February 8-14, 2026 is Sexual Health Week, a time to raise awareness about sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and encouraging people to get informed and access needed care. CACHC is currently leading the Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH)-National Project funded by Health Canada, and as this project progresses, we are taking this week as an opportunity to encourage people to take one step towards their sexual and reproductive health.

Self-care in the context of SRH can be as simple as learning about the services near you, accessing trusted SRH tools and resources and booking routine check-ups. Community Health Centres (CHCs) offer SRH services catered to the needs of the communities they serve. CHCs engage with community members and identify priorities and service approaches, helping address barriers related to stigma, privacy, language, education and the social determinants of health. At a national level, CACHC works with CHCs to better understand shared challenges and opportunities across communities. To support this work CACHC conducted a baseline survey across CHCs to examine SRH delivery, utilization and client experiences. Key findings included:

• 5% of the survey sample were adults aged 18-24.
• 95% of survey respondents were women
• Approximately 80% of respondents reported that SRH resources were difficult to access due to stigma and privacy concerns
• 23% of respondents felt somewhat comfortable having conversations about SRH topics with CHC staff

While these numbers are not fully representative of all CHC clients, they highlight gaps in access, comfort and trust. The findings also point to a need for greater promotion of  services including for men, older adults, teens and online SRH resources.

In response, CACHC’s SRH-National Project is working to improve access and support more equitable care across Canada. Existing SRH tools and resources are being updated and adapted through our Knowledge Hub. Training for health care providers (HCPs) and client-focused resources including a trauma-informed tool kit will help people feel prepared and confident when accessing these services.

Self-care does not need to be elaborate. This Sexual Health Week, CACHC encourages you to take one step this week in your sexual and reproductive health. That step might look like:

• Finding the nearest CHC near you and learning about the available SRH services and resources, including low-barrier, private and free options
• Reflecting on how informed you are about your current SRH and make it a goal to see a HCP regarding your SRH routinely
• Browsing through the print SRH resources at your next visit and learn about one SRH topic you’ve been meaning to know more about
• Booking a routine appointment or scheduling a test
• Sharing this post and staying informed about our efforts to improve access to SRH services across CHCs through tools we are developing

Check out our SRH-National project page for more information and resources on sexual health.