1. State Spotlight: Teen Outreach Program in Minnesota
May 28, 2009
State Spotlight: Teen Outreach Program in Minnesota
Jill Farris, MPH
Program Manager
MOAPPP
x18

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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)

7. 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

8. 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