The following projects aim to improve access to sexual and reproductive health services across Canada and are funded under the Sexual and Reproductive Health Fund:
Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights
Project: Access for All
Funding: $2,821,500
The Access for All Program provides support for under-served populations to access abortion care through emergency funds for travel and logistical support. The project will also continue to facilitate access to accurate sexual and reproductive health information through the Access Line's service navigators, sexual health information hub, mobile application and Chatbot.
Birth Mark
Project: Reproductive Health Equity Project
Funding: $558,675
The Reproductive Health Equity Project will provide training to frontline workers on culturally relevant and accurate sexual and reproductive health services, with the aim of addressing health disparities in reproductive health care. Guided by under-served communities and sexual and reproductive health experts, the project will produce course guides, policy and plain language reports, and an online platform for synchronous and asynchronous learning.
Canadian Association of Community Health Centres
Project: The Sexual and Reproductive Health-National Project
Funding: $339,658
This project will leverage the Canadian Association of Community Health Centres' leadership role and the expertise of their 100+ Community Health Centre members in reducing barriers to sexual and reproductive health care for equity-deserving populations. It will do this by enhancing health care providers' capacity to provide culturally relevant and needs-based sexual and reproductive health care and improving access to culturally relevant and trauma informed sexual and reproductive health information for under-served populations. Supported by an advisory committee of experts, the project involves the co-development of sexual and reproductive health resource materials and their dissemination through social media, podcasts, training workshops, webinars, and a community of practice.
Canadian Association of Science Centres
Project: Working Together Against Misinformation: Sharing Knowledge and Building Community Capacity to Address Sexual Reproductive Health Misinformation
Funding: $747,870
The project is a partnership between the Canadian Association of Science Centres, the Partnership for Women's Health Research, and the Centre for Wise Practices in Indigenous Health to reduce barriers to sexual and reproductive health care access among Indigenous, racialized and 2SLGBTQI+ communities by supporting digital literacy, and fostering confidence in navigating an increasingly complex information landscape. In collaboration with these communities and subject matter experts, the project will co-create sexual and reproductive health information and resources and distribute them through social media campaigns and in-person community events.
Canadian Paediatric Society
Project: Comprehensive sexual health care for adolescents: An online course for health care providers
Funding: $307,606
The project will address barriers to quality, inclusive sexual and reproductive health care for adolescents by developing and delivering a continuing professional development program on adolescent sexual and reproductive health care for health care providers, such as paediatricians, family physicians, nurse practitioners, public health nurses, and other primary care providers. Led by an advisory group of experts and informed by a needs assessment, the project will develop accredited educational modules and resources.
Canadian Pharmacists Association
Project: Pharmacist Toolkit Addressing Sexual and Reproductive Health Care of Indigenous and Two-Spirit Patients
Funding: $403,602
The Canadian Pharmacists Association will work with the Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada to create an Indigenous-led Pharmacists' Toolkit that addresses the sexual and reproductive health care needs of Indigenous and Two-Spirit individuals on topics such as women's health, contraception, abortion, fertility, and health systems navigation, including the Non-Insured Health Benefit program. Led by an advisory board of experts and people with lived experience, the project will conduct needs assessments, implement awareness building campaigns, and develop multi-lingual culturally appropriate sexual and reproductive health resources and content.
Canadian Society for the Advancement of Gynaecologic Excellence Inc. (CanSAGE)
Project: Strengthening Endometriosis Care Through Tailored Education: The Development and Launch of CanSAGE's Endometriosis Care Education Program
Funding: $496,738
The Canadian Society for the Advancement of Gynaecologic Excellence Inc. aims to bridge a critical gap in endometriosis care through a comprehensive educational initiative for health care professionals, The Endometriosis Care Education Program, which has three core pillars (clinical diagnosis and management, diagnostic imaging, and surgical management) that target different health care professionals. Project activities will also include social media awareness activities and interdisciplinary educational resources for health care providers that will be evidence-based, effectively implemented, and continuously evaluated.
