natural, normal, and healthy part of childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.’ Find resources to support sex-positive parenting, and access the Sexual Health Information Hub.
  • Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights - Young People: All Things Sexuality: Information on puberty, protecting yourself, healthy relationships, disability and sexuality, media literacy, consent, and more.

Support in the Community

  • Windsor-Essex Youth Services Card: Provides contact information related to sexual health, HIV and STI testing in Windsor-Essex County.
  • Youth Wellness Hub Windsor-Essex: For youth aged 12-25 offering walk-in mental health services, substance use and addiction services, access to a Nurse Practitioner for primary care, and community social services. The Youth Wellness Hub also offers recreational activities and peer support. Services are available in Windsor and Leamington locations.
  • weCHC – Teen Health: Free and confidential primary care service and counselling for youth aged 12-24 years.
  • Pozitive Pathways: Provides client advocacy, support, 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 (STBBIs) in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent.

Additional Resources and Support

  • Kids Help Phone: 24/7 resource offering crisis support, mental health support, and counselling via text, messenger, or phone by calling 1-800-668-6868 or TEXT 686868. 
  • Every Body Curious: YouTube series about sexuality and healthy relationships for youth, ages 9-12. Each episode is guided by two expert hosts leading the respectful and authentic dialogue on sexual health, and guiding participants through fun and thought-provoking activities about specific topics including: sex, love, healthy relationships, and consent.
  • Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights - Sex Positive Parenting: addresses sex-positive parenting as ‘teaching in an age and developmentally appropriate ways – that learning about bodies, relationships, and eventually, sexuality is a natural, normal, and healthy part of childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.’ Find resources to support sex-positive parenting, and access the Sexual Health Information Hub.
  • Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights - Young People: All Things Sexuality: Information on puberty, protecting yourself, healthy relationships, disability and sexuality, media literacy, consent, and more.
  • Student council or student wellness council can actively participate in identifying school needs and activities to address those needs.
  • OPHEA Ideas for Action- Growth and Development (French Version) - Can be used alone or with the OPHEA Healthy School Certification process for education about healthy growth and development. This is a starting point to encourage students to start conversations about topics related to healthy growth and development in your school and community. This guide provides key information about existing programs and resources, tips for getting started, things to consider, sources of support in your community, in Ontario, and across Canada, and activity ideas in the following areas:

School Campaigns and Social Media

  • Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights offers several 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.
  • Youth Wellness Hub Windsor-Essex: For youth aged 12-25 offering walk-in mental health services, substance use and addiction services, access to a Nurse Practitioner for primary care, and community social services. The Youth Wellness Hub also offers recreational activities and peer support. Services are available in Windsor and Leamington locations.
  • weCHC – Teen Health: Free and confidential primary care service and counselling for youth aged 12-24 years.
  • Pozitive Pathways: Provides client advocacy, support, 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 (STBBIs) in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent.

Additional Resources and Support

  • Kids Help Phone: 24/7 resource offering crisis support, mental health support, and counselling via text, messenger, or phone by calling 1-800-668-6868 or TEXT 686868. 
  • Every Body Curious: YouTube series about sexuality and healthy relationships for youth, ages 9-12. Each episode is guided by two expert hosts leading the respectful and authentic dialogue on sexual health, and guiding participants through fun and thought-provoking activities about specific topics including: sex, love, healthy relationships, and consent.
  • Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights - Sex Positive Parenting: addresses sex-positive parenting as ‘teaching in an age and developmentally appropriate ways – that learning about bodies, relationships, and eventually, sexuality is a natural, normal, and healthy part of childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.’ Find resources to support sex-positive parenting, and access the Sexual Health Information Hub.
  • Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights - Young People: All Things Sexuality: Information on puberty, protecting yourself, healthy relationships, disability and sexuality, media literacy, consent, and more.

School Health Department and the Role of the School Nurse

The School Health Department consists of a team of public health nurses (PHN), health promoters, and a nutritionist.

The schools in our region from each of our four school boards (Greater Essex County District School Board, Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board, Conseil Scolaire Catholique Providence and Conseil Scolaire Viamonde) as well as private schools are assigned to our public health nurses.

Cannabis

It is important for youth to be informed of what is known about the harms of cannabis as cannabis use during adolescence can increase the risk of negative health outcomes and social harm.


