Healthy Relationships

Supporting and respecting the relationships and sexual health needs of your youth.

Body changes, puberty, physical and sexual development

Tips and Links

Start early talking about body parts, physical development and puberty – make it part of every day conversation.
Support your youth in learning about their health condition and how it might affect puberty and other aspects of sexuality.
Check out the suggested Sexual Health Reading List for youth and parents, from the Island Sexual Health Society.
Find resources for transgender and gender questioning youth and young adults from the BCCH Endocrine Clinic.
Check out the Transgender Health Information Program, BC's information hub for gender-affirming care and support.
Have your youth complete the Youth Quiz – can they share their questions or concerns about sexual health? With who?
Work through the sexual health Youth Toolkit Activity Cards to help them develop skills and knowledge.
Learn about ways to talk to your youth about sexuality.
Find out more information about Sex and the Law.
Talk to youth about what consent means.

Activities For Families

GF Strong Sexual Health Service GF Strong Sexual Health Service Referral form Sexual Health Reading List Tips for Talking about Sexuality

Activities For Youth

Who to Ask about Sex Sexual Health…Questions to be Answered

Learning about sexual health services

Tips and Links

Ask your Family Physician about puberty, sexuality, and how to talk to your youth.
Read about scenarios for parents and tips to guide conversations with youth.
Check out Shift Education for information on one-on-one coaching and/or group workshops for youth and families on health and safety, relationships, and sexuality (for youth with diverse abilities).
Find out about the Sexual Health Rehabilitation Service at GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre.
Become an “Askable Adult” to help your youth feel more comfortable talking to you about sex. Look for Meg Hickling’s “Speaking of Sex” series at your library or online to help guide the conversations.
When you have questions – call Sex Sense at 1-800-SEX-SENSE (1-800-739-7367) throughout BC or send them an email.
Youth clinics offer sexual health services and information that your family doctor may not. They are also free! Find a Youth Clinic:

Contact your local chapter of Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG) for information and support on issues of gender identity and sexual orientation.
Learn about LGBTQ-friendly information through QMUNITY: BC's Queer Resource Centre.
Learn about services for youth living with HIV and Hep C through YouthCo: Youth Leading the HIV and Hep C Movement.
Ask your Physician or Nurse Practitioner about a referral to GF Strong Sexual Health Rehabilitation Service for needs identified by your Family Checklist.
Make use of Sunny Hill Resource Library. They have free shipping of materials throughout BC.

Activities For Families

Sexuality and your child: A pamphlet for parents of children with a disability Youth Clinics GF Strong Sexual Health Rehabilitation Service GF Strong Sexual Health Rehabilitation Service Referral form Tips for Talking about Sexuality

Activities For Youth

Who to Ask about Sex Sexual Health…Questions to be Answered

Safe boundaries and preventing abuse

Tips and Links

Talk to your youth about sexual abuse and how to stay safe.
If youth want to/are able to talk about an issue, they can call the Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If youth are not ready to talk, they can use the Kids Help Phone's online chat.
The Canadian Pediatric Society provides a statement about sexual abuse of young people with a disability and/or chronic health conditions.

Activities For Youth

Who to Ask about Sex Tips for Talking about Sexuality Kids Help Phone – You Are Not Alone!

Function, fertility, and family planning

Tips and Links

Sexual functioning can be affected by a health condition and/or medications – start by asking your youth’s health care team.
If thinking about using birth control, check to see how the youth’s condition and/or disability and/or medications may affect options for contraception.
Learn about options for contraception, safer sex and birth control with Options for Sexual Health, and how to talk to your youth about Birth Control with SexualityandU.ca.
If you don’t have a Family Physician, check out a community clinic for STI testing, birth control, and resources on sexual orientation and gender identity. You can find community sexual health clinics online or at:

Activities For Families

GF Strong Sexual Health Rehabilitation Service

Activities For Youth

Sexual Health…Questions to be Answered Tips for Talking about Sexuality Who to Ask about Sex Youth Clinics

Need for genetic counselling

Tips and Links

Ask your physician for a referral to a Genetic Specialist (if required) before becoming sexually active.
Find out more about Genetic Counselling at BC’s Children’s Hospital.
Look into adult provincial genetic services for evaluation, diagnosis, genetic counseling and education.

Activities For Youth

Who to Ask about Sex Sexual Health…Questions to be Answered

Back to Family Toolkit

Provincial Health Services Authority

Healthy Relationships

Body changes, puberty, physical and sexual development

Tips and Links

Activities For Families

Activities For Youth

Learning about sexual health services

Tips and Links

Activities For Families

Activities For Youth

Safe boundaries and preventing abuse

Tips and Links

Activities For Youth

Function, fertility, and family planning

Tips and Links

Activities For Families

Activities For Youth

Need for genetic counselling

Tips and Links

Activities For Youth

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