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School physical environment
This page lists resources that relate to promote sexual health through changes to the physical environment of the school or surrounding area.
Overview
Access to condom dispensers
Procedures and Polices to Prevent Harassment
Healthy Physical Environment: a clean, safe, health-promoting environment helps prevent injuries and disease; it also enables healthier choices. Examples include: safety procedures and regulations; sanitation, clean water and hygiene standards; environmental health standards; food and nutrition policies that promote healthy eating including access to healthy foods as well as safe and supportive eating environments; smoke-free school policies; multiple opportunities for physical activity including sport and extra-curricular activities and accessible and sustainable environments that promote physical activity, safety and freedom from bullying or harassment. In the area of sexual health, the following are particularly relevant in creating an environment conducive to sexual health (as adapted from the Canadian Guidelines for Sexual Health Education (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2003)
From the Council of Ministers of Education Canadian Youth, Sexual Health and AIDS Study (2002), the following should be noted: “Youth are encouraged to use safer sexual practices when there is easy access to condoms either in the school or in an accessible place in the community that is convenient (Otis, 1996; Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, 1998; Otis & Gomez, 1994; St. Onge, nd; Guttmacher et al, 1997).
Responsible sexual behaviours are encouraged when there are policies and procedures in the school that are supported by the parents, the community and public health personnel to prevent young women from being harassed about sexuality issues in the school. The climate promoting respect among both genders for sexual issues can assist in the negotiation and use of safer sexual behaviours (Schultz et al, 1987; Rowe, 1987; Canadian Public Health Association, 1993). Safer sexual practices are supported when there are policies and procedures in place in the school that are supported by parents, the community and public health to ensure that gay, lesbian or bisexual youth are not subject to harassment or ridicule (Schwartz, 1994; Wright & Thompson, 1990; Martin, 1982; Sears, 1992; Feldman, 1989; Uribe & Halbeck, 1992; Health Canada, 1996; Treadway & Yoakim, 1992; O’Connor, 1995; Remafedi, 1990).”
Some specific examples and our sources of relevant information and initiatives related to creating supportive environments include: Addressing Homophobia in Manitoba Schools: www.helpingout.ca, as noted on its web site states: ”The school system still struggles with its role in shaping and developing healthy attitudes toward sexuality in heterosexual students; it has only begun to scratch the surface of the issues faced by gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (glbt) students.” This site offers a variety of information, resources and key links for educators and students in helping to address this important area.
Canadian HIV/AIDS Information Centre: Established in 1989, the Canadian HIV/AIDS Information Centre is the largest information centre on HIV/AIDS in Canada. The Information Centre is a program of the Canadian Public Health Association.
This section in particular is definitely a work in progress. Through ongoing discussion and consultation, a more representative selection will be developed. This scan will be posted at www.safehealthyschools.org and we encourage readers to share the policies, programs, projects, resources and practices they would like to see shared with others.
Overview
Access to condom dispensers
Procedures and Polices to Prevent Harassment
Healthy Physical Environment: a clean, safe, health-promoting environment helps prevent injuries and disease; it also enables healthier choices. Examples include: safety procedures and regulations; sanitation, clean water and hygiene standards; environmental health standards; food and nutrition policies that promote healthy eating including access to healthy foods as well as safe and supportive eating environments; smoke-free school policies; multiple opportunities for physical activity including sport and extra-curricular activities and accessible and sustainable environments that promote physical activity, safety and freedom from bullying or harassment. In the area of sexual health, the following are particularly relevant in creating an environment conducive to sexual health (as adapted from the Canadian Guidelines for Sexual Health Education (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2003)
- providing opportunities to develop awareness of the ways in which the environment can help or hinder individual efforts to achieve and maintain sexual health;
- establishing an atmosphere where participants feel safe to ask questions, discuss values and to share their views with others;
- encouraging respect for diverse views, norms and values and provides support for decisions that support sexual health;
- helping people to empower themselves with the knowledge and skills used to identify sexual health resources in their community and to act both individually and collectively to create an environment conducive to sexual health;
- helping individuals to assess a group’s sexual health needs and to note the availability or lack of resources to meet those needs;
- providing an opportunity to organize, support and promote sexual health education programs and related clinical services and counselling that are needed; and
- increasing the impact of sexual health education through consistent health-promoting messages and services from governments, social service agencies, employers, media, religious organizations and other institutions and agencies.
From the Council of Ministers of Education Canadian Youth, Sexual Health and AIDS Study (2002), the following should be noted: “Youth are encouraged to use safer sexual practices when there is easy access to condoms either in the school or in an accessible place in the community that is convenient (Otis, 1996; Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, 1998; Otis & Gomez, 1994; St. Onge, nd; Guttmacher et al, 1997).
Responsible sexual behaviours are encouraged when there are policies and procedures in the school that are supported by the parents, the community and public health personnel to prevent young women from being harassed about sexuality issues in the school. The climate promoting respect among both genders for sexual issues can assist in the negotiation and use of safer sexual behaviours (Schultz et al, 1987; Rowe, 1987; Canadian Public Health Association, 1993). Safer sexual practices are supported when there are policies and procedures in place in the school that are supported by parents, the community and public health to ensure that gay, lesbian or bisexual youth are not subject to harassment or ridicule (Schwartz, 1994; Wright & Thompson, 1990; Martin, 1982; Sears, 1992; Feldman, 1989; Uribe & Halbeck, 1992; Health Canada, 1996; Treadway & Yoakim, 1992; O’Connor, 1995; Remafedi, 1990).”
Some specific examples and our sources of relevant information and initiatives related to creating supportive environments include: Addressing Homophobia in Manitoba Schools: www.helpingout.ca, as noted on its web site states: ”The school system still struggles with its role in shaping and developing healthy attitudes toward sexuality in heterosexual students; it has only begun to scratch the surface of the issues faced by gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (glbt) students.” This site offers a variety of information, resources and key links for educators and students in helping to address this important area.
Canadian HIV/AIDS Information Centre: Established in 1989, the Canadian HIV/AIDS Information Centre is the largest information centre on HIV/AIDS in Canada. The Information Centre is a program of the Canadian Public Health Association.
This section in particular is definitely a work in progress. Through ongoing discussion and consultation, a more representative selection will be developed. This scan will be posted at www.safehealthyschools.org and we encourage readers to share the policies, programs, projects, resources and practices they would like to see shared with others.
Latest page update: made by dmccall
, Dec 4 2007, 9:08 PM EST
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Edited by dmccall
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Edited by dmccall
22 words added
view changes
- complete history)
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