Resources & Information for:

Lessons and Activities

  • OPHEA Cannabis Education Resources: Developed to provide educators and administrators access to evidence-informed information on substance use (specifically cannabis) to help students develop the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions to support their health and well-being. Engaging Cannabis Education Activity Plans are included for grades 5 to 12.
  • Mental Health Literacy- Cannabis - Resource for teachers, students, parents, and school clinicians about cannabis.  Includes a short video – 'Cannabis, Teens and Mental Health' (4:08 sec video) about the use and effects for teens, parents and educators. 
  • Youth Rex- Cannabis & Mental Health: Is an online resource about cannabis created by youth for youth. Educators can access a mentors guide around mental health and cannabis, and includes activities to help youth build resilience for managing stress, skills to problem solve, critically think, communicate and collaborate with others through the use of games, poems, articles, videos and reflection. French version (May need to turn on French subtitles for YouTube videos). Students can complete a 90-minute certificate course where they will learn how to support a friend, the effects of cannabis on your overall well-being, hear from youth with lived experiences, policy and legislation, and the effects of cannabis use. 
  • Ask, Listen, Learn: How Marijuana Affects the Developing Brain – An interactive lesson plan created by responsibility.org (USA). This lesson plan uses videos and activities to educate students about the endocannabinoid system, how cannabis affects the developing brain, body and behaviour so students can make informed decisions.
  • Substance Use- Interactive Jenga Trivia Game: Students remove the blocks and answer questions about substance use. Have students play 1:1 or in teams to earn points.
  • Refusal skills Activity: Classroom activities which allow students to practice their refusal skills when being faced with challenging situations related to substance use.
  • Mental Health and Addiction Nurse: 519-258-8211 or 1-888-447-4468- Students can call to talk about alcohol, cannabis, opioids, or other substances. A school, hospital, or community agency can also refer online or by calling the number above.
  • Get Help with Drug, Alcohol and Other Addictions in Windsor Essex County: list of local and provincial resources.
  • Youth Wellness Hub – For youth aged 12-25 offering walk-in mental health services, substance use and addiction services, access to a Nurse Practitioner for primary care, and community social services.  The Youth Wellness Hub also offers recreational activities and peer support. Services available in Windsor and Leamington locations.
  • WEConnectKids: a partnership between the five core service providers for child and youth mental health and addiction services in Windsor/Essex. It is a free, confidential mental health service for children, youth, and families who live in Windsor-Essex.
  • Windsor-Essex County Youth Services Card: provides contact information to local services for youth in Windsor-Essex County.
  • SAPACCY Program- The Substance Abuse Program for African, Caribbean, and Black Canadian Youth: Mental health and substance use services for individuals who identify as black and between 12-29 years of age. Call 519-253-8481 or visit wechc.org.
  • Kids Help Phone at 1 800 668-6868. 24 hours/7 days a week telephone or web chat service for children and youth. *Services in English and French.
  • ConnexOntario – Mental health, addiction, and problem gambling services.  Call (1-866-531-2600), email, chat or search for services in your community. ConnexOntario can also provide basic education about mental health, drug, alcohol, and problem gambling treatment services. 
  • Cannabis Help for Parents and Caregivers of Teens: Talking to your child or teen about cannabis can be challenging, here is some tips and information for talking to your teens.
  • Cannabis: What Parents/Guardians and Caregivers Need to Know- (CAMH and SMHO): This information sheet on cannabis provides information about cannabis, cannabis legalization, risks, signs of a problem, how to help your child and where to get more information and support. It is created for parents/caregivers of youth in grades 5 to 12.
  • Drug Free Canada- Parent Support Hub: 24/7 access to support from Drug Free Kids Canada to help you prevent/address/overcome a young persons problematic substance use by phone or online chat. 
  • Cannabis Talk Kit - Drug Free Kids Canada helps to learn how to set the stage to have an open dialogue with your pre-teen or teen
  • Cannabis Education Resources- Parents/Caregivers to help you better understand the new Canadian cannabis legal system, what it means for you, and the health facts related to cannabis use.
  • Canada’s Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines: Ten ways you can lower your risk of harm from cannabis use.
  • Ophea Healthy Schools Certification- (French Version): 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.

Smoke- Free Ontario Act (SFOA), 2017

The SFOA, 2017. regulates the sale, supply, display and promotion of tobacco products and vapour products, as well as the smoking of tobacco, the use of e-cigarettes to vape any substance, and the smoking of cannabis. If your school requires signage or complete the SFOA, 2017 signage order form.

School Complaints

  • The SFOA is enforced locally by the Tobacco and Vaping Enforcement Officers (TVEOs). If you have questions, contact the TVEO assigned to your school at ext. 3100 or submit a complaint online.
  • Local municipalities have bylaws in place offering further protections.

School Board Policies

  • School boards can set policy that influence the social & environmental norms students experience. Please refer to your specific school board and/or school’s policies and code of conduct on tobacco, vaping, cannabis, and substance use for further information. Individual schools should speak to their school boards about whether they can develop individual school policies.

School Campaigns/Presentations

  • Blueprint for Action: Preventing substance-related harms among youth through a Comprehensive School approach – This toolkit is for school communities, those working in the education system, and those who support youth, in addition to Canadian school stakeholders. The Blueprint model supports school community members in planning and carrying out a wide range of strategies for preventing substance-related harms among youth.  These strategies include upstream prevention, harm reduction, stigma reduction, and equity-oriented approaches.
  • Project Red Ribbon – MADD Canada campaign committing to driving sober.  Campaign runs from November 1st to January 3rd yearly. 
  • Final Play (MADD CANADA) – School presentation from MADD Canada bringing awareness to impaired driving (alcohol and drug) and risk reduction messaging for students in grades 7 through 12. Teaching resources available for download prior to presentation for classroom use.  Available in French. 
  • SmartWheels (MADD Canada) – Mobile classroom interactive presentation for grades 7 & 8 students about the risks of experimenting with alcohol and drugs and how they can avoid becoming passengers in vehicles with impaired drivers. Teaching resources are available for download prior to presentation for classroom use.  Currently only available in English. 
  • Weed Out the Risk (MADD, Springboard, & CAMH partnership) – Interactive, harm reduction program challenging teens’ misconceptions about cannabis and riding with someone/driving impaired.  Intended for grades 9-12 but will offer where feasible to grades 7 & 8 also. The program engages students through discussion, games, activities and videos.  Educators’ guide available prior to presentation for classroom use. 
  • Mental Health and Addiction Nurse: 519-258-8211 or 1-888-447-4468- Students can call to talk about alcohol, cannabis, opioids, or other substances. A school, hospital, or community agency can also refer online or by calling the number above.
  • Get Help with Drug, Alcohol and Other Addictions in Windsor Essex County: list of local and provincial resources.
  • Youth Wellness Hub – For youth aged 12-25 offering walk-in mental health services, substance use and addiction services, access to a Nurse Practitioner for primary care, and community social services.  The Youth Wellness Hub also offers recreational activities and peer support. Services available in Windsor and Leamington locations.
  • WEConnectKids: a partnership between the five core service providers for child and youth mental health and addiction services in Windsor/Essex. It is a free, confidential mental health service for children, youth, and families who live in Windsor-Essex.
  • Windsor-Essex County Youth Services Card: provides contact information to local services for youth in Windsor-Essex County.
  • SAPACCY Program- The Substance Abuse Program for African, Caribbean, and Black Canadian Youth: Mental health and substance use services for individuals who identify as black and between 12-29 years of age. Call 519-253-8481 or visit wechc.org.
  • Kids Help Phone at 1 800 668-6868. 24 hours/7 days a week telephone or web chat service for children and youth. *Services in English and French.
  • ConnexOntario – Mental health, addiction, and problem gambling services.  Call (1-866-531-2600), email, chat or search for services in your community. ConnexOntario can also provide basic education about mental health, drug, alcohol, and problem gambling treatment services. 
  • Cannabis Help for Parents and Caregivers of Teens: Talking to your child or teen about cannabis can be challenging, here is some tips and information for talking to your teens.
  • Cannabis: What Parents/Guardians and Caregivers Need to Know- (CAMH and SMHO): This information sheet on cannabis provides information about cannabis, cannabis legalization, risks, signs of a problem, how to help your child and where to get more information and support. It is created for parents/caregivers of youth in grades 5 to 12.
  • Drug Free Canada- Parent Support Hub: 24/7 access to support from Drug Free Kids Canada to help you prevent/address/overcome a young persons problematic substance use by phone or online chat. 
  • Cannabis Talk Kit - Drug Free Kids Canada helps to learn how to set the stage to have an open dialogue with your pre-teen or teen
  • Cannabis Education Resources- Parents/Caregivers to help you better understand the new Canadian cannabis legal system, what it means for you, and the health facts related to cannabis use.
  • Canada’s Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines: Ten ways you can lower your risk of harm from cannabis use.
  • Mental Health and Addiction Nurse: 519-258-8211 or 1-888-447-4468- Students can call to talk about alcohol, cannabis, opioids, or other substances. A school, hospital, or community agency can also refer online or by calling the number above.
  • Get Help with Drug, Alcohol and Other Addictions in Windsor Essex County: list of local and provincial resources.
  • Youth Wellness Hub – For youth aged 12-25 offering walk-in mental health services, substance use and addiction services, access to a Nurse Practitioner for primary care, and community social services.  The Youth Wellness Hub also offers recreational activities and peer support. Services available in Windsor and Leamington locations.
  • WEConnectKids: a partnership between the five core service providers for child and youth mental health and addiction services in Windsor/Essex. It is a free, confidential mental health service for children, youth, and families who live in Windsor-Essex.
  • Windsor-Essex County Youth Services Card: provides contact information to local services for youth in Windsor-Essex County.
  • SAPACCY Program- The Substance Abuse Program for African, Caribbean, and Black Canadian Youth: Mental health and substance use services for individuals who identify as black and between 12-29 years of age. Call 519-253-8481 or visit wechc.org.
  • Kids Help Phone at 1 800 668-6868. 24 hours/7 days a week telephone or web chat service for children and youth. *Services in English and French.
  • ConnexOntario – Mental health, addiction, and problem gambling services.  Call (1-866-531-2600), email, chat or search for services in your community. ConnexOntario can also provide basic education about mental health, drug, alcohol, and problem gambling treatment services. 
  • Cannabis Help for Parents and Caregivers of Teens: Talking to your child or teen about cannabis can be challenging, here is some tips and information for talking to your teens.
  • Cannabis: What Parents/Guardians and Caregivers Need to Know- (CAMH and SMHO): This information sheet on cannabis provides information about cannabis, cannabis legalization, risks, signs of a problem, how to help your child and where to get more information and support. It is created for parents/caregivers of youth in grades 5 to 12.
  • Drug Free Canada- Parent Support Hub: 24/7 access to support from Drug Free Kids Canada to help you prevent/address/overcome a young persons problematic substance use by phone or online chat. 
  • Cannabis Talk Kit - Drug Free Kids Canada helps to learn how to set the stage to have an open dialogue with your pre-teen or teen
  • Cannabis Education Resources- Parents/Caregivers to help you better understand the new Canadian cannabis legal system, what it means for you, and the health facts related to cannabis use.
  • Canada’s Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines: Ten ways you can lower your risk of harm from cannabis use.

School Campaigns/Presentations

  • Blueprint for Action: Preventing substance-related harms among youth through a Comprehensive School approach – This toolkit is for school communities, those working in the education system, and those who support youth, in addition to Canadian school stakeholders. The Blueprint model supports school community members in planning and carrying out a wide range of strategies for preventing substance-related harms among youth.  These strategies include upstream prevention, harm reduction, stigma reduction, and equity-oriented approaches.
  • Project Red Ribbon – MADD Canada campaign committing to driving sober.  Campaign runs from November 1st to January 3rd yearly. 
  • Final Play (MADD CANADA) – School presentation from MADD Canada bringing awareness to impaired driving (alcohol and drug) and risk reduction messaging for students in grades 7 through 12. Teaching resources available for download prior to presentation for classroom use.  Available in French. 
  • SmartWheels (MADD Canada) – Mobile classroom interactive presentation for grades 7 & 8 students about the risks of experimenting with alcohol and drugs and how they can avoid becoming passengers in vehicles with impaired drivers. Teaching resources are available for download prior to presentation for classroom use.  Currently only available in English. 
  • Weed Out the Risk (MADD, Springboard, & CAMH partnership) – Interactive, harm reduction program challenging teens’ misconceptions about cannabis and riding with someone/driving impaired.  Intended for grades 9-12 but will offer where feasible to grades 7 & 8 also. The program engages students through discussion, games, activities and videos.  Educators’ guide available prior to presentation for classroom use.