269083 Plain Talk: An innovative strategy for improving adolescent reproductive health outcomes

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Doris Spears, MS , Management Services, Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
Ernie Peacock, MA , Management Services, Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
Tammi Fleming, MPH, CHES , Management Services, Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
In 2010 Public Health Management Corporation received a five-year federal demonstration and evaluation grant for Plain Talk Philadelphia. This project is being implemented in two housing developments located in North Philadelphia.

Plain Talk is a community-based initiative designed to address adolescent reproductive health (ARH)outcomes by; 1)increasing the knowledge of adults and teens in the community about ARH issues, 2)increase the quality and quantity of adult/teen communication about sex, sexuality, and responsible decision-making, and 3) increase the use of safer sex behaviors by youth, including delaying sexual initiation and increasing the consistent use of contraceptive methods by sexually active youth. The five core components of Plain Talk are:

Positive Youth Development – a life planning education curriculum and leadership development component for youth.

Home Health Parties – two education and skills building session for adults/parents.

Walkers/Talkers – the use of community health workers to build and sustain core group of residents in program strategy.

100 Families- outreach strategy design to saturate community with culturally-sensitive and relevant messages.

ARH Access – strategic partnerships with existing providers to improve and increase access to age-appropriate and culturally sensitive ARH services.

This presentation will focus on results of the first two years of this PREIS project. Specifically, we will share the outcomes of the planning and piloting phase of Year 1 and results of the 1st year of implementation, with an emphasis on outputs of the 1st year of implementation of the core component implementation.

Learning Areas:
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Program planning
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
1. Assess the need of a comprehensive approach to addressing adolescent reproductive health outcomes. 2. Analyze the process used for planning and piloting of the Plain Talk model for a federal demonstration and evaluation project. 3. List and discuss the five core components of the Plain Talk model and initial program outputs. 4. Demonstrate a clear connection between the programs theory of change and anticipated outcomes.

Keywords: Prevention, Adolescent Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Doris A. Spears is the Plain Talk Philadelphia Program Coordinator at Public Health Management Corporation. She has been with Plain Talk since October of 2008 and in her current position she is responsible for the development, implementation, and oversight of the positive youth development curriculum and youth activist component of the program. She holds an undergraduate degree in Human Behavior and Development and a graduate degree in Human Services Management from Drexel University.
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.

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