The Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) hosted the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (APP) Grantee Conference on May 23 — 25, 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia. The conference, Reunite, Reignite, Re-energize: Innovating for the Future, provided learning, training, and networking opportunities for FYSB grantees. In learning about new and innovative strategies to engage and support youth effectively, grantees explored practices to enhance their collective ability to support youth and families in their community. Over 600 individuals registered for the conference, which featured plenaries, workshops, and grantee networking opportunities across six core tracks: (1) Program Implementation: Lessons from the Field; (2) Program Administration: Sustainability, Program Management, Organizational Capacity, and Infrastructure; (3) Translating Research into Practice; (4) Youth Collaborations and Engagement; (5) Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and (6) Holistic Approaches to Supporting Adolescent Development.
Speakers
Opening Keynote: Ross Szabo
Mr. Szabo is an award-winning mental health speaker, writer, trainer, CEO of the Human Power Project and Returned Peace Corps Volunteer. He has spoken to more than 1 million students about the importance of mental health and provides a positive example to empower young people and adults to seek help for their mental health. Mr. Szabo provided the opening presentation of the 2023 APP Grantee Conference on the topic of mental health as it relates to youth-serving providers.
FYSB Updates: Corey Palmer, Kati Derrick, MeGan Hill, Owen Burns
FYSB staff presented an overview of developments and accomplishments within the APP Program over the previous year. The FYSB Updates session included an introduction to FYSB leadership and the APP Program team, an overview of recent performance measures data, updates on TA opportunities, a review of The Exchange website and We Think Twice™ campaign, and a brief Q&A.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Adolescent and School Health Plenary: Kathleen Ethier, PhD
Dr. Kathleen Ethier is the Director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Adolescent and School Health in the National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention. Her work has focused on developing strategic direction for agency priorities, best practices for using data for decision-making and improving program evaluation. This session reviewed key findings from the latest national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS); discussed the important role of schools and their partners in helping protect and improve the health of youth; and highlighted proven, school-based strategies that can help reverse negative trends and ensure youth have the support they need to be healthy and thrive.
Closing Keynote: Laymon Hicks, PhD
From troubled youth to graduating high school with a 4.0 grade point average and obtaining a doctorate by the age of 29, Dr. Laymon Hicks’ story is moving, his words are empowering, and his message is practical. Closing out the 2023 APP Grantee Conference, Mr. Hicks inspired participants to continue their impactful work with young people.
Check out presentation materials from the concurrent and poster sessions below.
- Opening Plenary
- View the Recording
Ross Szabo, Human Power Project
Debbie Powell, Deputy Associate Commissioner, FYSB, Division of Positive Youth Development -
Concurrent Session 1
- Building Strategies to Foster Co-Regulation into SRAE Program Implementation
- Heather Zaveri, Mathematica
Avery Hennigar, Mathematica - Capture and Motivate: Reigniting Youth Collaborations and Engagement
- Ralph Nickerson, Bee Busy Learning Academy, Inc.
Joshua Ricks, Bee Busy Learning Academy, Inc.
Jeremy Tillis, Bee Busy Learning Academy, Inc. - Culture Is Prevention: Exploring ways to incorporate culture & promote positive health outcomes
- Miranda Manzanares, UW-Madison Population Health Institute
Nicole Felser, Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc.
Lori Hunter, Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc. - Group Dynamics: Facilitating in Space
- (To view the presentation, please contact Vinnicius Silva at vinniciuss@proyouthandfamilies.org)
Vinnicius Silva, PRO Youth and Families, Inc.
Gabrielle Rivas, PRO Youth and Families, Inc. - Healing Centered Engagement: The Road to Holistic Programming
- Tobin Bayless, Lighthouse Youth & Family Services
- Reigniting Our Efforts: How Georgia Implements the Six Basic Steps of Subrecipient Management
- Lashantynia Clayton, Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
Wynecoka Thompson, Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
Missy Thompson, Georgia Division of Family and Children Services - Supporting System involved Young Fathers to Thrive: A Holistic Approach to Program Implementation
- Scharron Kane, Ohio Department of Youth Services
Terry Harrak, Youth Law Center
Tecca Thompson, Ohio Department of Youth Services - You Matter: Innovations in Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Addressing ACEs
- Rebecca Levenson, Futures Without Violence
Liz Miller, Futures Without Violence -
Concurrent Session 2
- Developing Your Capacity Building Toolkit
- Christine Hagstrom, Cardea
- Five Principles for Engaging Youth in SRH Programming: From the Voice of Youth
- Pamela Drake, ETR
Pamela Anderson, ETR
Evan Williams, Youth Presenter - Implementing American Indian and Alaska Native Community-Driven and Youth Focused Programs
- Carol Williamson, Blackfeet Tribe of Blackfeet Reservation
Opal Jones, Great Plains Tribal Chairmen's Health Board
Lori Hunter, Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc.
