The Medical Institute was pleased to present the results of some of its work at the Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association (APHA) in Denver, CO in November. With an attendance of over 12,000 healthcare- and public health-related professionals at the meeting, MI was chosen to present the results in four separate sessions during the Meeting. The results of the Building Family Connections Program Training of Educators and its utilization in several communities across the US were also presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Evaluation Association in San Antonio, TX. All presentations were well attended and well received and also drew interest to MI's work from various professionals. A brief summary of the results of MI programs is given below.

MI encourages parents to be actively involved in their children's sexual health to guide them toward the healthiest decisions. Although parental communication is effective in reducing adolescent risk behaviors, many parents hesitate to communicate with their children about sex. Community educators can be effective mediators to provide necessary information and skills to parenting adults.

The Building Family Connections (BFC) curriculum and its Training of Educators were developed by MI to provide information and skills to increase parent-child sexual health communication. During a 2.5-day training, community educators are equipped to provide the 10-hour BFC curriculum to parenting adults in their communities. Most participants agree that the training is useful and prepares them to hold the BFC course for parenting adults. Through January 2010, about 290 parenting adults have attended 23 BFC courses held by 7 trainers.

Furthermore, evaluation of these courses for parenting adults have shown significant changes in knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of parents related to sexual health communication with adolescents. MI's BFC training of educators is exponentially effective in enhancing parenting adult-youth sexual health communication.^1,2

One such community that receives the BFC curriculum is located in El Paso, TX.

The Spanish-language version of the BFC curriculum, Construyendo Familias Unidas, has been implemented in two economically disadvantaged Hispanic border communities in El Paso with ~20,000 residents that are disproportionately affected by outcomes such as teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Parents and grandparents receive 10 hours of training on sexually transmitted infections (STIs), teen pregnancy, contraception, effective parent-child communication, and decision making. From 2007 to 2009, 263 participants aged 18-80 years provided pre- and post-survey data to evaluate BFC courses. Data revealed significant increases in knowledge of risk factors for teen pregnancy, STIs and dating violence.

There were significant increases in reported comfort and frequency of communication with children on sexual health issues. Construyendo Familias Unidas has been shown to be effective in increasing parent-child communication on sexual health issues.³

In the same communities in El Paso, MI has also implemented a community-based program, Paso a Paso: Building Healthy Families. This program reaches out to about 3000 middle and high school-aged youth and is tailored to the prevalent youth attitudes and beliefs in the community. The program covered information on STIs, teen pregnancy, abstinence, contraception, as well as healthy and unhealthy relationships. Surveys of 622, mostly Hispanic 14-19 years old high school students were analyzed for effects of the program in the first year.

Post-tests revealed significant increases in knowledge of teen pregnancy, STIs, and their consequences as well as improved attitudes toward avoiding sexual activity. Most of these changes in students were retained at the time of follow up. Logistic regression data show that positive parent connectedness, avoiding drinking and smoking, and positive abstinence attitude were detriments to adolescent sexual activity.⁴

The Paso a Paso program also uses innovative epidemiological and information technology tools to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. One such strategy used is geographical information system (GIS) where data on chlamydia infections and teen births are obtained, mapped and compared for the program and nonprogram areas in El Paso County, TX. GIS maps from our program show decreases in teen birth and chlamydia rates in the program areas as compared to nonprogram areas over time.

An MI presentation at APHA demonstrated the use and results of GIS for sexual health outcome data as an effective strategy for program evaluation.⁵

MI encourages the use of current and cutting-edge materials to plan, implement and evaluate programs. MI materials and programs use best as well as innovative practices for our work for youth and parents all over the country. We appreciate and look forward to continuing support.

References:

1. Malhotra S, Santa Maria DM, Chavarria HM, Steiner MJ. Effectiveness and utilization of a parent education curriculum: A two-level evaluation of educators and parents. 138th Annual Meeting & Exposition. APHA. November 6-10, 2010. Denver, CO. Abstract available online at: http://apha.confe x.com/apha/138am/webprogram/Paper219747.html.

2. Malhotra S, Santa Maria DM, Steiner MJ. Effectiveness and Utilization of a Parent Education Curriculum: A Two-Level Evaluation of Educators and Parents. Evaluation 2010. American Evaluation Association Annual Conference. November 10-13, 2010. San Antonio, TX. Abstract available online at: http://www.eval.org/search10/session.asp?sessionid=2071&presenterid=1439

3. Malhotra S, Santa Maria DM, Chavarria HM, Hendricks KA. Improving parent-child sexual health communication among Hispanics. 138th Annual Meeting & Exposition. APHA. November 6-10, 2010. Denver, CO. Abstract available online at: http://apha.confex.com/apha/138am/webprogram/Paper224281.html

4. Malhotra S, Hendricks KA, Vessey J. Evaluation of Paso a Paso: Building Healthy Families program in Hispanic high school-aged adolescents. 138th Annual Meeting & Exposition. APHA. November 6-10, 2010. Denver, CO. Abstract available online at: http://apha.confex.com/apha/138am/webprogram/Paper227028.html.

5. Malhotra S, Ronquillo NC, Hendricks KA. Adolescent sexual health outcomes and program evaluation using geographical information systems (GIS). 138th Annual Meeting & Exposition. APHA. November 6-10, 2010. Denver, CO. Abstract available online at: http://apha.confex.com/apha/138am/webprogram/Paper219913.html