223030 An evaluation of GTO for pregnancy prevention programs

Monday, November 8, 2010

Jeanne A. Saunders, PhD, MSSW, LISW , Social Work, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
After a 14 year decline in the teen birth rate, teen births have begun to increase. Behaviors that put teens at risk for pregnancy also put them at risk for HIV/AIDS and other STIs. It is estimated that teen pregnancy costs taxpayers approximately $9.1 billion annually. Consequently, teen pregnancy remains an important public health concern. Some states have established a statewide organization charged with coordinating and supporting local organizations which implement teen pregnancy prevention programs. Nine state organizations (SOs) received technical assistance and training about Getting to Outcomes (GTO), a model for program development and sustainability. In turn, the SOs worked with local organizations to use this model to develop and sustain their programs. The GTO model, which prescribes ten steps, was originally developed for drug prevention programs and adapted for teen pregnancy prevention programs by the CDC. This presentation will explain the GTO model and present the results of a qualitative study of the usefulness of the GTO model at the local level. Eighteen executive or program directors in local organizations were randomly selected (2 in each state) to participate in an interview that asked about their program, the usefulness of the GTO model in their local context, and their experience using it thus far. Based on the results, implications for capacity building, program development and sustainability, and GTO model development will be discussed.

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
After attending this presentations, participants will be to: 1. Describe the GTO model for teen pregnancy prevention program development and sustainability 2. Identify capacity building strategies for state and local teen pregnancy prevention programs

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Teen Pregnancy Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I have worked in, and conducted research in, this area for 15 years as part of my academic research focus.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.