	Search
	Index
	Topic in Brief
	Evidence-Based Programs
	Skills for Educators
	Skills for Youth
	Current Research
	Library
	Statistics
	Theories & Approaches
	Links
	Professional Credits
	Learning Activity
	Forums
	Archives

Focus on Kids

Overview of the Curriculum
Unique Features of the Curriculum
Theoretical Framework
Costs and Training Information
Evaluation Fact Sheet

Overview of the Curriculum
Focus on Kids is a community-based 8-session HIV/STD prevention program for high-risk urban youth in grades 5-10. It has been effective in giving urban youth the skills and knowledge they need to protect themselves from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. The curriculum uses fun, interactive activities such as games, role plays, discussion and community projects to convey prevention knowledge and skills.

Although Focus on Kids is an HIV/AIDS prevention curriculum, it covers topics and skills pertinent to teen pregnancy prevention such as: correct use of condoms; decision-making, refusal, communication and advocacy skills; abstinence; and sex and drug pressures faced by youth.

Curriculum Objectives:
At the completion of this program, youth will be able to:

State correct information about HIV, AIDS and other STDs including modes of transmission and prevention.

State their own personal values and understand how these relate to pressures to engage in sexual risk behaviors.

Be skilled in decision-making, communicating and negotiating with other youth regarding sexual topics and drug topics, and be able to use a condom correctly.

Focus on Kids includes the following 8 sessions:

Session 1: Trust Building and Group Cohesion

Session 2: Risks and Values

Session 3: Educate Yourself: Obtaining Information

Session 4: Educate Yourself: Examining Consequences

Session 5: Building Skills: Communication

Session 6: Information About Sexual Health

Session 7: Attitudes and Skills for Sexual Health

Session 8: Review and Community Project

top

Unique Features of the Curriculum
Focus on Kids includes the following features that distinguish it from other HIV prevention curricula:

It focuses on the needs of urban youth, grades 5-10, in community-based settings.

It includes interactive activities that have proven to be effective learning strategies such as games, role plays, and community projects.

It makes use of "friendship groups" to strengthen peer support.

It strengthens community connections and support for youth.

It includes booster sessions which help keep the learning alive and relevant.

It includes one all-day outing.

top

Theoretical Framework
Focus on Kids is based on Protection Motivation Theory, a social cognitive theory which emphasizes the balance between pressures to engage in the risk behavior, the risks involved and the consideration of alternatives. Focus on Kids addresses each of these critical elements of the theory by:

Providing opportunities to consider the personal and social rewards (pressures) of engaging in sexual risk-taking behavior. Through all its varied learning activities, youth learn to create positive feelings about themselves without engaging in risky behaviors. In addition, in Session Two, youth dispel the myth that all peers approve of risky behavior.

Examining the health risks involved in unprotected sexual behavior. Sessions Two, Three, Four and Seven increase youth's sense of vulnerability to becoming infected with HIV and their awareness about the difficulties of living with HIV.

Identifying the alternatives to sexual risk-taking behavior. Through the SODA Decision Making model, the Family Tree Activities, and role play activities, youth learn to consider the alternatives to risk-taking behavior and practice decision making, communication and condom use skills necessary to act on healthy decisions.

Social Psychology.

top

Curriculum Costs and Training Information

Curriculum Costs
The Focus on Kids curriculum includes an implementation section with instructions for group leaders, lesson plans, activity guides, handouts for duplication, consent forms, and other materials relevant to program implementation for $45.00.

To receive more information and to order, contact:

ETR Associates
Phone: 1-800-321-4407
Fax: 1-800-435-8433
Internet: www.etr.org

Training
Two-day educator trainings for Focus on Kids are available on a fee-for-service basis from ETR Associates. Fee-for service trainings are provided by request from a state or local education or health agency for groups of approximately 20-50 people. Costs vary depending on the size of the group trained. Average costs include approximately $5,600 for staff time to prepare for and conduct the training plus travel cost (average $2,500 depending on location) and curriculum and training materials costs at $105.00 per person. For more information, contact ETR Associates' Training Department at training@etr.org.

In addition, there may be a local trainer in your state who is qualified to provide Focus on Kids trainings.

top

Evaluation Fact Sheet

Intervention
In the spring of 1993, African American youth were recruited from nine recreation centers associated with three public housing developments to attend eight weekly sessions of an AIDS risk reduction intervention. Grounded in a social-cognitive theory (Protection Motivation Theory) and developed to be culturally appropriate for the target audience, the intervention provided facts about HIV and AIDS and emphasized skills development with regard to communication, decision making, and condom use. The youth formed intervention groups consisting of two to 10 same-gender friends who were within three years of age of each other. In addition to condom use, abstinence and avoidance of substance use and drug trafficking were emphasized in the curriculum.

Behavioral Findings
At baseline, condom use rates did not differ significantly. However, at the six-month follow-up, rates were significantly higher among the intervention group than the control group (85% versus 61%, P<.05). The intervention was especially strong among boys (85% versus 57%, P<.05) and among teens aged 13 to 15 years (95% versus 60%, P<.01).

Other Significant Findings
Youth did not differ in their intentions to use condoms at baseline, but in the post-intervention period, intervention youth were significantly more likely than control youth to intend to use a condom. Likewise, in the post-intervention period, intervention youth perceived greater peer use of condoms and increased personal vulnerability to HIV.

Research Design
The 76 naturally formed peer groups consisting of 383 African American youth were randomly assigned to receive the Focus on Kids intervention (n=206) or a control condition (n=177). The control condition consisted of eight sessions which provided facts about HIV and AIDS prevention but did not emphasize skills development with regard to negotiation, communication or condom use and was not delivered to the naturally occurring groups of friends.

Participants completed questionnaires via a "talking" Macintosh computer at baseline and six months after the intervention. Measures assessed actual risk behaviors, perceptions of risk behaviors, and intentions.

References

Stanton BS, Li X, Ricardo I, Galbraith J, Feigelman S, Kaljee L. A randomized, controlled effectiveness trial of an AIDS prevention program for low-income African-American youths. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine 150:363-372.

top