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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,[email protected]
AldaSantana,LeadOrganizer:[email protected],LeadOrganizer:[email protected],Fellow:[email protected]
City of Austin Healthy Adolescent Program
