School/county collaboration to prevent pregnancy and disease: The Atlantic County, New Jersey Teen Choice program

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

5201.0: Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 3:42 PM

Abstract #46593

Lisa D. Lieberman, PhD, CHES¹, Megan Wier², Christine Rinki², Pat Maloney³, and Kathleen Bress⁴. (1) Inwood House Research Group, Healthy Concepts, 29 Ardsley Drive, New City, NY 10956, 914 638-1619, llhealth@optonline.net, (2) Inwood House Research Group, 320 East 82nd Street, New York, NY 10028, (3) Director of Teen Choice Programs, Inwood House, 320 East 82nd Street, New York, NY 10028, (4) Buena Regional High School, Atlantic County Teen Choice Program, 125 Weymouth Road, Buena, NJ 08310

This session presents findings from a school-wide, long-term evaluation of a pregnancy and disease prevention program in three Atlantic County, New Jersey high schools. The program is an expansion of TEEN CHOICE, a small group/mental health pregnancy and disease prevention program, which originated in New York City middle and high schools. Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation New Jersey Health Initiatives, the program is a collaboration between Inwood House and Atlantic County government, Family Centers, and public schools. Fall 1999 county-wide Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data are utilized as the study baseline; the YRBS will be re-administered in Fall 2002. In addition, 1,500 students at the intervention schools were surveyed in Spring 2001, and a second school-wide survey will be conducted in Spring 2002.

Baseline YRBS data show behaviors to be similar for the intervention and non-intervention high schools in the county. Subsequent administration of the YRBS will allow for comparison of behavioral changes for intervention and comparison schools. School-wide surveying in the three intervention schools was used to compare students participating in the Teen Choice program with non-participating students. The data suggest strong attitudinal and behavioral outcomes for intervention students in the areas of health service access, adult support, ability to say no to sex, and knowledge of sexual health resources.

The session will discuss implications of preliminary findings for school-based pregnancy and disease prevention programs, notably the advantages of collaborative efforts with county government and community health providers, and the importance of incorporating mental health approaches.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participants in this session will be able to

- discuss preliminary findings from a study of a pregnancy and disease prevention program in three New Jersey public high schools;
- discuss the impact of small therapeutic groups on the school environment and in meeting the needs of students at high risk for pregnancy and STDs;
- describe a unique approach to collaboration between public schools, county government and community health providers in meeting the needs of students at high risk for pregnancy and STDs.

Keywords: School-Based Programs, Teen Pregnancy Prevention

Related Web page: www.inwoodhouse.com

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Inwood House Teen Choice Program
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Independent Research Consultant

Abstinence, Safe Sex, and the Quality of Evidence

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA