National Education Association
Health Information Network – July 1997
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Three New Programs that Work!
The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention Division of Adolescent and School Health’s (CDC-DASH)
Research to Classroom project seeks out curricula that have credible evidence
of reducing health risk behaviors among youth. Known as “Programs
That Work!” (PTWs), four HIV prevention curricula and two tobacco
use prevention curricula have been evaluated and found to reduce health
risk behaviors.
The following curricula
have been identified as showing evidence of reducing sexual risk behaviors
for HIV and other STDs and unintended pregnancies:
| Be Proud! Be Responsible! |
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| Get Real About AIDS, high school level, 2nd edition |
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| Reducing the Risk |
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| Becoming a Responsible Teen (B.A.R.T.) |
Becoming a Responsible
Teen (B.A.R.T), the newest HIV prevention “Program That Works,”
is a curriculum designed for African American adolescents aged 14-18.
B.A.R.T. presents accurate information about HIV and AIDS, including
modes of transmission and prevention. The program enables participants
to clarify their own values about sexual decisions and pressures. Participants
also learn correct condom use skills, assertive communications, refusal
skills, problem solving, and risk-reduction. Further, participants learn
how they can become messengers and peer educators in their own communities
– to “spread the word” and share information and strategies
they have learned.
eight session curriculum consists of a guide for leaders, and participant
handouts. Participants meet once a week for one-and-a-half to two hours.
Males and females are assigned to separate groups that focus on gender-specific
skills development and knowledge needs. For each group, two co-leaders
use a variety of training methods – interactive group discussions, role
plays, culturally appropriate videos, and first-hand interaction with
HIV-positive people in the community.
In 1997, DASH extended
the Research to Classroom project to identify the following curricula
that show evidence of reducing tobacco use among adolescents:
| Life Skills Training |
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| Project Towards No Tobacco Use (Project TNT) |
Life Skills Training
targets students in grades six through nine. The program should begin
in the 6th or 7th grade with booster sessions in subsequent grades. Students
gain the knowledge and skills to resist peer and media pressure to smoke,
drink or use drugs. The program also enables students to develop a positive
self-image, manage anxiety, build healthy relationships, and cope with
challenges of adolescent life.
booster sessions in Year 2 and five in Year 3 consists of a Teacher’s
Manual, a Student Guide, and an audio cassette tape. A two-day training
workshop is a available for teachers, counselors, administrators, community
leaders, and health professionals who work with adolescents. Participants
learn prevention-related instruction and demonstration techniques that
are used in the curriculum. Additionally, the workshop focuses on refining
coaching and facilitating skills, the use of behavior rehearsal, and general
interactive skills.
curriculum, Project Towards No Tobacco Use (Project TNT), is designed
for use in the 7th grade and helps students reduce their initiation or
regular use of tobacco products. The program provides information about
tobacco addiction and disease, the consequences of using tobacco, and
the prevalence of tobacco use among adolescents. Students also demonstrate
skills including active listening, effective communication, self-esteem
building, and tobacco use-specific cognitive coping skills.
to occur over a two-week period and the two lesson booster was developed
to be taught one year after the core lessons. Activities include games,
videos, role-plays, large and small group discussion, used of student
worksheets, homework assignments, advocate letter writing and a videotaping
project.
For more information on “Becoming A Responsible Teen,” contact
The National Training Partnership at EDC, (617) 969-7100.
other HIV prevention “Programs that Work!,” call the NEA Health
Information Network’s hotline at (800) 718-8387 and ask for the “What
Works?” document, or order online.
for trainings on Life Skills Training, contact Princeton Health Press
at (609) 921-0540.
No Tobacco Use, contact Sande Craig at USC, (213) 342-2586.
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