GUELPH – The Grove Youth Hubs will present an information series for parents and the first topic is often the most difficult for parents to address: how to have tough conversations with youths about safe sex.
“How do you feel about talking to your teenagers about safer sex?” the organization asks on its website.
“Awkward? Embarrassing? Shocked?
“This is definitely one of the most difficult conversations a parent could have with their youth, but sex education from parents and family is irreplaceable.
“This workshop will show all parents how to conduct sex education at home in different ways, including the most shy parents.”
The monthly series has been planned by the Family Engagement Working Group and the topics include many that are difficult to broach:
- Consent (Oct. 18);
- Substance use (Nov. 15);
- Eating Disorders (Dec. 13);
- Mental Health (Jan. 17):
- Trans and Non-Binary Gender Identities (Feb. 21);
- Social Media (March 15);
- Racism (April 19);
- Coming Out as 2SLGBTQIA+ (May 17); and
- Siblings of someone with a disability (June 21).
Different presenters will share information and personal experience in having these conversations with their youth.
For the first session, on Sept. 20 from 7 to 8:30pm, Dr. Hooda Ghonim and Vivila Yujuan Liu are the presenters.
Ghonim is an internationally trained physician who practiced obstetrics and gynecology in Egypt and Kuwait.
In Canada she volunteers with the Sanctuary Clinic and is Newcomer Health Program Coordinator at the SHORE Centre.
Yujuan Liu is a sexual health educator with extensive research experiences of how to conduct effective sex education and she often trains parents and teachers on how to have these discussions.
The events are free and will be hybrid with the in-person portion held at a different Grove site each month.
The September session will be held at The Grove-University of Guelph site at 50 College Ave. W. in Guelph.
Register for the online session at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-have-a-tough-conversation-with-your-youth-about-safe-sex-tickets-411396366607?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=escb.
Or email leilani@thegrovehubs.ca for the link.
