Promoting Youth STD/HIV Awareness in Baltimore City Through Health Department-sponsored Student Video Contest Sheridan M. Johnson Community Programs and Projects Coordinator Baltimore City Health Department

Background Efforts to encourage youth STD/HIV awareness in Baltimore City have been limited to presentations at public schools, health clinics, and other educational venues. The Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) and the Baltimore City Public School System (BCPSS) explored the idea of initiating projects that would involve students in promoting STD/HIV awareness.

Student Video Contest The idea of holding a video contest that focused on STD/HIV prevention and awareness was an excellent way for students to convey information to their peers. Students (grades 6-12) were given an opportunity to create a script and video that depicts important information about STDs and/or HIV symptoms, prevention, awareness, and treatment.

Eligibility Contest was opened to students registered in middle or high school within the public school system. Students not attending school or having poor attendance were ineligible to participate.

Video Content Video must provide accurate information regarding STD/HIV prevention for a youth audience that covers one or more of the following topics: * Symptoms and Treatments * Feelings about STD/HIV * Prevention Messages * Social Impact on Community, Personal Life, Family, etc

Video Specifications Must contain accurate information Have non-offensive language Have clear and understandable information regarding the aspects of STD/HIV prevention awareness Length of video – 2 to 5 minutes

Video Specifications – Cont’d Written script must accompany each video for BCHD/BCPSS review Script must include the following information: * Student participants * Student creator(s) * Teacher(s) monitoring project * School and principal

Judges Three people were selected by BCHD/BCPSS to serve as judges Judges were not associated with schools submitting videos Video Evaluation Form used to grade each video

Award Announcements Sixteen (16) videos were submitted by student groups from five middle schools and six high schools All videos were shown and awards announced at the STD/HIV Prevention Hoopla Tournament - an event sponsored by one of our Syphilis Elimination grantees and a NBA player's community foundation

Award Announcements – Cont’d 1st , 2nd , and 3rd place middle/high school winning groups and their respective schools were awarded prizes and certificates All student participants received a T-shirt in recognition of their creative talents All participating schools received a plaque commemorating this event

Video Presentation Title of Video: “Stupid” School: Edmondson Westside High School Class: Media Production Student Participants/Sponsoring Teachers/Principal:       Andre’ Bryant, Linda Sharpe, Marcus Miles - Players     Latia Blake – Voice Over Sinead Hawkins – Script Writer       Carla L. Peterson, Theo Devine – Sponsoring Teachers Delphine M. Lee - Principal      

Special Thanks Patricia Brownlee, BCPSS Phyllis Burnett, BCHD/CDC Denise Freeman, BCHD/CDC Glen Olthoff, BCHD/CDC Rafiq Miazad, BCHD/Johns Hopkins University