The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #56594

Pamela Lee Kitagawa, LCCE¹, Molly Michelle De Marco, MPH, CHES¹, Melanie Marie Lewis, BS¹, Elizabeth A. Casey, MS, MPH², and Anne Marie Guzman, BS². (1) EPA Division, California Family Health Council, 492 Division Street, Campbell, CA 95008, (408) 374-3720, kitagawap@cfhc.org, (2) SRI International, 333 Ravenwood Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025

Research suggests that adolescents who have approachable adults in their lives are less likely to engage in risky behaviors. Hence, adults can play a key role in helping teens make healthy decisions. With this knowledge in mind, the California Family Health Council developed a highly interactive training with the goal of giving adults the tools to communicate effectively with adolescents about sensitive issues such as pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease prevention. The module-based curriculum aims to increase knowledge of adolescent psychosocial and sexual development, promote the use of a resilience model for working with adolescents, address the importance of youth development opportunities, and provide strategies for effective communication techniques. Contraceptive methods, STD information, and abstinence discussion modules are also included. The training is held both at hotels for individuals working with adolescents and at agencies such as group homes, clinics, youth organizations, and schools. The program is limited to 35 people per session. Agencies requesting a training at their site may select the topics they want covered from the eight program modules offered. An evaluation of the effectiveness of this training was designed along with the curriculum. Participants improved in their comfort and perceived ability in communicating with teens, with marked improvements in their ability to answer teens' questions about sex, abstinence, help teens develop assertiveness and refusal skills, and use appropriate body language when communicating with teens. These finding indicate that effective adult-adolescent communication increases when adults are provided with strategies to make them more comfortable during these conversations.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to:
• Articulate 3 strategies for improving adult-adolescent communication.
• Discuss the importance of using a resilience model instead of a risk-based model for working with teens.
• Develop an evaluation plan for measuring the effectiveness of a training program.

Keywords: Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Communication

Related Web page: epa.cfhc.org/html/reducing_teen_pregnancy.htm

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: California Family Health Council
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.