The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #42919

Lynn Paige Nestor, RN, MSN, CS¹, Timothy Maple, BA¹, and Kathleen O'Connor, MPH². (1) Steppin' Up, Movin' On, Inc., 5808 River Drive, Lorton, VA 22079, 703-339-0225, LNestor@erols.com, (2) Consultant, 12428 Stafford Lane, Bowie, MD 20715

Steppin’ Up, Movin’ On (SUMO) is a program that targets one of the most at-risk and hardly-reached populations - incarcerated adolescents and kids most at-risk for incarceration. J. Nesmith, L. Klerman, M. Kim and R. Feinstein (1997) found that behaviors of incarcerated adolescent males, in particular, include “early sexual experience, multiple sexual partners, inconsistent contraceptive use, and drug use that increases their risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and early fatherhood”(p.198). This program, funded in part by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Office of Family Planning, is an initiative that endeavors to assist these kids in developing the skills to make healthy and responsible decisions as well as to seek health care services. The program itself is unique in that it takes the key components of male-oriented reproductive health and family planning models and integrates them into a custodial juvenile environment. A twelve session curriculum entitled Steppin’ Up, Movin’ On was developed using the results of focus groups (made up of incarcerated adolescents from the District of Columbia) to ensure that the program reflects the unique needs of this population. It is implemented at the Oak Hill Youth Center, the maximum security youth custodial facility for the District of Columbia, in several of their group homes and shelters, and in other community-based programs. There is a formal evaluation component which is endeavoring to measure the efficacy of the components as they relate to the overall program goals and objectives.

Learning Objectives: As a result of attending the session, the participants will be able to

• Describe the sexual and reproductive health risk factors associated with ajudicated adolescent males.
• Identify the steps in program and evaluation design related to the described intervention.
• Recognize the need for an intervention that mirrors the unique needs of the incarcerated adolescent male.
• Apply evalution results to program re-design.

Keywords: Male Reproductive Health, Correctional Facility

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Steppin' Up, Movin' On, Inc.; U.S.Department of Health & Human Service Office of Family Planning; District of Columbia Youth Services Administration Oak Hill Youth Center
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Executive Director