The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #38535

Reba D. Meigs, BS¹, Jeanette I. Candelaria, MPH¹, and John P. Elder, PhD². (1) Center for Behavioral and Community Health Studies, San Diego State University Foundation - Project FUERTE, 9245 Sky Park Court, Ste 221, San Diego, CA 92123, (619) 594-2424, rebameigs@yahoo.com, (2) Center for Behavioral and Community Health Studies, San Diego State University, 9245 Sky Park Court, Ste. 221, San Diego, CA 92123

Project FUERTE builds on the Latin American tradition of community health advisors, and the importance of family. Middle school students (MSSs) and their families are recruited and paired with trained high school advisors (HSAs), who teach them about the dangers of tobacco and ways to prevent peer and other pressures to smoke. A total of 60 families have been recruited to participate. Thirty have been randomly paired with HSAs. The median age for middle school students is 13 and 50% (30) are male. Their parents' median age is 38 and 93%(56) are female, with 68% (41) of parents reporting they are married; 13% (8) living with a partner, and 6% (4) having never married. Ten percent (6) of the MSSs had ever tried or experimented with cigarettes; 36%(22) indicated they had a parent/guardian who smokes cigarettes; and 26% (16), a parent/guardian living in the same household who smoke cigarettes. Sixty-five percent (39) of MSSs indicated that smoking is completely banned in their home. Families have completed baseline measures and those paired with HSAs have started intervention lessons. Baseline instruments measure demographics, smoking behaviors and accessibility, family and peer support, communication, and a number of other psychosocial characteristics. The intervention includes 6 lessons and 12 booster contacts. This paper will describe logistical difficulties involved in implementing the intervention, tobacco use by family participants, and provide initial results from post measures for families who have completed the intervention lessons.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• List the three levels of training in Project FUERTE
• Describe at least 3 logistical issues related to implementation of a program by minor high school-aged students

Keywords: Adolescents, Substance Abuse Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.