thriving in a pandemic - npnconference.org
TRANSCRIPT
Thriving in a PandemicGuam’s Two-Pronged Approach
to Continue Offering Prevention Services to
its At-Risk Youth Population
2021 NPN ConferenceAugust 25, 2021
Buenas yan Hafa Adai!
Samantha TaitanoExecutive Director,
Manelu
Sara Dimla Harrell, MSProject Director,
Guam’s Partnerships for Success Grant
Tim Dela Cruz, PhDExecutive Director,
GALA, Inc.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US!
LEARNING OBJECTIVESRecognize a replicable response to programmatic challenges and ethical dilemma caused by the pandemic
01
Learn how to adapt implementation of prevention programs to adhere to safe guidelines for physical distancing while keeping fidelity to the evidence-based program
02
Explore resources available in the continuum of care to ensure staff confidence and competence in delivering prevention programs
03
Learn about our island home, Guam04 Source: miomio2006, Flickr
GUAMLocated in the Western Pacific in the geographic region known as Micronesia, Guam is well known for its strategic military and economic position between Asia and the North American continent.
Today, Guam has a diverse population that enjoys a rich, multicultural, modern and urban lifestyle. Its ethnic diversity is reflected in the languages spoken at home.
Source: Guampedia, 2018 Guam SEOW report
is where America’s day begins
KEY POPULATION INDICATORS
165,177 (2018 est)Ethnic GroupsChamoru 37%Filipino 26%Chuukese 7%Caucasian 7%
Rank median income 47th of 56 states and territoriesUnemployment rate 5.8%Below poverty 23%Mobile phones in use 181,000Internet users 77% of population
Age StructureMedian age 29 years41% under 25 years
$ 49,263 (2010 est)
Source: 2018 Guam SEOW report, Carlo Carino and Ted Grajeda on Noun Project
an island community empowered and committed to making health decisions for themselves and others
Vision for Guam
Source: Brandon Holm
GUAM’S PARTNERSHIPS FOR SUCCESS
20192015• 10 community partners• 6 evidence-based
programs
2nd PFS grant awarded
2013• Grassroots Engagement• Youth Empowerment• Effective Communication• Strong Leadership• Safe & Healthy Environment
1st PFS grant awarded
2018• School-based curricula• Partnerships with administrators• Champions within the classrooms• School calendar
NATIONALPRIORITY
Alcohol
GUAM SEOW
TobaccoElectronic Nicotine Delivery Systems
(e-cigarettes/vape)
Pacific islander youth,9 – 20 years old
Source: Youth for Youth LIVE! Guam
WHAT ELSE DID WE LEARN?
Since 2013, 1 in 4 HS students are current drinkers
Key staff to screen for early intervention & referrals
Overrep-resentation in student offenses by Micronesians
16-18% start at 13 yo
18% HS students are
current smokers
GDOEInterventions offered to student offenders: BTI(+) and SAIP
Parents, students opt for suspension
Participant limit
WHERE WE WANT TO BE
1. GDOE students receive appropriate services for their alcohol and/or tobacco/nicotine use
2. Minimize recidivism in student offenses
WHERE WE ARE NOW
1. Problematic use among youth
2. High risk, high need populations among GDOE students
3. Champions in the community
4. Prevention skills and resources
+ in-school screening and assessment
+ GDOE capacity in education, brief intervention and referral to cessation
PFS GRANT OBJECTIVES
+ students’ perception of harm
- repeated offenses by addressing risk AND protective factors
OBJECTIVES
- repeated offenses by addressing risk AND protective factors
+ students’ perception of harm
+ GDOE capacity in education, brief intervention and referral to cessation
+ in-school screening and assessment
SYSTEMS-LEVEL STRATEGIES◉ Collaborate with GDOE in identifying individuals
who will facilitate screening/brief intervention for students in the schools (trained in BTI, SBIRT)
◉ Identify a system that will test the effectiveness of providing in-school, community-driven prevention services
OBJECTIVES
- repeated offenses by addressing risk AND protective factors
+ students’ perception of harm
+ GDOE capacity in education, brief intervention and referral to cessation
+ in-school screening and assessment
COMMUNITY-LEVEL STRATEGIESPilot schools to work with community partners to develop and implement:
◉ Universal strategies - classroom outreach
◉ Selected/indicated strategies - students screened with low and moderate-level risk
GENERAL STUDENT POPULATIONreceive universal strategy (classroom workshops)
UNIVERSAL RISK ASSESSMENTSfacilitated by school counselors
LOW/MODERATE RISK STUDENTSreceive selective/indicated strategy (EBP)
2020: GLOBAL CORONAVIRUS
OUTBREAK
COMMUNITY-LEVEL
Manelu GuamGALA, Inc.
Source: Janine, Flickr
Solutions
Mañe’lu is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower and educate children
and families facing adversity to change their lives for the
better.
● Partnerships for Success
○ Selected Strategy - Positive Action
○ Universal Strategy - Brain Power
○ Before school Breakfast Club for 4th
and 5th graders
Challenges● Fear and uncertainty
● Team not prepared to work
from home or to present
virtually.
