NCJ Number
224813
Date Published
September 2005
Length
137 pages
Annotation
This report presents the findings and recommendations of a panel of experts created by the Federal Office of Adolescent Pregnancy Programs (OAPP) in order to identify successful approaches to youth development (YD) that address the sexual and reproductive needs of adolescents.
Abstract
A literature review on the effectiveness of YD strategies in helping to prevent adolescent premarital sexual activity and pregnancy found that four social domains are important in interventions that delay first sex and/or sexual risk-takings. These are the strengthening of the parent-child relationship, positive emotional development, school attachment and success, and positive peer association. A review of year-end reports and evaluation reports for 45 of approximately 60 Adolescent Family Life (AFL) OAPP grantees focused on whether or not 16 positive YD objectives derived from the literature were being achieved. These include the promotion of bonds with prosocial institutions, including parents/family members; the promotion of social, emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and moral competence; the fostering of a vision of positive futures; and the enhancement of prosocial norms. The most commonly targeted YD objectives were promoting school/community bonding and parent/child communication and bonding; fostering resilience; fostering self-efficacy; and fostering cognitive competencies. Grantees used two primary approaches in delivering abstinence and YD messages, i.e., curriculum-based activities and enrichment activities. Based on study findings, this report recommends how OAPP might strengthen its evaluation activities. The recommendations are divided into three categories: strengthening the usefulness of year-end reports, the usefulness of individual program evaluations, and the usefulness of cross-program evaluations. 48 references and appended YD impacts on teens’ sexual behavior, YD impacts on the antecedents of first sex, document review protocol, coding YD objectives, summary of document reviews, and suggested annual report outline