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PromisingPracticesforPeer-ledEducationPrograms

City of Austin Healthy Adolescent Program

AustinHealthyAdolescent(AHA)Motivation

• MotivationalStatementAHA’scentersitspracticeontheprovision ofspace,resources andplatformsformarginalizedyouthandyoungadultstoberecognizedfortheexpertiseoftheirlivedexperiencethroughfull engagementinandleadership ofeffortstorealizehealthequity.

AustinHealthyAdolescent(AHA)Mission

Mission§ Provideyouthandcommunitylededucational,visibilityandskillsdevelopmentprogrammingthroughevidenceinformedcurriculumandthecreativearts.

§ Empoweryouthandyoungadultsaspeerhealtheducatorsandhealthequityplanners.

§ Collaborateacrossthecommunitytoimprovetheadolescenthealthinfrastructure

AHAOverview

Goals• Empowered communitieswithgreater educational andwork optionsand

opportunitiesfor itsyouth.• Community-based Youth-Adult Partnerships advising,guiding,buildingand

directing health equity efforts through education, access tocare andcommunitybuilding.

CurriculumParticipantObjectives• Postponement offirstpregnancy untilafter highschoolgraduation• Decrease inHIV/STD

Strategies• Peer toPeer (P2P)Health Education Model• YouthDevelopment, Empowerment, andLeadership• Buildingcommunitypartnershipstowork withyouth

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LearningPromisingPracticesinPeer-ledEducationPrograms

PopularEducation andPraxis• SharedExperienceasKnowledge (Hooks,1994)• ActionandReflectionUponAction (Horton,1997)• Conscientization (Freire,1970)

PositiveYouthDevelopment:– BuildingPositiveAssets,SearchInstitute– Youthasleaders,Readyby21andAdvocatesforYouth– LadderofParticipation(Arnstien,1969)and( Hart,1994)

LearningPromisingPracticesinPeer-ledEducationPrograms

YouthEmpowerment andLeadership– IdentifyingyouthasPeerHealthEducators(PHE)– Trainingyouthonanevidence-basedcurriculum– Youthhaveagencyinprogramimplementation

• Providing practical support inclassroom setting asneeded

Youth- AdultPartnerships– Youthoffervisionandpassion,adultsofferresourcesandmentorship(Zeldin,2013andCamino,2000)

Scaffolding Participation

Arnstein, 1969

TestingPromisingPracticesinPeer-ledEducationPrograms

LivedExperiences– Successes

• PHErecruitedgroupsheldduringschoolortheirlocationofchoice• PHEbecomehealthresourceandapositivepeerinfluenceoncampusandintheircommunities

• AHAstaffandSchoolChampionsbecomeimportantadultmentorstoPHEandparticipants

• PHEhavesocialroleandrealworldresponsibility• Quantitativeandqualitativeevaluation• Realincentiveforyouthinformoffinancialpayment• Collaborativepartnershipsformedbetweenmultipleagencies

– Challenges• Lackofschooladministrativesupport• Afterschoolprogramming• Policiesthatcreatebarrierstotruecomprehensivesexualhealtheducation

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PerspectivesfromPHEs

• Offers the chance to help others

• A chance to learn new skills- like public speaking, facilitating

• A way to have a real positive impact on our peers

P2PAchievements

• Cadreofyouthleaders trained in“MakingProudChoices”curriculumandimplementing curriculum inschools&recreation centers

• Improvements inknowledge, skills,attitudes, &behavioralintention

• Conference presentations• Partnershipswith localnon-profits• Partnershipswithschools• P2PRecruitment Videohttps://vimeo.com/120500648• 600youthreachedwithevidence-based curriculum

Discussion

Q & A

THANKYOU!

PeerHealthEducators:YasminGarcia,AlexandraRamirez

AHAProgramTimEubanks,Directortim.eubanks@austintexas.gov

AldaSantana,LeadOrganizer:alda.santana@austintexas.govJinaSorensen,LeadOrganizer:jina.sorensen@austintexas.govStephanieMcCoy,Fellow:stephanie.mccoy@austintexas.gov

City of Austin Healthy Adolescent Program