The Optimizing Survey Results: Strengthening Survey Results webinar focused on practical ways to share survey results with key stakeholders such as parents, local business leaders, local service providers, schools, and policymakers to build program support. It also assisted SRAE facilitators to see the importance of clearly communicating key curricular concepts, so student progress toward optimal…
One of the most impactful decisions made by a Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) program director is who will deliver the program curriculum to program participants. This How to Interview Candidates for the SRAE Facilitator Role tip sheet provides strategies to assist you in selecting the best candidate for your SRAE facilitator, determining the most critical qualities and prior experience of…
On this episode of the Youth Voices video series, youth share their experiences and thoughts about creating engaging and inclusive environments and accommodating diverse learning styles in APP programming. Facilitators of APP programming can use this video to gain insights on how to create a classroom environment that makes youth feel safe to participate fully in class discussions. It includes…
Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) 101 provides definitions and foundational history behind our nation’s efforts to recognize the physical and emotional risks associated with non-marital sexual activity. Module 1 introduces the foundations of SRAE, including the history and theories underlying the policy and practice of sexual risk avoidance (formerly called abstinence education). Module 2…
This Topical Training examines new research to help Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) programs create more effective pathways to empower youth to overcome individual and societal barriers to healthy decision-making. Dr. Philip Hong shares how learning about the psychosocial development of youth relative to culture, environment, trauma, and their lived experiences can help them understand…
Your efforts as an SRAE grantee can influence individual, family, and community health and well-being through the distribution and visibility of participant survey results from your SRAE program.
This tip sheet explores the importance of communicating with stakeholders the specific survey results and overall outcome of your local Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) program and provides…
It is incredibly important for youth to know how to protect themselves from contracting sexually transmitted infections.
This infographic is a resource you can share directly with the youth you serve. It uses youth-friendly language and graphics to teach youth what STIs are, what puts them at risk for getting an STI, how to protect themselves, how to get tested for STIs, and what to do if…
Adolescent development extends beyond the physiological changes that occur in adolescence. It also encompasses cognitive, emotional, social, sexual, identity formation, and spiritual change and growth. Providing youth with the right developmental skills and competencies can help them overcome the challenges they encounter during the adolescent period. This webinar provides an overview of broad…
FYSB’s new video in the Youth Voices series, PREP Matters: Teens Speak Out on the Value of the Personal Responsibility Education Program, underscores the critical importance of PREP programming for youth. In this video, youth share their thoughts about the importance of early and regular educational experiences designed to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. They discuss the…
Visit the NTPP Month Digital Toolkit for information, graphics, and social media content you—and the teens you serve—can use to help spread the word about teen pregnancy prevention.
NTPP Month Digital Toolkit
This brief summarizes key characteristics of youth participants in programs funded through the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP), which aims to reduce teen pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and associated risk behaviors. The research questions addressed in the brief include:
Whom did PREP programs serve?
Where did PREP implement programming for youth?
How did youth…
This tip sheet describes types of parent involvement and provides concrete examples for how adolescent pregnancy prevention (APP) program providers can engage parents.
This brief summarizes key characteristics of programs funded through the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP), which aims to reduce teen pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and associated risk behaviors. The research questions addressed in the brief include:
How many youth participated in the PREP program?
How many providers and facilitators delivered PREP programming to…
In episode one, "Building and Strengthening Partnerships,"" Elevate Youth Programming sat down with Debbie Herget and Edna Wallace with RTI International's Education and Workforce Development (EWD) Division to discuss strengthening partnerships with schools. Partnering with schools is a practical approach to reaching a large number of youth with quality programming. In fact, schools are the most…
In episode two, “Navigating the New Norm,” Elevate Youth Programming sat down with Kelly Gainor from ETR to discuss engaging students, implementing adaptations with fidelity, and maximizing time with participants in a virtual setting. Although pandemic restrictions are lifting, many organizations find themselves continuing to navigate fully remote or hybrid learning environments. Some have even…
Because the brain is still developing executive functioning skills around decision-making and judgment, adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of substances, thus increasing their likelihood of engaging in risky sexual behaviors. FYSB’s new infographic, Substance Use and Sexual Risk-Taking: Connecting the Dots for Adolescent Health Professionals, provides insights into…
Part 2 of Beyond Curriculum Training focuses on increasing engagement during content delivery through skills and strategies to foster interactive communication for comprehensive learning.
This session was part of the FYSB SRAE Virtual Topical Training presented by Public Strategies on September 15-17, 2020.
