About Focus on Youth

Implementation core elements:

Core Element 1: Delivering intervention one-on-one to parents/guardians and youth in well-located community-based setting (such as CBO, church, recreation center, or school) or their home at a time and place that is convenient for parent/guardian.

Core Element 2: Use of a facilitator whom the parents/guardians find credible. The facilitator should be skilled at building rapport with parent and youth at the beginning of the session.

Core Element 3: Ideally, ImPACT should be delivered prior to the youth beginning the Focus on Youth intervention.

Pedagogy core elements:

Core Element 4: Use of a documentary that shows the challenges and importance of parents monitoring and talking to their children ages 12-15 about sex, abstinence, STDs, HIV and condoms.

Core Element 5: Facilitator must sit down and watch the video with the parent/guardian and youth. Youth and parent/guardian must watch the video together.

Content core elements:

Core Element 6: Enabling parent/guardian and youth to learn and practice communication skills.

Core Element 7: Teaching parent/guardian and youth proper condom use skills.

Core Element 8: Distributing and guiding parent/guardian and youth through a Resource Guide that includes the following topics:

Basic components of good communication and how to talk to your youth
Importance of parental monitoring
Steps for proper condom use
STD and HIV facts, including prevalence data among young African Americans

Video/DVD Key Messages

The following messages have been identified as the “heart and soul” of the video/DVD. Before viewing the video/DVD with parents and youth, be sure to have reviewed these key messages. This will help you engage in discussions during the parent/youth sessions. These key messages were derived from an intensive formative evaluation, including ethnographic research and a review of the literature.

It is important to talk to your youth about sex before they start having sex.

Best time to influence is before youth start having sex.
Find a good time for you (parent/guardian) and youth.
You can’t wait for them to ask about sex.
Don’t wait until he/she is in the situation, because you are not going to be around.
Parents need to talk with their youth about STDs and pregnancy.

Parents should talk to their children about abstinence.

Talking to youth about abstinence and making sure to correct the misperception that “everybody’s doing it” will allow them to make better sexual decisions.

It is important to know whom your youth is with, what he/she is doing and where he/she is.

Hang out with your youth. Know his or her friends, know what he/she is facing.

It is important for youth to know how they would respond if they were in a situation in which they might be pressured into having sex (even when the pressure might be positive, such as a boyfriend or girlfriend saying how much he/she loves them).

There are serious consequences to risky sexual behavior.

Fifteen to 30% of all HIV infections occur among people younger than age 25.
African Americans are disproportionately affected by HIV, accounting for 55% of all HIV infections reported among young people ages 13 to 24.
Although treatment is now available that allows people to live much longer with HIV, there are still many difficulties with being HIV infected, including serious treatment side effects and stigma.
Sex can make it difficult for a young person to reach their goals.
The decisions youth make when young have an impact on their future.

Parents should talk to their youth about proper condom use.

Talking to youth about condoms and making sure they know how to use condoms is not the same thing as encouraging them to have sex.

Communication goes both ways.

Be approachable. A parent’s negative reaction to a youth coming to talk can stop future conversations.
It is important to listen to your youth.
Often youth are happy that parents talk to them about sex. It shows them you care.

Talking with your youth is difficult but it gets easier over time.

Both parents and youth often feel awkward about these discussions.
Be prepared. Do the best you can do as a parent and for yourself.
It is OK to tell your youth you don't know the answer to a question and to find out the answer later.
Parents and youth are having these difficult conversations successfully. It can be done!

If you feel you cannot talk to your youth about sex, it is important to find someone else to talk to him/her. Find someone who shares your values and has a good rapport with your youth so the youth respects and enjoys talking with this person.

Allow youth to grow toward independence, but set guidelines too.

Ultimately, youth are going to make their own decisions, but it is parents’ job to give them information and prepare them as much as possible.

Morris, M. (2006) Prevalence of HIV Infection Among Young Adults in the United States: Results from the Add Health Study. American Journal of Public Health 96 (6): 1091-1097.

