Teen Sexual Health

Overview

Resources At A Glance

Learning Goal
These resources are designed to support older teens in helping younger teens establish healthy sexual behaviours as the "in" choice. The workshops are meant to provide a safe space for teens to explore some of the broad issues that influence decisions about relationships and sexuality, and to foster healthy attitudes and skills. The educational design of the workshops is intended to provide a structure and activities through which to explore issues more than it is to "teach" students. The workshops are meant to complement the factual education teens receive on the reproductive system, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections.

Who are these resources for?
These resources were designed for use in school and community settings on the North Shore. It is structured to provide education and training to older adolescents (Grade 11 and 12 students) so that they, in turn, can facilitate workshops for younger adolescents (Grade 8, 9, and 10 students). The student workshops were designed to help early and mid-adolescents develop a healthy sexuality, and are based on needs identified by youth on the North Shore. At the beginning of each workshop module, a grade level is identified that corresponds to the level suggested by youth that worked with the project.

Who facilitates the workshops?
It is intended that the workshops be led by older high school students, (Grades 11 and 12), called Teen Health Educators. The workshops can also be delivered by adults if it is not possible to find or support appropriate youth leaders.

Teen Educator Training
While we believe that engaging youth in the delivery of health promotion education is essential, we also recognize that they need to be provided with specialized training to be effective in this role. To help facilitate this, a suggested training program is included.

The training program provides opportunities opportunities to develop skills, knowledge, and attitudes in facilitation, health education, human sexuality, and social issues affecting sexual choices. We believe that training programs for teens are most effective when youth are involved in the delivery. For this reason, we suggest that the training be facilitated by a team of skilled youth and adults.
Training Teen Health Educators

Teen Workshop Modules

Values and Decision-making I
In this module, participants will explore what "values" are, where they get their values from, and why it is important to know their own values. Participants will work to clarify and articulate their core values about relationships and sexuality. They will also have the opportunity to expand their emotional vocabulary and self-awareness. This module is geared to Grade 8 students.
Values and Decision-making I

Values and Decision-making II
In this module, participants will explore the concept of sexual limits, how these limits are related to personal values, and how to recognize when these limits are respected and invaded. They will be exposed to a value-based framework for making decisions about relationships and sexuality. The module also offers opportunities to expand their emotional vocabulary and self-awareness. This module is geared towards grade 8 and 9 students.
Values and Decision-making II

Media Literacy
In this module, participants will develop skills for thinking critically about media messages. They will uncover common media messages present on TV and the internet, and in music and movies. They will also explore the effect media messages play on a youth's perceptions of reality, what it means to be male or female, and the development and maintenance of both a healthy sexuality and sexual health. The module also provides opportunities to explore how to limit the harms of the media. This module is geared towards grade grade 8 and 9 students.
Media Literacy

Relationships I
In this module, participants will explore what a "relationship" is, the qualities that make relationships successful (healthy), and qualities that make relationships unsuccessful (unhealthy). They will explore the rights and responsibilities to self and others that go along with being in a relationship. The module aims to develop a sense of mutual responsibility for the health of relationships and sexual health among partners. This module is geared towards grade 9 or 10 students.
Relationships I

Relationships II
In this module, participants will explore ideas about relationships and develop views and skills that promote healthy relationships. Specifically, participants will explore boundaries, feeling comfortable with who they are, strengthening their awareness of how their own feelings and understandings influence their relationships, and developing a framework for viewing themselves and others in relationship, thus increasing their ability to make healthy choices. This workshop is geared towards Grade 10 students.
Relationships II

Relationships III
In this module, participants will explore healthy and unhealthy approaches to relationships, and some of the underlying reasons that people find themselves in certain situations. They will examine how sex fits into relationships and how it can be healthy or unhealthy. Participants will build upon their healthy decision-making skills and communication skills. This workshop is geared to Grade 10 students.
Relationships III

Parents Forum
This section provides an overview of a successful Community Forum on Teen Sexual Health. The forum is designed to provide parents with information to help them talk to their children about sexuality and sexual health, and build relationships with other parents and professionals in the community. Events such as this forum help to relax boundaries around sensitive subjects, making it easier for parents to support their children's healthy development.
Parents Forum

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