The Our Whole Lives program addresses many personal aspects of participants’ lives, particularly at the age and stage of development of youth in grades 7–9. While it aims to provide factual and comprehensive information in a space of compassion and understanding with peers, education does not stop there. In fact, OWL aims to nurture communication between parent/guardian and child, supporting their role as the primary sexuality educators for their children. Having a separate space and an extensive curriculum may not intuitively achieve that goal for some, but it builds confidence and opens paths for communication around sexuality and other sensitive topics that may have been difficult prior to OWL. There’s always more to learn and understand, and this goal is assisted by facilitators and the sponsoring organization (PUUF) establishing and maintaining a trusting relationship with the parents/guardians and the home.

The mandatory parent/guardian orientation workshop prior to the start of the OWL program for their children is part of this. In this session, expected to run for around two hours, parents and guardians will have the opportunity to gain an overview of the program, view materials, ask questions, express concerns and hopes, meet the facilitators, come together in the space where the youth will be taught, meet other parents/guardians whose children will be participating, and more. The workshop is structured in some ways similarly to the workshops the youth will participate in, and aims to

• provide an overview of the program and its underlying values
• identify a broad definition of human sexuality
• identify ways that parents/guardians can support their children’s participation in the program
• support parents/guardians in their role as sexuality educators of their children

Expectations for continued communication throughout the program can be more firmly established at this point as well. It is hopeful that discussions from each workshop will be able to continue outside of the formal time and into the homes as needed or desired. Again, OWL hopes to nurture the open and free communication between child and parents/guardians, that the youth may receive lifelong education and support from those important in their lives.