Youth

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.
• PREVNet - Is ‘Canada’s Healthy Relationship Hub’ with a focus on evidence-based education to promote healthy relationships. Find educator resources focused on healthy relationships, bullying, cyberbullying, and teen dating violence.
• PREVNet’s National Youth Advisory Committee- I’m Just Not Feeling It Right Now: A short animated video to help start difficult conversations about dating and consent culture.
• PREVNet National Youth Advisory Committee- Self-Worth: (30 minutes) A podcast episode that discusses bullying, dating violence, and healthy relationships with experts. There is an accompanying Self-Worth Tool Kit Zine meant to support reflection on supportive relationships. Also available in French.
• Sex Information & Education Council of Canada (SIECCAN)- Love and Relationships: A resource hub to deliver comprehensive sexual health education and focuses on a variety of topics.
• YouthRex- Asking About Gender: A Toolkit for Youth Workers: a toolkit to help those working with youth build respectful relationships while honouring their lived realities.
• Egale - A Canadian organization for 2SLGBTQI people and issues. This website offers training and workshops to promote inclusion in schools.
• TED Talk-The difference between healthy and unhealthy love: A video that discusses how to start a conversation with youth about relationships. 

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.
• Teaching Sexual Health.ca: Teacher and parent portals providing evidence-based sexual decision making and relationship 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 in the Lesson Plan & Resource Finder for resources by grade, topic, and language.
• Niagara Region-Teaching Tool-Healthy Relationships: A curriculum-based resource to support teaching healthy relationships in the 7th grade.
• OPHEA: Many resources, activities, lesson plans, and videos supporting Healthy Relationships. An OPHEA account may be needed to access resources. Accounts are free to create.
• Western’s Centre for School Mental Health- The Fourth R: Based on the required classroom curriculum, the Fourth R focuses on youth relationship building. This resource includes materials for educators, parents, and community groups to encourage healthy relationships and reduce risky behaviours including violence/bullying, unsafe sexual behavior, and substance use. Available in English and French for a fee.
• Canadian Centre for Child Protection- Smart Strong Safe Lesson Plan (Grade 5 & 6): Lesson plans include a variety of activities on healthy and unhealthy relationships. Please cross-reference with your curriculum requirements by grade before utilizing lesson plans. Also available in French.
• Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies- Dress Purple Day Guide for Teachers and Educational Professionals: A lesson is included that supports the understanding of healthy and unhealthy relationships.

• 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.
• OPHEA- Healthy Relationships Training Module: Gives adults the training they need to help young people develop healthy social skills. It emphasizes the importance of healthy relationships and the prevention of violence among people of all ages. In-person and online modules are offered.

• 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 relationships 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:
  • Connected to School
  • Connected to Community
  • Connected to Self

  Student council or student wellness council actively participate in identifying school needs and activities to address those needs.

• PREVNet- Self-Worth Toolkit Zine: Created by PREVNet’s National Youth Advisory Committee to help youth check in with their self-worth and how their relationships are impacting it. Intended to prevent youth dating violence. Available in French.
• Jack.org: Supports communities and youth to know to take care of their mental health and how to support others. School communities can join this organization to encourage youth leadership, through talks, chapters, and summits. Students can earn a certificate after completing the Be There a 2-hour training that includes the importance of setting healthy boundaries. The training is offered in French and Spanish.

School Campaigns and Social Media

• Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres- Draw the Line: A campaign to prevent sexual violence. This campaign challenges common myths about sexual violence and equips bystanders with information on how to intervene safely and effectively. Resources include multiple user guides for elementary and secondary schools, including a guide to Draw the Line against transphobic violence. 

• Ontario’s Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy: Information for schools on creating inclusive environments and removing barriers related to racism, sexism, homophobia, and other forms of discrimination through policy development.

Support in the Community

• Windsor-Essex Youth Services Card: provides contact information related to help lines and counselling in Windsor-Essex County. A downloadable and printable resource to share that has information on various community agencies.
• Youth Wellness Hub Windsor-Essex: Combines the right services for youth aged 12-25 offering walk-in 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 (will be offering services in French and Arabic languages soon).
• Hiatus House: A community agency that provides crisis support and shelter for women and children in Windsor and the area who are fleeing violence and abuse. Their Help Line is open 24 hours a day /7 days a week at (519) 252-7781 to provide help and hope for families faced with domestic violence.
• Youth Diversion Essex County Diversion Program: Serves Windsor and Essex with a series of eight youth programs that focus on building confidence, making healthy decisions, and improving communication.
• Trans Wellness Ontario: A Windsor-based community group that supports a mission ‘to enhance and sustain the health and wellness of Transgender, Genderqueer, Two-Spirit, Non-Binary, Queer and Questioning communities and their families’. Offered are many community programs, resources, and individual services with peer group support in-person or virtual.

Additional Resources and Support

• Kids Help Phone: A 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.
• Talk4Healing: This is a culturally grounded, fully confidential helpline for Indigenous women available in 15 languages all across Ontario. There is the ability to have a live chat or talk by calling toll-free 1-855-554-HEAL (4325)to start personal paths to healing with acceptance and support.
• Shelter Safe - Staying Safe Online: This page includes further information about abuse, making safety plans, and helplines.
• Council of Ontario Directors of Education- Parent Toolkit: Relationships: This toolkit can be used by parent committees, school councils, and for school leaders to support students to be successful.
• How Brains are Built: An animated video for parents to understand the importance of early-year interactions.
• Sexualhealthontario: Offers information, clinic locations, and support to answer questions on an array of topics that tie to healthy relationships.
• Teaching Sexual Health.ca- Talking with Your Child about Relationships: Has a parent’s portal to find and access information and resources specific to the age of your child or teen.