?choosing myself?: implementation evaluation of a comprehensive, inclusive, trauma-informed sexual health program for justice-involved youth - justice-involved and other marginalized youth (e.g.,…

?choosing myself?: implementation evaluation of a comprehensive, inclusive, trauma-informed sexual health program for justice-involved youth - justice-involved and other marginalized youth (e.g., lgbtq+, DIS/ability, and bipoc individuals) are at a greater risk of sexual violence, sexually transmitted infections (stis), and teen pregnancy than their peers. Existing teen pregnancy prevention (TPP) programming is not tailored to these populations. Particularly, the role of trauma in youth's personal lives, their interactions with the criminal legal system, and experiences with structural systems of oppression are not integrated into existing TPP programming. Choosing myself is an innovative, theory-and evidence-informed, inclusive, comprehensive sexual health program designed for justice-involved and marginalized youth. IT stems from a strengths-based approach that centers the needs, goals, values, and lived experiences of participants. This program also acknowledges systems of oppression (e.g., racism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, ableism) and social determinants of health (e.g., housing, food) which influence youth's decision-making. This proposal seeks to scale up and conduct a process/implementation evaluation of choosing myself. This 24-month project consists of three phases of iterative programming and evaluation and will reach 200 justice-involved youth(ages 13-18), both in/out of residential facilities across two states (florida and georgia). Each cohort (class) will consist of 12-sessions of 8-10 youth. This user-centered, quality improvement approach engages current participants, a youth advisory board (YAB) (former participants), and program facilitators to elicit critical feedback to evaluate and refine program components after each phase. The program and evaluation are truly participant-centered, with all activities being informed by the community. This mixed-method formative evaluation will use quantitative/qualitative data collected via evaluation tools: participant pre-post/follow-up surveys, daily behavior logs; participant/facilitator focus groups; facilitator/OBS erver attendance, fidelity, and quality logs; and program documentation (e.g., project team and YAB meeting notes about program modifications, lessons learned; community site descriptions). Data will examine whether program adheres to key components (e.g., trauma-informed, safe/inclusive learning environment), aligns with best practices in TPP, and is implemented with fidelity. We will also study implementation outcomes (acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, participant-centeredness) and barriers and facilitators to program implementation. Finally, the evaluation will provide preliminary data to examine whether the program is producing promising impacts on short-(knowledge, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, barriers/opportunities, behavioral skills, intentions) and intermediate-(decrease nonconsensual and physically/psychological violent SEX, correct/consistent condom/contraceptive use, increase access to sexual healthcare) term outcomes, with the ultimate goal of reducing unintended pregnancy, stis, and sexual violence. The academic-community multidisciplinary team includes researchers, practitioners, and youth with methodological, programmatic, and lived experience/expertise (e.g., trauma-informed care; gender-based violence; sexual health education; program evaluation; implementation science)and is dedicated and qualified to fulfill the project's goals and activities. The team has existing partnerships with organizations serving justice-involved and marginalized youth. Choosing myself has strong potential to contribute to the TPP field because IT expands and better defines the roles of trauma-informed care, inclusivity, participant-centeredness, and awareness of violence on program design and impact. Findings will be used to refine the program and provide the preliminary data necessary to prepare for future rigorous program impact e