State Spotlight: Teen Outreach Program in Minnesota May 28, 2009 State Spotlight: Teen Outreach Program in Minnesota Jill Farris, MPH Program Manager MOAPPP jill@moappp.org 651-644-1447 x18
History of Youth Development in MN MOAPPP’s history Collaboration with University of MN’s Healthy Youth Development Prevention Research Center Focus on Youth Development enhancing Comprehensive Sexuality Education programs
Why Teen Outreach Program (TOP)? Adolescent reproductive health outcomes 33% reduction in pregnancy rate Academic achievement outcomes 60% reduction in high school dropout rate 14% reduction in school suspension 11% lower rate of school course failure Cost-effective Brookings Institution report
Broad-based support for TOP MN stopped taking federal abstinence-only funding in 2007 Remaining state match to MOAPPP to strengthen YD and expansion of TOP Conduct TOP trainings & train trainers Promote service learning
More on service learning… Critical component of youth development programs and TOP Reflection is key Youth voice is critical Partnership with National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC) Youth Program Quality Assessment (YPQA) – working to create standards for YD programs
Minnesota Case Studies Diversity of organizations interested in TOP School districts, clinics, teen parent programs, CBOs Hennepin County Teen Pregnancy Prevention project Richfield, MN – School District Implementation during school day & after-school programs Faribault, MN – Project SIGHT Long standing youth program with variety of funding sources; now doing evidence-based programming Chicas Latinas, M-tag (More than a game)
Partnership with Wyman, Inc. Owners of the Teen Outreach Program National replication of TOP Data collection Service learning is critical Fidelity to the TOP design Challenges for MOAPPP Cost Fidelity
Opportunities lie ahead… Potential new federal funding Comprehensive sexuality education Youth Development focus Opportunity to have a voice in the conversation Youth development principles can enhance all programs that work with young people