Our Relationship and Sexual Health Education (RSE) program in communities provides youth the opportunity to build their knowledge, skills and motivation to make informed, healthy choices about their bodies, relationships and sexuality.
This program is offered in partnership with community-based organizations that work with youth aged 12-29.
Why Choose Us?
We provide an evidence-based program that’s not grounded in shame or judgement.
Youth who feel ashamed of their bodies or shameful about sexuality are less likely to protect themselves from STIs and unplanned pregnancies. Research shows that the outcomes from comprehensive sexuality education are better than abstinence-based programs – meaning youth are less likely to have sex and are more likely to delay their first time and use protection when they do choose to have a sexual relationship (Kirby, 2007). We equip youth to have conversations with their partners and make responsible, informed decisions for themselves based on their own values.
We are professionals, not volunteers.
All of our Reationship and Sexual Health educators are full-time staff at Centre for Sexuality with a passion for their work. Many of them are registered social workers or have backgrounds in health, sciences or education, and undergo intensive long-term training in order to deliver the program.
We talk about consent.
We think it’s critical that all youth fully understand what consent means. They need to know at what age someone can consent, whether someone can give consent under the influence of drugs and alcohol and that someone can consent and then change their mind. It’s also essential they have resources if someone has experienced sexual violence.
We talk about healthy relationships.
We understand that teen dating violence is on the rise in Canada, and are committed to offering a program that talks about the warning signs of an unhealthy relationship, while also recognizing that youth are free to make choices that are right for them. All of our curriculum ties in conversations about healthy relationships, boundaries and support for youth who need it.
We talk about bullying, homophobia, and diversity.
We think it’s critical to talk about issues like sexism, homophobia, gender roles and sexual diversity. We encourage youth to challenge stereotypes, be aware of the language they use and embrace diversity. We help them understand the true impact of bullying and prejudice. We provide tools and practice on how to be an active bystander when someone is experiencing discrimination or exclusion.
We teach media literacy skills.
Our discussions around gender roles and diversity naturally lead to a critical analysis of media. We help youth sort through and understand the media messages they’re shown every day, and give context to advertising, social media and website messages. We also talk about issues like sexting.
We provide an inclusive, trauma-informed environment.
Our program has an emphasis on diversity and we recognize that youth come from all backgrounds, faiths, cultures and experiences. We deliver content that is current and relevant to youth’s lives and experiences in a non-judgmental way. We encourage youth to discuss and recognize their own values when making decisions.
We recognize the high rate of sexual abuse and assault in our communities.
Our educators are highly trained to deal with sexual assault disclosures that may happen (anonymously and not) throughout the program.
Community Relationship and Sexual Health Education Objectives
Participants in our Calgary-based Community Relationship and Sexual Health program will learn to:
- Articulate individual and societal values related to different aspects of sexuality, sexual health, and relationships
- Report increased awareness of Canadian sexual and reproductive health rights
- Differentiate between accurate and inaccurate information related to anatomy, sexuality and sexual health
- Apply strategies that promote sexual health and well-being including informed decision making, self-advocacy and communication
- Apply knowledge about contraceptives, STBBI’s and barriers to engage in safer sex practices
- Demonstrate an increased awareness of relationship rights and describe the difference between healthy, unhealthy and abusive relationships
- Model healthy communication in various situations as a tool for expressing emotions, asserting boundaries and supporting conflict resolution
- Contribute to healthy relationships by upholding rights to consensual interactions
- Express increased empathy and respect for the feelings and experiences of others
- Participate in support networks through mutual peer support, as well as connection to trusted adults and professional services
Booking Requests
Our community-based Relationship and Sexual Health Education Program is available for organizations that work with youth aged 12-29. These programs are adapted to the learning needs of your group based on the learning objectives listed above. We also have custom programs for newcomers to Canada, people with disabilities, people who have experienced addiction and people who have experienced trauma.
To learn more, or request a booking for a community-based organizations, please contact dsilva@centreforsexuality.ca.
Costs and Fees
Centre for Sexuality is a non-profit organization. We deliver the RSE program free of charge, but gratefully accept an honorarium to help cover our costs and continue the development of the RSE program.
Frequently Asked Questions
For Parents
Our comprehensive, evidence-informed programs equip youth with the information and tools to make responsible, informed decisions about their sexual health and relations based on their own values.
