Bright Spot: Making Proud Choices

Photo by Devin Avery on Unsplash

This bright spot was originally published in the 100 Million Healthier Lives Change Library and is brought to you through partnership with 100 Million Healthier Lives and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

Overview

Detailed Description

Making Proud Choices! is an 8-session intervention for adolescents age 11-13 that promotes abstinence and encourages safer sex.

The four components of the intervention are:

Goals, dreams, and adolescent sexuality
HIV/AIDS knowledge
Beliefs and attitudes
Skills and self-efficacy

Throughout this intervention, youth participate in group discussions, watch videos, learn condom use skills, and practice sexual negotiation skills.

Expected Outcomes

Improvement in knowledge and attitudes
Delayed initiation of sexual intercourse
Reduced frequency of sex
Reduced incidence of unprotected sex
Increased condom use

Evidence

Emerging bright spot (emerging evidence)

Key Lessons Learned

The curriculum has 8 hours of content divided into 8 one-hour modules. It can be implemented in 8 sessions of 60 minutes each or in 4 two-module sessions. In community settings, it can be implemented in the 2-day format (four modules each day), 4-day format (two modules each day) or 8-day format (one module each day).

Cost Details

As of July 2014, the cost of this intervention is as follows: $648 for Implementation Kit, cost for training, and cost for intervention materials. For the latest cost details, please contact the Making Proud Choices program directly.

Key Steps for Implementation

Train educators and facilitators to implement the curriculum
Deliver all curriculum activities and modules in order
Maintain confidentiality
Obtain parental consent
Delivery of this intervention must be highly participatory
Implementation kit can be purchased here

Implementation Kit (includes facilitator curriculum, activity set, DVDs, and sample student workbook)
TV monitor DVD player
School Edition Implementation Kit
Implementation Kit for Youth In Out-Of-Home Care

Training

If the educators are knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS, STDs, and adolescent sexuality and have experience implementing a STD/HIV prevention curriculum with youth, then they need 16 hours of training. Their training should include reviewing the curriculum and discussing various issues in the curriculum and its implementation and what is unique and different. If the educators are not knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS, STDs, and adolescent sexuality and have no experience implementing a STD/HIV prevention curriculum with youth, then 24 hours of training are needed.

For information regarding training, contact: Loretta Jemmott at (215) 898-8287, or ETR's Training Department at training@etr.org.

Types of Staff

Program educators and facilitators should be well trained, have credibility and be trusted by youth. In the evaluated program, each group had one adult facilitator and two peer facilitators

Outcome Measures

Frequency of sexual intercourse
Decrease in unprotected sexual intercourse
Consistency of condom use
Change in attitudes toward abstinence
Change in condom use knowledge, skills, and beliefs

Process Measures

Completion of all modules and activities
Adherence to module sequence
Number of participants who completed all modules