- Gender roles, identities and sexual orientation.
- Body image.
- Relationships with others.
- How we grow and change over the years.
- How we reproduce.
- Personality, communication, expression, and values.
For more information about what sexuality is, see the Sexuality Wheel.
In a 2010 Edmonton study of street-involved youth, 98.5% of youth ages 15-24, had sexual intercourse at least once (Alberta Health Services, 2011).
Whereas according to the 2009/2010 Canadian Community Health Survey, 66% of mainstream youth aged 15-24 had sexual intercourse at least one time (Rotermann, 2012).
had sexual intercourse at least once
had sexual intercourse at least once
In one Canadian study, the average age of first intercourse among street youth was 14 years.
In a 2010 study of Edmonton street-involved youth ages 15-24,
12.7% tested positive for chlamydia, and 2.0% tested positive for gonorrhea (Alberta Health Services, 2011).
Whereas in 2010,
about 1.6% of all Albertan youth ages 15-24 years tested positive for chlamydia and 0.1% tested positive for gonorrhea (Lokanc-Diluzio, 2014).
who had ever been pregnant
In an Edmonton study of street-involved youth ages 15-24, 43% of the females had ever been pregnant.
In an Edmonton study of street-involved youth ages 15-24, 57% used a condom during their last vaginal sex, 22% used a condom during their last oral sex, and 51% used a condom during their last anal sex (Alberta Health Services, 2011).
Whereas according to the 2009/2010 Canadian Community Health Survey, 67.9% of mainstream youth aged 15-24 used condoms during their last sexual intercourse (Rotermann, 2012).
In an Edmonton study, 27% of females and 2.5% of males reported having sex trade involvement at some point (Alberta Health Services, 2011).
having sex trade involvement at some point
having sex trade involvement at some point
“It’s true, you learn a lot about yourself; your strengths and weaknesses when it comes to depending on yourself… I noticed that I learned a lot about myself when I was homeless because it puts you to the test. It’s like… are you gonna live or [are] you gonna starve or [are] you gonna ask for help? What are you gonna do? …You learn a lot depending on what choice you make…” – Jade, Youth
- Service providers need knowledge of the sexual and reproductive health issues street-involved youth face, such as
- Knowledge related to community resources/referrals.
- Basic knowledge related to pregnancy (awareness and prenatal).
- Basic knowledge related to STIs and HIV.
- Basic knowledge related to safer sex and harm reduction (contraception and condoms).
- Knowledge related to promoting healthy relationships/communication.
- Knowledge related to substance use and sexual decision-making.
- Knowledge related to sexual and gender diversity.
- Basic knowledge related to anatomy and physiology.
- Service providers want the opportunity to connect with one another.
- Service providers need accessible and convenient resources and tools (e.g., an “online toolbox”) which includes accurate and user friendly information and teaching aids (Lokanc-Diluzio, 2014).
Other features of this website include:
Get the latest information about sexuality topics to use with your youth. Sexuality topics include stories that encourage you to think about how the information can be used with youth. The stories highlight myths and common errors that can lead to misinformation about sexuality and sexual health.
The information and web links will help you to find sexual and reproductive health clinical and education resources.
Learn more about the purpose of the TASCC website and the background to the project. Definitions of commonly used terms and some key theoretical models are explained.
Got a question? Submit your question to the question box or take a look at our collection of frequently asked questions (FAQS).
Workshop and education listings are posted to help you stay up to date with sexual and reproductive health knowledge and resources.
Use this to email us with questions or feedback related to the TASCC web site.
- Don’t lecture. Provide factual information without telling them what to do.
- Use open-ended questions (e.g., how do you feel about…? What do you need from me?).
- Check your values at the door. Answer questions without judgement.
- Know where and who to refer youth to.
- Use examples that de-personalize so that you do not assume or accuse.
- Use teachable moments (e.g., use a news story as a way to start talking about tough topics).
- Celebrate success. Let youth know you notice when they do things that show they are being responsible.
Alberta Health Services. (2011). E-SYS. Enhanced street youth surveillance Edmonton site results (1999-2010). Edmonton AB: Communicable Disease Control, Alberta Health Services.
Lokanc-Diluzio, W. (2014). A mixed methods study of service provider capacity development to protect and promote the sexual and reproductive health of street-involved youth:
An evaluation of two training approaches. (Doctoral dissertation). Available from http://hdl.handle.net/11023/1507
Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). (2008). Canadian guidelines for sexual health education. Retrieved from http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/cgshe-ldnemss/index-eng.php
Public Health Agency of Canada. (2006). Street youth in Canada: Findings from enhanced surveillance of Canadian street youth, 1999-2003. Retrieved from http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/sti-its-surv-epi/youth-jeunes-eng.php
Rotermann, M. (2012). Sexual behaviour and condom use of 15- to 24-year-olds in 2003 and 2009/2010. Health Reports, 23(1).