The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #61684

Marcus Murray¹, Angela M. Murray, JD², Raymond Crisp³, Donald McDaniels, BA¹, and Bonnie Pete Thomas, MD¹. (1) Project Brotherhood: Woodlawn Health Center, 6337 S. Woodlawn, Chicago, IL 60637, 312.747.7705, Jazzroots@aol.com, (2) Common Ground Foundation, 6932 S. Oglesby, Chicago, IL 60649, (3) Ambulatory & Community Health Network, Sengstack Health Center, 450 E. 51st St, Chicago, IL 60615

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), controversial lyrics with explicit reference to sex, drugs, and violence convey potentially harmful health messages to younger audiences. Such lyrics are of special concern in today's environment, which poses unprecedented threats to the health and well being of adolescents. Teen pregnancy, drug use and abuse, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases have all become part of the landscape of everyday life for teenagers in America. Action "Redirecting Youth Toward Righteousness" is a ten-session course developed and co-sponsored by the Project Brotherhood Program and the Common Ground Foundation in Chicago, Illinois. It was designed to address the needs of youth by offering information and alternative perspectives to decrease the potential negative impact of music lyrics and videos. Medical care and additional health education are provided for course participants. The target population entails young men and women of color, ages 15-21 who access services at two local health centers of the Ambulatory and Community Health Network of Cook County: Woodlawn Health Center and Englewood Health Center. Conclusion An evaluation report will be compiled demonstrating the impact of this course for the participants. The following evaluation methods will be used: pre and post test questionnaires to measure changes in knowledge gained; evaluation surveys to inform course improvements; and process evaluation of how the course was organized and implemented, including participant recruitment and retention processes.

Learning Objectives:

Learning Objectives At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• understand concepts of Hip-Hop culture and its impact on urban youth;
• identify various methods of teaching youth about healthy decision-making;
• describe characteristics of the participants in the ten session course; and
• describe perceptions, attitudes, and knowledge base of urban youth and their views on Hip-Hop culture.

Keywords: Adolescents, African American

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: PROJECT BROTHERHOOD WOODLAWN HEALTH CENTER AMBULATORY & COMMUNITY HEALTH NETWORK COOK COUNTY BUREAU OF HEALTH SERVICES
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.