Community-Based Research Centre
Project: Confronting HPV-related Cancer Care Challenges for 2S/LGBTQIA+ People
Funding: $535,863
The project will collaboratively develop and disseminate human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancer toolkits for 2SLGBTQI+ community members and healthcare providers to enhance their knowledge and capacity to address the burden of HPV-related cancers on sexual and reproductive organs, and address access barriers experienced by 2SLGBTQI+ communities across the continuum of care. Led by a network of cancer care experts and people with lived experience, project activities include community consultations, social media campaigns, resource and toolkit dissemination and delivery of workshops to community members and healthcare providers.
DisAbled Women's Network of Canada (DAWN Canada)
Project: Foundations for Sexual and Reproductive Health (The Foundations Project)
Funding: $886,979
This project aims to build the foundation for addressing sexual and reproductive health rights, access, and education among women, girls and gender-diverse individuals living with disabilities and Deaf women in Canada. It will create foundational educational and practical communication tools as well as a peer support program for these individuals and their health care providers, personal support workers, counselors, and companions or intimate partners. The resources will guide and facilitate rights-based, sex-positive conversations that protect the agency of people living with disabilities.
Egale Canada
Project: Intersex Person-Centered Care Learning for Health Care Professionals
Funding: $260,838
In partnership with Intersex Canada, Egale will educate health care providers to provide person-centered care for their intersex patients, especially intersex infants and children. In consultation with clinicians, intersex individuals, and their caregivers, the project will refine, promote, and deliver e-modules and webinars to target audiences through targeted outreach, and knowledge mobilization at conferences.
Northern Birthwork Collective under the care of MakeWay Charitable Society
Project: Abortion Support Program
Funding: $171,854
In partnership with MakeWay Charitable Society, the Northern Birthwork Collective's Abortion Support Program will address the challenges faced by individuals seeking abortion services in the Northwest Territories. Recognizing the geographical, emotional, and logistical barriers that residents encounter, the Northern Birthwork Collective's program is designed to provide holistic support through three key activities: on-call support services, financial assistance for medical escorts, and community outreach and education.
Support Network for Indigenous Women & Women of Colour (SNIWWOC)
Project: Bridging Gaps in Sexual and Reproductive Health Care: A Holistic Approach for Racialized Communities
Funding: $442,713
The project will promote sexual and reproductive health access for Black, Indigenous & Racialized communities in British Columbia and Alberta by improving knowledge in health care professionals and increase community capacity on sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender-affirming care and wellbeing through trainings, workshops, monthly conversation cafes and community outreach. While the project includes all Black, Indigenous and Racialized women, non-binary and two spirit individuals, SNIWWOC will focus their activities on individuals with intersectional lived experiences related to substance use and living with HIV/AIDS.
The University of British Columbia (Stigma and Resilience Among Vulnerable Youth Centre)
Project: For Youth Like Me: Sexual Health Education Tailored for Diverse 2SLGBTQ+ Youth and Parents
Funding: $451,088
This project will develop and implement sexual health education for diverse 2SLGBTQI+ youth in British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador, plus university groups across Canada. The project will also include sexual health awareness sessions for parents of youth aged 14-25 years. Collaborating with sexual health experts from the national, British Columbia and Newfoundland Planned Parenthood organizations, sexual health education will address specific unmet needs by delivering training in community youth groups and Gay-Straight Alliances.
The University of British Columbia (Contraception & Abortion Research Team - CART)
Project: The CART Access project: Advancing access to abortion for under-served populations through tools for healthcare professionals and people seeking care
Funding: $4,387,931
The co-designed project aims to address the abortion information, access and appropriate care needs of key groups, including people who are Indigenous, racialized, migrants, homeless, 2SLGBTQI+, youth and those with disabilities and/or complex health concerns. This project leverages long-standing trusted relationships with Canada's health professional organizations, regulators, educators, health-service providers, representatives of under-served populations, and uses an intersectional lens. Project activities include updating content on the Canadian Abortion Provider Support Website, hosting a national knowledge mobilization event as well as developing and disseminating patient facing resources, healthcare provider learning tools and resources.
Yukon Status of Women Council
Project: Connecting Data and Decisions: Improving Abortion Access in the Yukon
Funding: $332,689
The project will increase the quality of Yukon's reproductive care data, in particular data related to abortion, to inform effective evidence-based decision making. Better data will result in better access to abortion for Yukoners. The main activities that will contribute to achieving this goal include a needs assessment and knowledge mobilization campaign which involves the development of resources for people seeking abortions in the Yukon.