● Students not prepared for
distance and/or virtual
learning.
● Schools lacking capacity to
work with our program.
Supporting our Team at home
● Equipment
● Online training and resources
● Flexibility
Adapting to community needs
Keeping Kids Connected with Neni News
Providing kid friendly information and
highlighting the different ways kids stay
happy and healthy while at home.
Adapting to the Virtual World
● Localized content creation
○ Updated live action
episodes.
○ Animations to replace
stories meant to be read
out loud.
It’s all about options● In-school breakfast club
● Virtual summer classes
● In-person community classes
Community response
“I like how you are teaching
kids about good self esteem
& good habits.”
“The virtual setting.”About the virtual workshops
“My kids look forward to
their weekly supply kits.”
Lessons Learned
● See change as an
exciting opportunity.
● Listen
● Make it easy
● Laugh it off and try
again.
Substance Use Prevention in Times of COVID
Overview
• Evidence Based Prevention Strategy • Indicated/Selected Strategy: Storytelling for
Empowerment (SFE) workshops• Universal Strategy:
• Impact of COVID Pandemic and restrictions to program
• Reduction of key personnel • Challenges convening stakeholders• Challenges assessing high school youth• Challenges recruiting participants (public high
schools moved online)
• Shifting from community setting to virtual space
Program Modifications• Key personnel
• Workshop Facilitators Contractual basis • Peer educators• Interns
• During initial lockdown: staff time focus on program planning/capacity building• Revising current Action Plans• Learning virtual learning platforms / online social media• Assessing ways to reach intended population• Expanding intended population to include all youth and adults• Building on network of peer educators, their family and friends
• Project activities reflected COVID restrictions• Focus shifted to addressing only universal strategy
• Social marketing campaign• Zoom live workshops on substance use prevention• Pre-recorded SFE workshops
• Incorporating COVID prevention awareness with substance use prevention
• Frequent, bi-weekly technical assistance meetings with PEACE Office, evaluators and subgrantees
Social Marketing Campaign - Vaping
• Sample: 3 ads of 7 posted on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and shared via TikTok, WhatsApp & Snapchat• Ads ran for 3 day rotations for the month
Social Marketing Campaign - Alcohol• Sample: 3 ads of 7 posted on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and shared via TikTok, WhatsApp & Snapchat• Ads ran for 3 day rotations for the month
Virtual Summer Camp 2020
• Pre-recorded activities featuring:• SFE lesson plans• COVID safety activities• Exercise• Games
• Personnel• Interns, peer educators & staff• Contractual: video editor
• Videos posted on YouTube
• Total participants: 14
Virtual Workshops
Virtual Substance Use Prevention Workshop (Summer 2020)
• Workshop Topics• Vaping and Electronic Cigarettes• Tobacco and Tobacco related products• Alcohol• Marijuana
• Workshops complemented social marketing campaign
• Personnel: contractual basis/substance abuse treatment specialist and college interns
• Zoom live, 2 hour workshops
Virtual SFE Workshops (Feb-May 2021)
• SFE curriculum• After school program, 12 lessons over 5 weeks
• Cohort 1: Mondays and Wednesdays• Cohort 2: Thursdays and Fridays
• Zoom and Google Classrooms (Zoom recordings available)• Reading materials/handouts and art supplies delivered to
students via school and/or residence• Contracted facilitators and interns• Participants recruited at-large and via school counselors• Incentivize participation: transfer credit, gift card,
certificates of completion
By the numbers…Social Marketing - Likes/SharesJune 2020 (Vaping): 2,703July 2020 (Underage Drinking): 470August 2020 (Marijuana): 369Sept 2020 (Alcohol/COVID): 724
Virtual Summer Camp 2020Total participants: 14
Substance Use Prevention 2020Total participants: 53
Storytelling for Empowerment 2021Total participants served: 48
Lessons Learn• Capacity Building Challenges
• Network of Peer educators and their families/friends became crucial to program planning/implementation
• Personnel staffing shift to contractual workers• Build technical skills in videography and online teaching methods• Streamlining services
• Flexibility as program survival• Major shifts in Action Plan• Expanding beyond intended population• Adjust to COVID restrictions/lockdown• Creative measures taken• More time to complete activities
• More process evaluation outcomes • Anecdotal evidence • Challenges with obtaining assessment and outcome evaluation data
SYSTEMS-LEVEL
• Lunch Hour with PEACE• Training opportunities for distance
learning skills development• Project Linc • Mental Health champions in GDOE
Source: Janine, Flickr
Approach
5-Step Strategic Prevention Framework
Back to Basics: Guam’s Pillars for Success
WHAT HELPED OUR TEAM
WE MATTER TOO
Thrive in a Pandemic
Shift happens
Source: connnspicuous, Flickr
THANK YOU!
@[email protected]@galaguam
Si yu’os ma’aseSALAMAT SA INYO
CREDITS: Slidesgo, Flaticon, Janine at Flickr