AMR SRAE Greater Chicago 2024 - Summary: Abstinence & Marriage Education Resources (AMR) has over 21 years of experience in developing and delivering SRAE curricula and has reached an estimated 2 million youth nationally. AMR programs promote optimal and holistic teen health, prevention of teen pregnancy, and elimination of STIs, especially to the most vulnerable. The purpose of this project is to deliver evidence-based SRAE curriculum paired with PYD to teach program participants, ages 11-19 in grades 6-12, self-regulation, goal setting, healthy decision-making, healthy relationships, a focus on the future, and the prevention and avoidance of sexual activity and other risky behaviors. AMR has successfully implemented SRAE programs addressing teen pregnancy prevention, PYD, and healthy relationships through public and private schools, and community-based organizations in targeted communities. AMR recognizes the need for SRAE and has a history of serving students across the US. Target population(s): The project will target vulnerable youth, ages 11-19. The majority of the youth AMR will serve are vulnerable youth, including youth who are low-income, at-risk of not completing high school, living in foster care, homeless or runaway, juvenile justice-involved, and victims of trafficking, living in 3 under-resourced zip codes with the highest teen birth rates (TBRs), STIs, and poverty in the greater Chicagoland area, including Cook County (CC) and Northwest Indiana. Needs to be addressed: The target community (TC) has a combined 2022 TBR of 21.6 births per 1,000 15-19-year-old girls, twice that of CC (10.7) and almost twice that of IL (11.1). In addition, the TC is characterized by disproportionately high rates of STIs for both the teen chlamydia rate (TCR) and the teen gonorrhea rate (TGR).The TCR in the TC was close to double that of CC and about 2.5 times than that of IL and the US, while the TGR for the TC was almost double than that of CC, 2.5 times that of IL, and more than 3 times that of the U.S. In 2022, almost one-fifth (18.6%) of those residing in the TC and one-fourth of children (25.3%) under 18 living in the TC were living below the poverty line. Proposed services: The AMR SRAE program will provide the evidence based SRAE curriculum The Success Sequence Program and positive youth development services in the areas of success sequencing, healthy relationship education, and healthy life skills to 1,200 youth ages 11-19 in year 3. The project will promote social and emotional well-being and assess youth needs. AMR will make referrals for health care and other community services as indicated by assessments. AMR will also coordinate educational workshops in year 3 for 100 educators, parents/caregivers, and community leaders on risky behaviors and protective factors and help them develop skills to improve parent/child communication around sexual decision-making.
