Keeping it Real Do The Right Thing Kimberly

Keeping it Real “Do The Right Thing” Kimberly R. Alston MA, HSM Jay Whitmore MSW Angela Rhodes BSW Palmetto Healthy Start/Palmetto Health Columbia, South Carolina

A Little about Palmetto Healthy Start • Palmetto Healthy Start (PHS) is a program funded by Health Resources and Services Administration since 1997 • The goal of PHS is to reduce infant mortality • PHS provides services to low-income pregnant women, infants and their families in Richland Fairfield counties in South Carolina • Among PHS participants, approximately 95% are African American and Hispanic women • Education is one of core services of PHS

Why have a Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program?

Teen Pregnancy Rates in South Carolina • Every 55 minutes, a South Carolina teen gets pregnant. • South Carolina has one of the highest teen birth rates in the nation among 15 -17 year old girls. • Approximately 1 of every 7 sexually active teen male age 1519 report they have gotten someone pregnant. • 56% of SC high school students report they have had sexual intercourse; 71% by senior year. Source: SC Campaign To Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 2005 Fact Sheet

At-Risk Teens Are More Likely to: • • Drop out of high school Have a difficult time securing well paying jobs Depend on the welfare system Have children before they are ready, often with health problems, and receive less health care • Have poor self-esteem and rely on others to affirm them (At-risk, in reference to youth, is a circumstance, influence, or behavior that mitigates against a young person’s growing up with the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical ability to be a well-adapted adult. )

PHS Health Education Programs • Childbirth Education, Baby Basics and CPR • Repeat Teen Pregnancy Prevention (Real Talk) • Male Involvement (Boys to Men) • Teen Outreach Program • Home Visitation • Mentoring

Goals To enhance, motivate and impact the lives of teens in the target community by providing health education, referrals and coordination of services in the church, school and community.

Teen Pregnancy Prevention Education • Education for girls and boys – Real Talk: for girls age 10 -19 – Boys to Men: for boys age 10 -19 • Conducted weekly and bi-weekly. • Topics: conflict resolution, goal setting, valuable life skills, positive self image • Format of education: role play, discussions, community services, guest speakers, field trips and innovative games/activities • Grounds rules are established on first day of sessions • Pre- and post-tests are implemented for each session

Key Elements • • Man Power Comfortable Facilities Time/Flexibility Funding Group Affirmation Ground Rules Welcoming Environment

Strategies • Encourages participants to: • Engage in dialogue with mentors • Demonstrate that there are caring adults who want to support their achievement and success • Orientate themselves with various issues, vocations and professionals • Receive a degree of motivation toward excellence in school and their community • Help foster good health • Increase self-esteem • Deter teen pregnancy

Recruitment • Participants recruited from: – Schools – Teen Centers – Parks and Recreation – Churches – Word of mouth referrals – Parents – Hearing Officers

Utilize Curriculum-based Programs • • Healthy Start Male Involvement Partners for Fragile Families Teen Outreach Program (TOP) curriculum Making a Difference curriculum (abstinence based) • Making Proud Choices curriculum (STI and Pregnancy Prevention)

Facilitators • A Community Advocate: – – – – – Facilitates the groups Coordinates and establishes meeting sites Assesses group needs Conducts sessions/coordinates presenters Coordinates community activities Coordinates refreshments Recruits participants Mentors participants Coordinates meetings with providers

Use What You Have!

Partners • Palmetto Health Teen Center • The S. C. Sisters of Charity Initiative • The S. C. Fatherhood Practitioners Network • Local Schools and Universities • Parks and Recreation • Community Groups and Organizations • Teen Health Center

Additional Topics were chosen based on survey results during initial development: • Relationship Building: – with friends, family, teachers, children, significant other, etc. • • • Stress Management Goal Setting/Planning - Careers Building Self-Esteem and Life Skills Conflict Resolution Self Imaging

Barriers • Continuous participation in the program for the entire series • School administrative staff buy-in • Establishing hours for sessions during school curriculum • Recruitment and lack of comfortable environment for sessions held in the community groups

THE END RESULT!

Outcomes: Real Talk • Pregnancy prevention – 624 participants age 17 and under – 32 sessions • Repeat pregnancy prevention – 517 participants – 53 sessions • Pre- and post-tests showed that participants' knowledge increased through the education.

Outcomes: Boys to Men • 65 sessions • On average, 10 participants per session • Over 150 participants have graduated from high school • Only one became a father before completing high school • Students have entered military, college, trade schools or found employment

Collaboration Developing Relationships is the key!

HOW TO CONTACT US Kimberly R. Alston Director Angela Rhodes and Jay Whitmore Community Advocates Palmetto Health - Palmetto Healthy Start 223 Stoneridge Drive, Suite B Columbia, South Carolina 29210 (803) 296 -3780

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS

Thank You!