This webinar focused on methods and tools to develop a brand identity that helps support Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) grantees in addressing misinformation. Specific topics covered include: the relevance of a brand in promoting an accurate view of program content and goals; and the components of brand identity and methods to develop, implement, and share a program’s brand…
Part 1 of Beyond Curriculum Trainings provides facilitators with relevant information and activities to create an engaging learning environment and incoporates skills-based learning with an emphasis on providing a positive learning environment in the classroom.
This session was part of the FYSB SRAE Virtual Topical Training presented by Public Strategies on September 15-17, 2020.
Parents and other caregivers play critical roles in supporting teens’ mental health. This tip sheet provides recommendations for parents and caregivers on addressing youth mental health and tips for helping youth become resilient and thrive. It identifies warning signs that a teen might be experiencing challenges with mental health, provides tips on starting and conducting conversations with…
On March 23, 2023, SRAE grantees had an opportunity to learn how teen dating violence (TDV) affects the physical, mental, and sexual health of youth and how it impedes their overall well-being. This session introduced foundational knowledge and concepts around language, prevalence, and complex dynamics of TDV. The presenters expanded the session to include the impact of the digital world (e.g.,…
This interactive webinar focuses on what program fidelity and adaptation means in an ever changing educational landscape. Participants receive background information on fidelity and adaptations and why it is important to remain flexible while still following certain fidelity guidelines. Participants learn more about core components, core implementation, and core pedagogy and how to preserve those…
This session discusses the facilitator’s need to have a clear understanding of SRAE’s required topics in the context of the Optimal Health Model, along with the needed passion and dedication to meet youth where they are through the practical skills of building positive student and teacher relationships, drawing professional boundaries and developing confidence in unique presentation styles.…
This interactive webinar offered an opportunity for Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) grantees to learn more about teaching program participants with intellectual or development disabilities (I/DDs). Sexual and reproductive health is an important aspect of human development, but discussions with adolescents with I/DD on this topic are often challenging for youth service providers…
This social media toolkit provides tips and strategies for adolescent pregnancy prevention grantees and their partners to increase the visibility and impact of their efforts. The toolkit has been updated to reflect new trends in social media use among adolescents since 2017. By following the steps outlined in the “roadmap,” you will be able to research, plan, and implement your own social media…
Peer to peer sex trafficking among youth can happen in a variety of situations. These infographics help youth and adults learn about what peer to peer trafficking looks like and what they can do to help stop it. Share these infographics online. You can also print the infographics to display, but make sure to use legal or larger-sized paper so the text is legible. We offer both English…
In this episode, “Sustainability,” Elevate Youth Programming sat down with Drs. Asari Offiong and Mindy Scott from Child Trends to discuss steps program staff can take to plan for sustainability. Although there is no uniform definition of sustainability, discussions of sustainability often focus on the ability to maintain an intervention or its outcomes after some initial period. Defining…
In this episode, “Trauma-informed care: Resilience,” Elevate Youth Programming sat down with Drs. Vicki Johnson-Lawrence and Lissette Saavedra from RTI International to discuss the impact of internal and external factors on trauma-informed approaches and youth resilience. APP programs provide youth with timely, evidenced-based information sexual health education and Adulthood Preparation Subjects…
In this episode, “Addressing Controversy in Communities,” Elevate Youth Programming sat down with Lashantynia Clayton (dhs.ga.gov | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram), Ginger Harris (tn.gov/dcs | Facebook | Twitter), and Zoa P. Schescke (CoSHI) to discuss youth engagement and community misinformation. Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (APP) provides youth with timely, evidenced-based information…
In this episode, “Navigating Staff Turnover,” Elevate Youth Programming sat down with Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (APP) grantees Melissa Ballard and Jill Gwilt from Mission West Virginia’s Teaching Health Instead of Nagging Kids (THINK) program to discuss program management and staff retention. Building a team of strong, consistent, youth-centered staff is essential to program implementation…
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recently released a resource guide entitled, Keeping Youth Drug Free. This important guide was primarily written for parents and youth care providers. In addition to underscoring the long-term effects of early alcohol and illicit drug use, the document also offers tips for preventing substance use disorders among…
Healthy parent–teen communication and a close connection between teens and their parents, guardians, and other caregivers promote abstinence, contraceptive use, condom use, and other behaviors to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This tip sheet will help grantees and other youth-serving providers understand the impact of parenting styles on the development and behavior…
Teaching adolescents how to form safe and healthy relationships is a key part of helping them refrain from engaging in risk-taking behaviors as well as improving their reproductive health outcomes and emotional and social wellbeing. Designed to supplement your organization’s programming with middle and high school youth, this engaging lesson will provide youth with information and skills to…
This guide to trauma-informed programming is for facilitators who deliver school- and community-based or one-on-one programs to young people. It includes user-friendly checklists that facilitators can use before, during, and after program delivery to ensure that they are using a trauma-informed approach.
