"I plan to teach my friends what I learned and how to protect themselves better"
"Now I plan to protect myself better both physically and emotionally" |
Our Programs
THE Center for Youth offers peer-led health education sessions for young people and youth development trainings for Peer Educators. THE Center's programs include:
Accessing Health Care Program - increases knowledge and practical skills for accessing health clinics and other health care facilities and increases confidence for communicating with health care providers and effectively utilizing health care.
HIV Prevention Education Program - increases knowledge on the transmission and prevention of HIV, and increases realistic skills and confidence for communicating about and practicing safe behaviors for preventing teen pregnancy, HIV and sexually transmitted diseases.
Substance Abuse Prevention Program - increases understanding of behaviors surrounding substance use and increases problem-solving and communication skills for avoiding and preventing the use and abuse of drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
Social Justice/Violence Prevention Program - increases understanding of and respect for a range of differences and increases communication and decision-making skills to prevent and resolve conflicts that could lead to abuse or violence.
Parent Education Program - increases understanding and skills for improving parent-teen communication through real-life stories presented by youth and follow-up discussion sessions.
Each program can be conducted independently or in the following comprehensive models:
The Life Skills Program and The Voices Program
Life Skills Program
The Life Skills Program (LSP) is our in-depth health education model led by The Center's young adult educators and our trained peer educators. Sessions focus on strategies for effectively accessing health care and preventing HIV, STD's, teen pregnancy and substance abuse.
The LSP is comprised of interactive skill-building activities and discussions to build self-esteem and self-confidence in a safe and comfortable environment. Sessions address adolescent health content and decision-making in peer situations involving health-related choices and risks.
Youth discuss and develop plans for participating in positive activities and avoiding risky situations. They build skills to communicate with confidence and practice safe choices involving drugs, alcohol, sexual activities and accessing health care.
Evaluations of the Life Skills Program have shown its effectiveness in the following:
- Increasing confidence and self-esteem
- Reducing sexual risk behaviors
- Reducing substance abuse
- Improving communication skills
- Enhancing altruism
- Increasing access to health care
Voices Program
Voices increases young peoples' understanding of and respect for social justice and diversity. Conducted by The Center's diverse group of young adult educators, issues addressed include gender, race, culture, religion, and sexual orientation.
Peer educators and young adult educators conduct discussions and role model techniques for preventing or responding effectively in situations that could lead to verbal or physical abuse
and violence. Youth in the Voices Program practice these communication skills and conflict resolution techniques, becoming peer advocates for social justice in their own school and
in their community.
Requesting The Center's Programs
The Center for Youth can custom-design programs for groups of youth, educators or parents. Please feel free to contact us to discuss your needs and interest.
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