We're good at keeping secrets. Maybe too good.
We're generally known in the community for the outreach and education services we provide. But its not as well known in the broader community that we also offer one-on-one confidential counselling.
Last year we provided counselling services to 307 individuals, offering confidential information, support, and referrals on a diverse range of sexual health issues.
Our counsellors offer support and information on sexually transmitted infections, sexual orientation and gender identity, birth control options, pregnancy options, sexuality and disability, and many other health issues. For our counsellors, each one-on-one counselling session with a client can require hours of prep and research to ensure the client is supported.
We support Calgarians of all ages, providing access to sexual health information across the life span:
- 41% of our counselling clients last year were aged 10-19
- 36% were aged 20-29
- 12% were aged 30-39
- 5% were aged 41-60
- and 6% did not disclose their age
Need to talk? Got questions? We're here for you when you're ready.
Phone: 403-283-5580
Web: http://www.calgarysexualhealth.ca/
With summer holidays behind us and a new school year underway, we are looking forward to another great year of providing our comprehensive sexual health education program to classrooms across Calgary!
Our school-based sex ed program works within the Alberta Education curriculum, and has been a recommended resource of the Calgary Board of Education since 1975.
We offer education programs to inform, motivate and help youth make health choices about their sexuality. Last year, we offered programs at 23 junior and senior high schools, reaching 24,415 students in Calgary and the surrounding areas.
We've seen some great results through surveys in the classrooms:
- 75% identified they now have knowledge of sexual health issues such as pregnancy prevention, sexually transmitted infections, and condom use.
- 63% identified they now have an understanding of diverse sexual orientations and the impact of homophobia.
- 81% identified they now have confidence in making sexual health decision.
These results are encouraging. But perhaps even more inspiring for us is when we receive comments like this:
"The program motivated one student to have a very serious sit down conversation with her mother about her choices, and that she wanted her mother to go to the Dr with her. They really had not spoken in years. This is what education should be."
- CALM Teacher
Here's to another great year ahead of informing our city's youth about healthy choices, and providing them with the tools to achieve sexual well-being.
If you are a teacher and would like more information about our school-based programs, please contact us at 403-283-5580 or generalmail@calgarysexualhealth.ca.