The guide is accompanied by a handout that provides a list of national resources for youth…
This Family Formation tip sheet is developed through the lens of the research on societal benefits for children who are raised by both biological parents within a healthy and committed marriage, and benefits for the community when the institution of marriage is communicated in a positive manner. Research presented supports the goal of the SRAE program and its requirements.
In this session, grantees share innovative strategies on how youth have been engaged in their cultural context and empowered through personal agency toward healthy decision-making.
Welcome and Introductions and Opening Remarks for the SRAE TTA Virtual Topical Training, February 23-25, 2021.
Setting the Stage for Youth Thriving: Harvard's Human Flourishing Program highlights empirical research across multiple social science and medical disciplines that inform human flourishing. It provides practical guidance for the integration of important multidisciplinary findings that…
In this webinar, the Family & Youth Services Bureau provided a detailed presentation of how they have been successful in increasing optimal health messaging for youth through a multi-faceted digital media campaign, along with tools and resources for youth-serving providers and caregivers. The Office of Planning, Research & Evaluation shares a brief overview of collaborative efforts…
Many youth victims of human trafficking come into contact with health care and social service professionals and remain unidentified. Youth and young adult victims of trafficking can present a wide range of physical and psychological health issues and social service needs. This webinar training aims to educate social service providers and health care professionals on how to identify, treat, and…
To facilitate effective implementation of a Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) program, it is crucial to assess how implementation will occur in the community, school, or other settings. This tip sheet provides steps to researching the needs of the target population(s), investigating existing programs, and learning the specific concerns of the institutions and/or agencies involved, to help…
The Science of Hope and Its Application to SRAE Programs
This Topical Training focuses on the Science of Hope and explores the power of hope for youth as a protective factor in overcoming Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and as a motivating factor for personal and future success. Various aspects of the topic are covered throughout the three-day training, allowing grantees to better…
This interactive webinar focused on the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) legislative requirements, including the Adulthood Preparation Subjects (APS). Participants had an opportunity to review the legislative requirements and learn about available tools and resources that can ensure their program is compliant.
The handout, Resources to Support Implementation of PREP Legislative…
In episode four, "This is a Safe Space: Trauma-Informed Care," Elevate Youth Programming sat down with Drs. Hannah Lantos and Brandon Stratford from Child Trend to discuss creating trauma-informed spaces that are safe and supportive for all young people. It is especially important for practitioners to think about how their organization and program implementation can be trauma-informed. A trauma-…
Roberta’s House is a community-based non-profit out of Baltimore, Maryland that has provided bereavement support programs to the city since its first free bereavement program in 1982 when it was operating as March Funeral Homes. In this presentation, presenters Veronica Land-Davis and Annette R. March-Grier pulled from their extensive knowledge and expertise to help grantees better understand the…
Next to infancy, early adolescence is the most dynamic period for brain development—also known as a “window of opportunity”—making this an ideal time for youth to gain and maintain new skills. This infographic provides insights into why adolescents are prone to seek out novel experiences and excitement, especially in the presence of peers; how emotional context plays a role in the way adolescents…
This webinar explored strategies for effectively working with male youth in adolescent pregnancy prevention programs. Héctor Sánchez-Flores, executive director of the National Compadres Network (NCN), discussed strategies and innovative ways to recruit and engage young men in programs to support healthy futures of male youth.
This brief summarizes key characteristics of programs funded through the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) that reported at least half of the youth they served were in foster care. The research questions addressed in the brief include:
Where are programs that primarily served youth in foster care implemented?
What are demographic and behavioral characteristics of youth in…
In Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention and other youth-serving programs, peer mentoring can be used to improve outcomes for the youth served. This tip sheet provides an overview of the benefit of peer mentoring programs along with considerations for how grantees might incorporate a peer mentoring program into their existing programming.
Adopting prevention strategies that address one or more risky behaviors as a part of your APP program can help youth abstain from or delay early sexual initiation. One such strategy is a social norms approach, an evidence‒based prevention strategy. This tip sheet presents information about a social norms approach as well as examples of how APP grantees might consider using such an approach.
Learn how to use logic models as a programming tool, a tool to inform continuous quality improvement, an evaluation tool, and more.