Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #113164

Jennifer Lee, MPH, Health Education Department, Asian Health Services, 818 Webster St, Oakland, CA 94607, 510.986.1024, justifiablee@sbcglobal.net

In the summer of 2004, Banteay Srei (Ban-tee-ay Sir-ay), a dynamic curriculum on female sexuality was piloted for young Southeast Asian women involved in juvenile prostitution in Oakland, California. Banteay Srei was designed in response to the need for new and innovative programming to address the increasing numbers of youth engaged in or at risk of juvenile prostitution. Evaluation results indicated positive impact on self-esteem and resiliency, and found this curriculum should be further developed. Today, Banteay Srei has evolved to become a unique curriculum-based leadership development model, integrating education, social support, and skills based learning. Banteay Srei builds upon the existing assets of young Southeast Asian women using peer-based relationships as a positive baseline from which to encourage and foster growth. In this way, participants learn how to consistently make healthier choices within the context of their daily lives navigating current and future relationships. The following session will introduce new strategies to address the growing number of young Southeast Asian women engaged in or at-risk of juvenile prostitution. These strategies go beyond traditional reproductive health curricula, to focus on engaging existing peer-networks, building leadership skills, encouraging visibility through community organizing, building self-confidence, resiliency, and resourcefulness through sustained mentoring.

Learning Objectives: