Reach for Health Community Youth Service
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
The goal of the Reach for Health Community Youth Service program is to reduce risky sexual behavior and prevent STDs and unintended pregnancy among seventh and eighth grade urban African American and Latino youth.
Educators are trained specifically in the curriculum prior to delivering it to students. These educators also receive assistance throughout implementation and have their classrooms observed to ensure adherence to the lesson plans. This health curriculum has 40 core lessons that teach students about human sexuality while also focusing on three health risks that urban youth often face: drug and alcohol use, violence, and risky sexual behavior that may lead to pregnancy or STD infection.
In addition to the core curriculum, each student is assigned to a community-based organization where he/she is required to provide service for about three hours each week. Examples of community-based organizations include senior centers, nursing homes, full-service clinics, and child day care centers. Before working with these organizations, each student is required to learn more about the organization that he/she has been assigned to as well as set personal goals for things that he/she would like to achieve during the service.
Educators are trained specifically in the curriculum prior to delivering it to students. These educators also receive assistance throughout implementation and have their classrooms observed to ensure adherence to the lesson plans. This health curriculum has 40 core lessons that teach students about human sexuality while also focusing on three health risks that urban youth often face: drug and alcohol use, violence, and risky sexual behavior that may lead to pregnancy or STD infection.
In addition to the core curriculum, each student is assigned to a community-based organization where he/she is required to provide service for about three hours each week. Examples of community-based organizations include senior centers, nursing homes, full-service clinics, and child day care centers. Before working with these organizations, each student is required to learn more about the organization that he/she has been assigned to as well as set personal goals for things that he/she would like to achieve during the service.
Goal / Mission
The goal of the Reach for health Community Youth Service program is to reduce risky sexual behaviors among urban Latino and African American youth.
Impact
Long-term impact has been recorded among participants after two years: this includes delayed initiation of intercourse and reduced frequency of intercourse among sexually active adolescents.
Results / Accomplishments
One study evaluated the results of the program using one intervention school and one control school. The authors reported that students who participated in the program were significantly less likely (p<0.05) to report recent intercourse at follow-up than were students in the control condition. Students in the intervention condition also scored significantly lower on a sexual activity index than did those in the control condition (p<0.03).
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
Advocates for Youth
Primary Contact
Lydia O'Donnell
Education Development Center, Inc.
43 Foundry Avenue
Waltham, MA 02453
617-969-7100
lodonnell@edc.org
https://www.edc.org/lydia-odonnell
Education Development Center, Inc.
43 Foundry Avenue
Waltham, MA 02453
617-969-7100
lodonnell@edc.org
https://www.edc.org/lydia-odonnell
Topics
Health / Adolescent Health
Organization(s)
Advocates for Youth
Date of publication
1999
Date of implementation
1994
Geographic Type
Urban
Location
New York City, New York
For more details
http://ajph.aphapublications.org/cgi/content/abstr...
https://www.socio.com/products/pasha-reach-for-hea...
https://www.socio.com/products/pasha-reach-for-hea...
Target Audience
Teens, Racial/Ethnic Minorities