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For Professionals
Organizations that use science-based approaches in
their teen pregnancy and HIV/STD prevention programs have found that
science-based approaches provide tools, such as the BDI Logic Model and
evaluation framework, serve as a roadmap to select, develop, plan, and evaluate
their programs in a succinct and organized manner.
Logic Models
Many different types of logic models exist which help programs logically plan
their program and provide a tool to evaluate program activities and outcomes.
One logic model was developed by Dr. Doug Kirby, has been widely used in the
field of teen pregnancy prevention in addition to adolescent HIV and substance
abuse prevention.
Kirby’s Behavior, Determinant, Intervention (BDI) Logic Model is unique because
it integrates not only program activities, and a health goal, but clearly links
adolescent risk and protective factors and sexual risk taking behaviors to the
overall goal. For more information on this logic model and risk and protective
factors please visit ETR associates website on adolescent pregnancy prevention:
www.etr.org/recapp
For more information on the BDI logic model visit:
BDI Logic Models: A Useful Tool for Designing,
Strengthening, and Evaluating Programs to Reduce Adolescent Sexual Risk-Taking,
Pregnancy, HIV, and Other STDs
Evaluation
Evaluation is another important component to a science-based approach. Within
this, using a logic model in the evaluation process helps organizations create
process, impact, and outcome objectives linked directly to risk and protective
factors (determinants) that their programs impact.
Evaluation is important not only for program staff, but to get support from
funders, parents and community members. Evaluation can take many forms -
anything from taking attendance, administering pre and post tests, or hiring an
outside evaluator to assess program outcomes are all forms of evaluation. If you
or your program staff would like more information or technical assistance on
evaluation planning and tools, please contact Shannon Sainer at ssainer@coappp.org.
Risk and Protective Factors
One important component to science-based approaches is the integration of risk
and protective factors (factors that influence one’s behavior) into program
planning and design. By considering these factors throughout the program
planning process, programs are not only addressing the goal of the program
(i.e., to reduce teen pregnancy) but they will also address the factors most
likely to influence the teen’s decision to engage in sexual behavior which leads
to teen pregnancy.
There are a multitude of risk and protective factors (individual, environmental,
peer, partner, family and culture) that have shown to influence a young person’s
decision about sex, but many programs can only truly impact certain risk
factors. Many of these risk and protective factors are often observable, but
examining existing research will help validate your own understanding of the
factors that contribute to risk-taking sexual behaviors.
While some risk and protective factors may be out of the reach of the mission
and resources of an organization, identifying the risk and protective factors of
an organization CAN impact will help break down the difficult task of
identifying, adapting, and implementing programs that have been proven effective
in several communities and populations. Organizations can research proven
effective programs and consider implementing them or adapting the program to
meet their limitations and/or needs of their participants.
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