Cooperative Agreement TP1AH000292

KEEPING IT REAL PROGRAM-A TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION EVIDENCE BASED PROGRAM FOR AMERICAN INDIANS YOUTH - KEEP IT REAL PROGRAM PROJECT ABSTRACT SUMMARY RURAL AMERICA INITIATIVES' PROPOSED KEEP IT REAL PROGRAM WILL REPLICATE AN EVIDENCE BASED PROGRAM WITH AT LEAST 500 AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH PER YEAR FOR FIVE YEARS IN RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE WILL BE TO REDUCE UNWANTED TEEN PREGNANCY AND HIGH RATES OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS (STI'S). THE AMERICAN INDIAN COMMUNITY IN RAPID CITY SUFFERS FROM A NUMBER OF HEALTH AND OTHER DISPARITIES, ESPECIALLY POVERTY. TEEN PREGNANCY AND STI RATES ARE CURRENTLY HIGH AND HAVE BEEN HIGH FOR DECADES. THE KEEP IT REAL PROGRAM WILL BE PROVIDED IN THREE UNIQUE SETTINGS: 1) ALL FIVE RAPID CITY AREA MIDDLE SCHOOLS DURING SCHOOL HOURS, 2) FOUR AFTER-HOURS SESSIONS, AND 3) ABBOTT HOUSE, THE ONLY THERAPEUTIC FOSTER HOME PROGRAM IN THE CITY. THE KEEP IT REAL PROGRAM (KIRP) WILL 1) PROVIDE AMERICAN INDIAN AND OTHER MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH WITH KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXERCISES FOR MAKING HEALTH DECISIONS, PROMOTING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, AND REDUCING RISK BEHAVIORS USING EVIDENCE-BASE AND MEDICALLY ACCURATE CURRICULUM AND ACTIVITIES; AND 2) SUCCESSFULLY COLLABORATE WITH THE RAPID CITY PUBLIC AND NONPUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS, HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, CAREGIVERS, AND OTHER YOUTH SERVICING ORGANIZATIONS TO ASSIST AND SUPPORT THE DELIVERY OF THE PROGRAM AND RESPECTIVE ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE RAPID CITY AREA (SCHOOLS, HOME, AND NEIGHBORHOODS). ONE PROJECT COORDINATOR AND SIX MENTORS WILL BE HIRED TO STAFF THE PROGRAM. THEY WILL BE SELECTED BASED ON DOCUMENTED SUCCESS WITH WORKING WITH AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH, AND THEIR ABILITY TO APPLY LAKOTA VALUES TO THEIR WORK. STAFF WILL BE ESPECIALLY TRAINED TO ASSURE THAT THEY PROVIDE AN EQUITABLE, SAFE, SUPPORTIVE, AND INCLUSIVE PROGRAM ENVIRONMENT. DURING A SIX MONTHS PLANNING PERIOD, YOUTH, STAFF, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS WILL BE INVOLVED IN THE FINAL SELECTION OF AN EVIDENCE BASED PROGRAM TO SERVE AS THE CORE COMPONENT OF INITIATIVE. ADAPTATIONS MAY BE SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL TO BETTER ADDRESS CULTURAL NEEDS. THE EBP WILL BE IMPLEMENTED DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR AND ALSO IN THE SUMMER ON A FOUR-DAY PER WEEK SCHEDULE. YOUTH, ON THE FIFTH DAY, WILL PARTICIPATE IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES AND WILL LEARN ABOUT LAKOTA TRADITIONS, KNOWLEDGE, AND HISTORY AND HOW TO APPLY THE VALUES IN THEIR LIVES. DAILY MENTORING AND TUTORING SERVICES WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE TO HELP YOUTH ADDRESS INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP CHALLENGES. THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, COMMUNITY PARTNER GROUP, AND YOUTH CAREGIVERS WILL MEET REGULARLY TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM AND PROVIDE INPUT FOR CONTINUOUS PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT. REFERRALS WILL BE MADE TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS, INCLUDING THE OYATE HEALTH CENTER, AND COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES OF THE BLACK HILLS, FOR OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.