Documents

Core Elements and Key Messages of ImPACT

Implementation core elements:

Pedagogy core elements:

Content core elements:

Video/DVD Key Messages



Home About Focus on Youth Focus on Youth with Impact Core Elements and Key Characteristics ImPACT Core Elements and Key Messages Contact Us Documents Focus on Youth Fact Sheet Sample Budget Agency Readiness	Core Elements and Key Messages of ImPACT Implementation core elements: Core Element 1: Delivering intervention one-on-one to parents/guardians and youth in well-located community-based setting (such as CBO, church, recreation center, or school) or their home at a time and place that is convenient for parent/guardian. Core Element 2: Use of a facilitator whom the parents/guardians find credible. The facilitator should be skilled at building rapport with parent and youth at the beginning of the session. Core Element 3: Ideally, ImPACT should be delivered prior to the youth beginning the Focus on Youth intervention. Pedagogy core elements: Core Element 4: Use of a documentary that shows the challenges and importance of parents monitoring and talking to their children ages 12-15 about sex, abstinence, STDs, HIV and condoms. Core Element 5: Facilitator must sit down and watch the video with the parent/guardian and youth. Youth and parent/guardian must watch the video together. Content core elements: Core Element 6: Enabling parent/guardian and youth to learn and practice communication skills. Core Element 7: Teaching parent/guardian and youth proper condom use skills. Core Element 8: Distributing and guiding parent/guardian and youth through a Resource Guide that includes the following topics: Basic components of good communication and how to talk to your youth Importance of parental monitoring Steps for proper condom use STD and HIV facts, including prevalence data among young African Americans Video/DVD Key Messages The following messages have been identified as the “heart and soul” of the video/DVD. Before viewing the video/DVD with parents and youth, be sure to have reviewed these key messages. This will help you engage in discussions during the parent/youth sessions. These key messages were derived from an intensive formative evaluation, including ethnographic research and a review of the literature. It is important to talk to your youth about sex before they start having sex. Best time to influence is before youth start having sex. Find a good time for you (parent/guardian) and youth. You can’t wait for them to ask about sex. Don’t wait until he/she is in the situation, because you are not going to be around. Parents need to talk with their youth about STDs and pregnancy. Parents should talk to their children about abstinence. Talking to youth about abstinence and making sure to correct the misperception that “everybody’s doing it” will allow them to make better sexual decisions. It is important to know whom your youth is with, what he/she is doing and where he/she is. Hang out with your youth. Know his or her friends, know what he/she is facing. It is important for youth to know how they would respond if they were in a situation in which they might be pressured into having sex (even when the pressure might be positive, such as a boyfriend or girlfriend saying how much he/she loves them). There are serious consequences to risky sexual behavior. Fifteen to 30% of all HIV infections occur among people younger than age 25. African Americans are disproportionately affected by HIV, accounting for 55% of all HIV infections reported among young people ages 13 to 24. Although treatment is now available that allows people to live much longer with HIV, there are still many difficulties with being HIV infected, including serious treatment side effects and stigma. Sex can make it difficult for a young person to reach their goals. The decisions youth make when young have an impact on their future. Parents should talk to their youth about proper condom use. Talking to youth about condoms and making sure they know how to use condoms is not the same thing as encouraging them to have sex. Communication goes both ways. Be approachable. A parent’s negative reaction to a youth coming to talk can stop future conversations. It is important to listen to your youth. Often youth are happy that parents talk to them about sex. It shows them you care. Talking with your youth is difficult but it gets easier over time. Both parents and youth often feel awkward about these discussions. Be prepared. Do the best you can do as a parent and for yourself. It is OK to tell your youth you don't know the answer to a question and to find out the answer later. Parents and youth are having these difficult conversations successfully. It can be done! If you feel you cannot talk to your youth about sex, it is important to find someone else to talk to him/her. Find someone who shares your values and has a good rapport with your youth so the youth respects and enjoys talking with this person. Allow youth to grow toward independence, but set guidelines too. Ultimately, youth are going to make their own decisions, but it is parents’ job to give them information and prepare them as much as possible. Morris, M. (2006) Prevalence of HIV Infection Among Young Adults in the United States: Results from the Add Health Study. American Journal of Public Health 96 (6): 1091-1097.