Our approach is demonstrated to reduce sexually transmitted infections, unintended pregnancy (through the use of barriers and birth control including abstinence) and teen dating/intimate partner violence. Our focus on critical thinking and media literacy, combined with a series of activities designed to cultivate self-awareness, self-control and interpersonal skills, help young people become less susceptible to social pressure and harmful media messages and more likely to delay their first sexual experience.
Our Community RSE requires a minimum of 3 hours. The program can be delivered in a variety of structures that allow for completion over multiple days or sessions. For a more flexible and comfortable experience, we recommend planning for 4-5 hours of total program time to accommodate breaks, learning needs and additional group specific topic exploration.
We provide developmentally appropriate, evidence-informed learning experiences which follow Alberta Health and Life Skills Curriculum outcomes and are informed by Sex Information & Education Council of Canada (SIECCAN) guidelines.
We know that young people are often seeking information about sex, their bodies and relationships – often from sources that are not accurate or intended for educational purposes (e.g., pornography). We’re proud to provide an evidence-informed program that’s not grounded in shame or judgement, allowing students to access factual information and tools to support informed decision making.
All of our sexuality educators are full-time staff at Centre for Sexuality who have undergone intensive long-term training in order to work in classrooms. Many of them are registered social workers or have backgrounds in health, science or education.
Our comprehensive Relationship and Sexual Health program focuses on healthy relationships consent, media literacy, sexual violence, bullying, prejudice and homophobia.
The Canadian Guidelines for Sexual Health Education note that an understanding of sexual diversity perspectives and issues is an important component of comprehensive sexual health education. We encourage youth to challenge stereotypes, be aware of the language they use and embrace diversity. We help them understand the true impact of bullying and prejudice and provide tools and practices on how to be an active bystander when they see discrimination or exclusion.
We share information and tools to support informed decision making and encourage youth to discuss and recognize their own values when making decisions, including abstinence and other contraceptive choices. Adolescent sexual health interventions can have a significant positive impact on sexual health behaviours including delaying their first sexual activity and increasing use of condoms and other contraceptives.
We provide all the information and facts that individuals should consider when thinking about relationships. We talk about consent laws to empower and inform young people of their moral and legal obligations, both for themselves and others. Educating youth about the ethical and legal aspects of consent is crucial for the development of safe and respectful interpersonal relationships and the prevention of sexual and gender based violence.
While we understand this question often comes from a desire for children to delay sexual activity, the fact is that youth who feel ashamed of their bodies or shameful about sexuality are less likely to protect themselves from STIs and unplanned pregnancies.
Our age-appropriate program aligns with Alberta Education Outcomes and is informed by guidelines from the Sex Information and Education Council of Canada.
Within our sessions, we do use an anonymous Question Box tool as a way to create space for students to ask questions about their bodies, relationships or anatomy. Each question receives a non-judgmental, factual, empathetic and authentic response. All of our sexuality educators are full-time staff at Centre for Sexuality who have undergone intensive long-term training in order to work in classrooms. Many of them are registered social workers or have backgrounds in health, science or education.
If youth want information, they will try to find it. It is much better for them to hear factual, normalized and age-appropriate answers from our team rather than other sources that may provide false, misleading or harmful information.
The RSE program emphasizes the importance of natural supports (parents/caregivers) as we know they are the most important educators in their child’s life.
During each session, our facilitators highlight that each person will have different experiences, values and opinions and that it is important to talk to our natural supports and other trusted adults in school or other safe settings. All parents have the choice to opt out of Sexual Health Education if it is something they do not want their child to participate in.
At schools where we are delivering our RSE program, we’re very happy to facilitate workshops for parents at the school. Our parent workshops share further information about our programs, provide tools for supporting conversations about sexual health and healthy relationships with your child and provide an opportunity for discussion with other parents/caregivers.
If you’re looking for support around a specific topic, we offer one-on-one short-term counselling for parents/caregivers looking to support their children or teens.
For Community Organizations
Centre for Sexuality is a non-profit organization and we deliver the RSE program free of cost to public schools in Calgary and Area to ensure our program is accessible. However, many organizations provide an honorarium to help cover our costs and continue further development of the RSE program.
Our RSE program content is non-negotiable. As an evidence-informed comprehensive program created by and delivered by experts, we understand the importance of scaffolded sessions (where each session builds and incorporates content from previous sessions) that deliver positive outcomes, including:
- reduced STI rates
- reduction in teen dating violence
- reduced unintended pregnancies
- sexual health enhancement
- increased understanding of how to have healthy relationships
- increased understanding of identity
Reducing the scope of the program compromises these outcomes.
We require a closed room with access to a whiteboard and audio/visual set up.
