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

Abstract #62876

Raymond Crisp¹, Marcus Murray², and Donald McDaniels, BA². (1) Ambulatory & Community Health Network, Sengstack Amblatory Care Center, 450 E. 51st St, Chicago, IL 60615, (2) Project Brotherhood: Woodlawn Health Center, 6337 S. Woodlawn, Chicago, IL 60637

PROBLEM: Urban youth are increasingly acquiring the need for healthcare services without the proper understanding of how to negotiate the complex maze the healthcare industry has created, leaving a disenfranchised population confused and abandoned.

HYPOTHESIS: Can early intervention by education and discussion improve understanding of healthcare and how it is delivered? Do our youth have the appropriate understanding to make healthy decisions?

METHODS: Twenty-five (25) students from a Chicago public high school will participate in a five-session group intervention using a visual art project as a vehicle. The students will have group discussions and document their perspectives and recommendations while participating in the art project. Demographic information will be collected on each student and reported. The health discussion will focus on three areas: life skills and self-esteem, reproductive health and violence prevention.

EXPECTED RESULTS: At the completion of the five-session intervention, students are expected have a greater appreciation for making appropriate healthy decisions. Each session will receive a pretest and posttest, students will journal (their sessions) and create a poster presentation from one of the three topics for their school.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will learn:
• to identify methods and strategies that work with engaging young participants in health education,
• the perspectives of this youth cohort and their understanding of healthcare and
• participants will be able to describe the youth cohort that received the intervention.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, African American

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: 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.