Kendra King Bowes, Miami Environmental & Energy Solutions
Kati Derrick, FYSB, Division of Positive Youth Development - Make it Meaningful: Incorporating Youth Voice & Leadership into Program Planning and Implementation
- Nathaniel Hilliard, Wyman Center, Inc.
Crystal Smith, Wyman Center, Inc. - Make Your Evaluation Data Work For YOU: Leveraging Online Data Collection Systems
- Tessa Johnson, Georgia State University
David Fikis, Georgia State University - Promoting Health Equity within Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Programming
- Chloe McIntosh, RTI International
Kineka Hull, RTI International
Katy Suellentrop, RTI International - Teaching Equity and Social Justice by Implementing Comprehensive Culturally Competent Programming
- Kelvin Walston, Wholistic Stress Control Institute
Tarita Johnson, Wholistic Stress Control Institute
- FYSB Updates
- View the Recording
Kati Derrick, FYSB, Division of Positive Youth Development
MeGan Hill, FYSB, Division of Positive Youth Development
Owen Burns, FYSB, Division of Positive Youth Development -
Concurrent Session 3
- Less stigma, More inclusion: Shifting the narrative to support expectant and parenting youth
- Asari Offiong, Child Trends
Elizabeth Cook, Child Trends
Tatiyana Bell, DC Network for Expectant and Parenting Teens
Caroline Grisworld Short, Generation Hope
Valerie Sedivy, Healthy Teen Network - Meeting Youth Where They Are: Social Media Recruitment and Enrollment Strategies for APP Programs
- Claudia Nuñez-Eddy, Power to Decide
Marisa Cervantes, MyHealthEd, Inc.
Mariah Cowsert, Healthy Teen Network - Opportunities in Youth Development Programming: Viewpoints from U.S. Territory Grant Recipients
- Lisa Unti, ETR
Ricky Richard, FYSB, Division of Positive Youth Development
Christine Miranda, Universidad Central Del Caribe
Dahianira Camacho, Universidad Central Del Caribe
Deborah Rebluud, Palau Ministry of Education
Cathryn Evenoff, Palau Ministry of Education
Kathryn McCutchan, Pacific Youth and Community Development
Jennifer Vicente, WestCare Pacific Inc
Cellini Higa, Guam Dept of Education
Cira Burke, Guam Dept of Education
Jasmin Wenzel, Guam Dept of Education - Reinvigorating our National Strategy to Promote Adolescent Health
- Armin Aflaki, Office of Population Affairs
Jaclyn Ruiz, Office of Population Affairs - Responding to the Trafficking of Children and Youth: Innovations in Protection and Prevention
- Lauren Devine, HHS ACF Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP)
Elizabeth Mitaro, HHS ACF Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) - Structure & Interaction: Reigniting Staff Practices for Program Success
- Nathaniel Hilliard, Wyman Center, Inc.
Crystal Smith, Wyman Center, Inc. - Surveillance Findings, Youth Programs & Resources from CDC's Division of Adolescent & School Health
- Malaika Washington, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Leigh Szucs, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Mike Underwood, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - The Art of the Pivot: Reimagining PREP while Navigating a Pandemic
- Maurice Cole, Cuyahoga County Board of Health
Linda Holmstrand, Ohio University
Shi Ann Gurko, OhioGuidestone
Rebecca Coiner, OhioGuidestone - The success sequence: Research findings on pathways to adulthood and economic self-sufficiency
- Hande Inanc, Mathematica
Ariella Spitzer, Mathematica
Briana Starks, Mathematica - Using the Power of Story Telling to Engage Justice Involved Youth
- John Lewis, Urban Strategies/TELACU
- What About the Guys? Engaging Young Men in Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention
- Juan Carlos Arean, Futures Without Violence
Sunindiya Bhalla, Roca Inc. -
Concurrent Session 4
- Aligning Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) Programming with the Title V Legislation
- Alicia Meckstroth, Mathematica
Lourdes Fernandez, Mathematica - Empowering You for What’s Next: Engaging youth in co-designing a comprehensive sexual health web app
- Jakara Rogers, ETR
Pamela Anderson, ETR - Integrating the We Think Twice Campaign into YOUR APP Programming
- Barri Burrus, RTI International
Chloe McIntosh, RTI International
Denise Dickinson, RTI International
Owen Burns, FYSB Contractor - Lessons Learned from Implementing SRAE and PREP programs at Civic Heart
- Jeffrey Guidry, Guidry & Associates
Kelva Clay, Change Happens
Sheara Jennings, University of Houston
Alaina Kramer, Civic Heart - Let’s Activate! Taking steps to translate research into practice for youth-supporting professionals
- Mindy Scott, Child Trends
Asari Offiong, Child Trends
Sam Beckwith, Child Trends - The Blueprint for Success Starts with Relationships
- Joneen Mackenzie, The Center for Relationship Education
- Uniting to Improve Adolescent Health
- Andra Jungmeyer, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
Mary Greene, Iowa Department of Public Health
Michaela Jennings, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
Tina Palmer, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services - Yes! It’s Time for a Site Monitoring Visit: Tips, Tools, and Strategies for a Successful Visit
- Kineka Hull, RTI International
Cheri Thompson, FYSB, Division of Positive Youth Development -
Poster Session
- (Re-)Connecting with your Roots to Bravely Face the Future
- Cody Ingle, Lost & Found
Gesine Ziebarth, Lost & Found
Opal Jones, Great Plains Tribal Chairmen's Health Board
Denise Brave Heart, STITPPI - Adapting PREP Participant Surveys to Increase Accessibility for Youth with I/DD
- Margaux Cameron, Oregon Health Authority
Lindsay Weaver, Oregon Health Authority
Rhonda Eppelsheimer, Oregon Health & Science University
Morrigan Hunter, Oregon Health & Science University
Kira Norton, Oregon Health & Science University
Lindsay Sauve, Oregon Health & Science University
Angie Stapleton, Oregon Health & Science University - Curve The Urge Shows Positive Outcomes for Minority Youth
- Chloe Nelson, Curators of the University of Missouri St. Louis
- Effectively Implementing School-Based PREP & SRAE Programming: Developing a Unified Team
- Michalea Storey, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
April Jenkins, Springdale Public Schools - Embracing an asset-based approach to implementing and evaluating adolescent sexual health programs
- Jen Manlove, Child Trends
Samantha Ciaravino, Child Trends
Julie Gilbertsen, Child Trends
France Robinson, Latin American Youth Center
Lauren Lapointe, Latin American Youth Center - Making Survey Measures Inclusive of LGBTQ+ Experiences in APP Evaluations
- Elizabeth Cook, Child Trends
Emma Pliskin, Child Trends
Marisa Cervantes, MyHealthEd, Inc.
Riley Steiner, Power to Decide
Jen Manlove, Child Trends
Zabryna Balen, Child Trends - Male Experiences in PREP: Effect on Intended Sexual Behaviors & Understanding Healthy Relationships
- Dawn Carpenter, CPRD/University of Illinois
Gail Tittle, CPRD/Illinois DHS - Plan A: A brief entertainment-ed
- Aaron Plant, Sentient Research
Megan Kumar, Sentient Research - Quality for Teens: a Quality Improvement Package for Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Care
- Kendra Hatfield-Timajchy, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Anna Brittain, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Caryn Bernstein, National Association of Community Health Centers
Jennie McLaurin, National Association of Community Health Centers
Ananya Tadikonda, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Mikayla Bobrow, Cicatelli Associates Inc.
Alice Douglas, Cicatelli Associates Inc.
Stacy Dobreff, Grand Traverse County Health Department
Glorimar Irizarry, Holyoke Health Center, Inc.
Despina Lekakis, Holyoke Health Center, Inc.
Jane Rice, Esq.
Johanna Rizzardini, Holyoke Health Center, Inc.
Annie Skorupa, Community Health Connection
Dee Zuidersma, Munson Medical Center
Howard Smith, PA-C
Richard Wintermute, MD
Riley Steiner, Power to Decide - Reaching Gamers
- Blake Tijerina, The RIDGE Project
- Recovering Student Voice: Passive Parent Consent for Active Student Voice
- Dawn Carpenter, CPRD/University of Illinois
Gail Tittle, CPRD/Illinois DHS - Reigniting Engagement from Young Men in SRAE Programming: Strategies for Success
- Blake Tijerina, The RIDGE Project
- Youth Engagement: Developing Inclusive Survey Questions Using Cognitive Interviews
- Immaculate Apchemengich, AMTC & Associates
Brandon Osborn, AMTC & Associates
Cindy Walker, AMTC & Associates
Angela Turner, AMTC & Associates - YUP!: Using Human Centered Design to Build a Mobile Health Intervention for Young Parents
- Maile Chand, Sentient Research
Divine Justice Hilliard, Sentient Research
Deja Williams, Sentient Research
Aaron Plant, Sentient Research
Megan Kumar, Sentient Research
- CDC Division of Adolescent and School Health Plenary
- View the Recording
Kathleen Ethier, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Closing Plenary
- View the Recording
Laymon Hicks, Top Youth Speaker
Resa Matthew, FYSB, Division of Positive Youth Development