The Life Options program for adolescent pregnancy prevention was developed by Michael Carrera (New York). The model focuses not only on sexual behavior, but on the teen participants’ education, job preparation, recreation, health and well-being. Through intensive after-school activities, as well as summer programming, participants are helped to see their futures and opportunities beyond the short-term perspectives that often lead to teen pregnancy. This session presents evaluation findings from one of the nationwide sites testing the effectiveness of this prevention model. The program, located in Des Moines, IA, was school-based, rather than community-based. Using a comparison group to test the program model over a 3-year period (1998-2000), the program was found to have the greatest impact in academic performance and sexual knowledge among participants. Little differences were found between participants and matched subjects on other study measures. The session stresses the value of these findings for public health social workers working with this population and the impact of this program on the biopsychosocial needs of this at-risk population. It also stresses the complexities of offering a social service/health program within a school setting.
Learning Objectives: As a result of attending this session, participants will be able to: 1. Identify the strenghts and limitations of the Life Options Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Model in the context of a school system; 2. Understand the effectiveness of this prevention program based on research findings; and 3. Understand the value of this program to public health social workers working with adolescents at high risk for pregnancies.
Keywords: Adolescent Health, Prevention
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.