Core Strategy 1
Provide comprehensive, age-appropriate, evidence-based, and medically accurate sexuality education to promote healthy sexual behaviors including abstinence, delay the onset of sexual activity, and reduce the practice of risky sexual behaviors among youth.Providers are required to implement comprehensive sexuality education and choose from the list of evidence-based sexuality education programs (EBPs) that have been approved by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). In order to achieve results that have been demonstrated by these programs, providers are required to implement EBPs with fidelity. Before implementing EBPs, providers are required to consult with the ACT for Youth Center of Excellence (COE) and NYSDOH to receive approval for any planned adaptations.
Ongoing evaluation is an important component of the initiative. Currently the COE's evaluation efforts are focused on the implementation and delivery of EBPs. Providers are required to complete the evaluation tools (fidelity checklists, attendance records, etc.) and submit the forms to the COE. The evaluation tools will be used to identify the successes and challenges of implementing EBPs and improve their implementation over time.
Many young people view the adults in their lives as a primary source of information about sexual health and risky behaviors. However, parents, caregivers, and other adults in the community often need effective strategies that help them feel comfortable and knowledgeable enough to begin that dialogue with young people. Providers are encouraged to incorporate education for parents, caregivers, and other adults in the community to improve knowledge and offer strategies for communicating with young people about sexual health.
For more information on Core Strategy 1, see pages 12-14 in the original Request for Applications (PDF: 5.3M).
Resources: Core Strategy 1
The following web pages, presentations, articles, and tools were created to assist CAPP and CAPP-PREP providers in successfully navigating Core Strategy 1.
Planning for Evidence-Based Programming
This section of the ACT for Youth website provides resources on comprehensive planning, community assessment, evidence-based programming, careful adaptation, and aligning EBPs with school health education standards.
EBP Adaptation Request Form (PDF: 26K)
When program adaptations are planned, providers use this form to submit the adaptation for approval or feedback from the COE. (Word format: 29K)
EBPs Go to School: Addressing Challenges (PDF: 401K)
This edition of CAPP News discusses how to handle some of the challenges that arise when implementing EBPs in schools.
EBP Implementation Issues (PDF: 247K)
This edition of CAPP News discusses a few of the implementation issues that have been identified as providers have begun using EBPs within the parameters of the project.
CAPP Evaluation Partnership
This web page offers an overview of the purpose and process of the initiative's evaluation, with links to relevant presentations by Jane Powers.
CAPP Evaluation Tools
This web page links to the current version of each evaluation form, with instructions and an overview of the process.
Core Strategy 2
Ensure access to comprehensive reproductive health care and family planning services for teens to prevent pregnancies, STDs, and HIV/AIDS.To provide access to family planning services, options education, and STD/HIV screening for adolescents, CAPP and CAPP-PREP providers have direct linkages and connections with one or more family planning providers. The collaborating family planning provider must agree to accept referrals, including referrals of Medicaid clients; and provide appropriate assessment and referral as well as a full range of medical family planning services and follow-up.
CAPP and CAPP-PREP providers are also expected to identify barriers adolescents may face to obtaining family planning services within their communities and develop strategies to reduce these barriers.
For providers that have received additional funding to maximize the use of information communication technologies, resources that offer possible strategies include:
- Using Media and Technology to Improve Sexual Health Outcomes for Youth by Alwyn Cohall, MD
- Using New Media to Promote Adolescent Sexual Health: Examples from the Field by Deb Levine, ISIS
Core Strategy 3
Expand educational, social, recreational, vocational, and economic opportunities for teens, including pregnant and parenting, high risk, and disconnected youth, to provide alternatives to sexual activity and to develop skills that can support a successful transition into healthy young adulthood.A key factor in promoting positive sexual health outcomes is improving a teen's sense that he or she has real life alternatives to sexual activity and a positive outlook for the future. To create opportunities for life skill development, providers implement project activities that incorporate the dual strategy of risk reduction and building protective factors for at least three topics related to life skills development. Approved topics are listed in the resource below.
The eight CAPP-PREP providers are required and the 50 CAPP providers are expected to engage all of the young people who participate in evidence-based programs under Core Strategy 1 in Core Strategy 3 project activities.
For more information on Core Strategy 3, see pages 15-16 in the original Request for Applications (PDF: 5.3M).
Resources: Core Strategy 3
ACT for Youth has identified and compiled a range of curricula and resources to help providers implement Core Strategy 3.
Building Skills for Adulthood
This section links to a wide variety of resources for helping youth build skills in the Core Strategy 3 areas of adolescent development, parent-child communication, healthy relationships, educational and career success, healthy life skills, and financial literacy.
Core Strategy 4
Advance a comprehensive and sustainable local community effort to improve the community environment for adolescents, reduce initial and subsequent adolescent pregnancy, STD, and HIV/AIDS rates, and reduce health disparities related to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and geography.Providers are expected to function as experts in the community to enhance community knowledge and provide community resources that relate to adolescent sexual health.
Projects identify and utilize existing community resources and maximize the use of federal, state, county, and local resources to ensure a system of integrated, comprehensive, and coordinated resources; reduce duplication of services; and solidify a network of community services.
CAPP and CAPP-PREP staff are active participants on a community advisory council that represents their target community. Community advisory councils complete an annual assessment of adolescent pregnancy in the target community, and provide guidance and direction for a coordinated community plan that is aimed at reducing adolescent pregnancy, STD, and HIV/AIDS rates in the proposed target community.
For more information on Core Strategy 4, see pages 16-17 in the original Request for Applications (PDF: 5.3M).
Resources: Core Strategy 4
Engaging Community Partners
This section discusses how to engage diverse community sectors in a youth development effort, with special attention paid to sexual health. For examples of sectors of the community to engage, see page 17 in the original Request for Applications (PDF: 5.3M).
Youth Engagement
To succeed, any collaborative effort to create a healthier environment for young people must include youth. Key aspects of successful youth engagement are explored in these pages.
Community Collaboration
Collaboration is rarely easy. This page offers perspective and resources for making community collaboration work.
Sexual Health Presentations
ACT for Youth COE partners at the University of Rochester Medical Center have prepared a number of narrated presentations on sexual health topics.
For additional resources, see sidebar.