Entering the fifth year of this program, the Canadian Centre for Gender & Sexual Diversity runs the only national youth training program that focuses on sexually transmitted & blood-borne infections (STBBIs), run for youth, by youth.
Through our work with youth who have been affected and infected with hepatitis C, we discovered that there was a very apparent need that was not being addressed: the presence of a health curriculum that is inclusive and sex positive, addresses harm reduction, and discusses what blood-borne infections are. Youth are consistently identified as being an at-risk demographic group when it comes to STBBIs, and these statistics seem to compound for marginalized communities (ex. based on race, gender, sexual orientation, family income) or if they’re street involved. Thus, we began our nation-wide project “Dare to Stand Out: Educating and Engaging Youth in Taking Action on Hepatitis C, STBBIs, and Promoting Better Health Practices in Their Community” with a strong focus on hepatitis C and HIV, along with other STIs.