The Effectiveness of a Teen Outreach Pregnancy Prevention Program: Results From Youth After-School Clubs.

BACKGROUND Teen pregnancy continues to burden families, communities, and society. Programs continue to educate and impower youth and young adults to make positive behavioral decisions. METHODS We evaluated a program aimed at high-risk youth in after-school programs. The goal of the program was to instill a sense of community and empathy, as well as sexual health decision-making. The evaluation was a multiyear evaluation from external evaluators. RESULTS There were statistically significant changes in empathy toward others in the community and a feeling of safety at school. Other positive changes noted were that students felt empowered to use condoms, other barriers, or birth control in the future when having sexual relations. The program noted a positive direction in students feeling they develop plans or goals and stick to them. CONCLUSIONS These programs serve to instill a sense of empowerment, community, and responsibility in students. Evaluation data can serve as a metric of the merit of these programs and the impact on school health programs and communities.