Who we are
What we do
Our approach
Content credits
Who We Are
Since its inception in 1991, PlanetAhead-Condomania has proven to be an innovative sexual health promotion program with a unique ability to engage its target audience. The program uses health education and social marketing principles to achieve its goals around teen sexual health promotion.
PlanetAhead-Condomania, operates under the Youth Prevention Services umbrella at Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, working with youth during the developmental window of age 12 –15 to shape attitudes, values, and behaviours that promote sexual health for a lifelong impact.
Our team is made up of trained youth peer educators and program staff who care about young people and their sexual health. Coming from many different ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds and sexualities, we offer programming that is diverse and culturally sensitive.
What We Do
PlanetAhead-Condomania uses an integrated approach - incorporating school-based workshops, outreach at youth events, and communication tools such as the www.planetahead.ca website - to provide youth with opportunities to explore issues and social contexts that influence their decisions about relationships and sexuality, and to learn safer sex skills. For more information about our presentations, please view the “Workshop” page.
Our Approach
PlanetAhead-Condomania equips youth with knowledge, skills, and motivation to shape positive attitudes and avoid unwanted or risky sexual behaviours. Our approach targets individual risk behaviours and the vulnerability related to broad social issues – such as gender inequities - to foster individual resiliency and reduce the risks of HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and unintended pregnancies.
Prevention education for teens is most effective when young people are encouraged to think and talk about the issues before they engage in sexual activities. Factual information is most useful when combined with a comfortable approach that encourages the exploration of values, feelings, attitudes and social contexts that influence sexual choices and ultimately health. Health education for youth is most effective when delivered by peers or those close in age to the participants.
For more information about our programming, please email or call us using the information available on our contact page.
Site Content Credits
2008 edits provided by: Kenji Maeda, Anita Law, Lani El-Guebaly.
Content written by: David Ng, Justin Yeung, Lu Ripley, Sarah Leavitt, Sarah Malleson, Ryan Howlett
Additiona, Lia De Pauw, Surita Parashar
Content Provided by: Ivy Vuu, Noah Casey, Malini Mumick Thandi, Matt Andruff, Troy Collins, Lia De Pauw, Teen Advisory Members
Additional content courtesy of:
- Battered Women's Support Services pamphlet "what is dating violence: information for girls and guys"
- Health Canada pamphlet "Gender and Sexual Identity: The Journey Begins"
- Health Canada pamphlet "What you need to know about STDs"
- Vancouver/Richmond Health Board pamphlets "Preventing Pregnancy" and "Why is this happening"
Information provided by the following excellent books:
- Boston Women's Health Collective: The New Our Bodies/Ourselves
- Jane Pavanel: The S Book
Web design by: KlikCreative
copyright © Vancouver Coastal Health.