| Teen Outreach Project (TOP) |
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Science and Success, Second Edition: Sex Education and Other Programs that Work to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections Full Study Report [HTML] [PDF] Program Components
For Use With
Evaluation Methodology
Evaluation Findings
First Replication Evaluation Methodology (1991-1995) & Findings
Second Replication Evaluation Methodology (1996-2000) & Findings
Evaluators' comments: One of the more striking features of the Teen Outreach Program is that it does not explicitly focus upon the problem behaviors it seeks to prevent but rather seeks to enhance participants' competence in decision making, in interacting with peers and adults, and in recognizing and handling their own emotions. Particularly in the field of teen pregnancy prevention, this focus has important practical implications, because it means the program may be politically acceptable in communities where programs that explicitly focus upon sexual behavior may not be feasible to implement. Evaluators' comments: The most striking finding was that Teen Outreach appeared most effective as a prevention program with youths who were most at-risk of the specific type of problem behaviors being assessed. The program had the greatest impact in reducing future pregnancies among the group at highest risk of such pregnancies (those who have already given birth to a child). For this group, the likelihood of an additional pregnancy was less than one-fifth as large in the Teen Outreach group as in the comparison group, even after accounting for other background factors that may have also affected pregnancy rates. For academic failure, Teen Outreach demonstrated greater efficacy for youths who had been previously suspended than for those who had not. The program was also found to be more effective for members of racial ethnic minority groups, who were also at greater risk for academic difficulty in this study. Program DescriptionThe Teen Outreach Program is a program for high school-aged students, consisting of three interrelated components: supervised community service, classroom discussion of service experiences, and classroom discussion and activities related to key social and developmental tasks of adolescence. In class, participants work in small groups with a facilitator or mentor. The groups discuss:
Service learning projects take students into their communities, creating a combination of education and community service that is intended to empower young people to succeed. In keeping with the program's broad developmental focus, the program places little direct emphasis upon its two target behaviors: 1) preventing pregnancy and 2) preventing school dropout. Sex education materials constitute only 10 to 15 percent of the overall curriculum and are incorporated within the general program emphasis on making good decisions about life options. Trained facilitators, usually teachers or guidance counselors, lead the classroom discussions, which also incorporate opportunities for youth to reflect on their volunteer activities in the community and to ratify the meaning of these activities for their own lives. Teen Outreach Program is based on the "helper-therapy" principle and the theory of empowerment.[25,26,27] Evaluation MethodologyHigh school students (n=1,487) were randomly assigned to either an intervention or comparison group in each of 30 schools across the United States. Although programs varied widely, all involved both classroom and volunteer activities. Participating and comparison youth were in grades seven through 12, most in grades nine or 10. Over 70 percent of intervention participants were female; 67 percent of comparison youth were female. Among all youth, about one-third were black, about 50 percent were white, less than 10 percent were Hispanic. Program effects were assessed by students' self-reports of pregnancy or pregnancy involvement, course failure, and suspension at baseline and nine months later at program exit.[25] At entry, nearly 54 percent of intervention participants and 44 percent of comparison youth reported course failure in the prior year. Rates of suspension in the prior year were also relatively high (22 and 17 percent, respectively). About five percent in each group reported a previous pregnancy. Because each problem behavior had a low base rate, problem behaviors were combined into an overall problem behavior syndrome scale.[25] Long-Term FindingsThe evaluation did not provide information about specific knowledge, attitudes, or behavior changes. Rather, the evaluation focused on specific health and academic indicators.[25] First Replication Evaluation Methodology (1991-1995)Teen Outreach Program was re-evaluated, using data collected during 1991-1995 at 25 sites nationwide. Students (n=695) were randomly assigned to either the Teen Outreach Program or the control condition, either at the individual level or at the classroom level. Participants and control youth were in grades nine through 12; 69 percent were in ninth or 10th grade. Average age of intervention participants was 15.8; that of control youth, 15.9. Less than 85 percent were female. About 67 percent were black. Students were surveyed regarding school suspension, course failure, and pregnancy at pretest and nine months later, at the program's end.[26] First Replication OutcomesSecond Replication, Evaluation Methodology (1996-2000)Another evaluation of Teen Outreach Program (conducted in 1996-2000) was designed to assess the program's impact on youth at highest risk for teen pregnancy and school dropout. Data were collected from 3,277 participants and comparison youth at 60 sites nationwide. Youth's average age was 15.9 to 16.0; youth were in ninth through 12th grade; and about three-quarters were male. About 45 percent were black. Nearly 37 percent were white. Nearly 13 percent Hispanic. Once again, youth were surveyed at baseline and at program exit, nine months later.[27] Second Replication OutcomesFor More Information or to Order, ContactClaire L. Wyneken
* High risk youth are defined in this program as youth with a history of class failure, school dropout, school suspension, or involvement in pregnancy. |