Solid Ground SRAE Program - PROJECT ABSTRACT Project Title: Applicant Name: Address: Contact Name: Contact Phone: Email Address: Solid Ground SRAE Program Strategic Solutions for Families, Inc. 100 Stanley Street; Booneville, MS 38829 Pamela Meeks 662-210-9296 strategicsolutionsforfamilies@gmail.com Need for the Project: With a teen birth rate of 29.1 (15-19 years per 1,000 females), Mississippi ranks #1 out of 50 states with the highest birth rates and #4 for the most sexually active youth. Located in Northern Mississippi, Strategic Solutions for Families, Inc. is a community-based, non-profit organization that proposes to implement a high quality, high fidelity sexual risk avoidance (SRA) model program for vulnerable youth in Benton, Marshall, and Union Counties - high priority, rural, under-resourced counties. The program targets 1000 youth and 100 parents annually in the community. With an average teen birth rate of 34, Benton, Marshall, and Union Counties exceed the national birth rate of 13.6 by 150%. The program’s goal is to reduce teen pregnancies and STDs/HIV by educating youth on how to voluntarily refrain from non-marital sexual activity. Proposed Services and Target Population: Based on extensive research, our program aligns with the Center for Relationship Education’s SMARTool assessment of nine elements that are critical for effective SRAE programs, as well as the legislation’s A-F requirements. Utilizing evidence-based interventions and strategies that have proven effective in delaying sexual initiation, our positive youth development approach involves a partnership with the county school districts and local college. The program will serve youth ages 10-19. The program addresses risk factors at the youth, family, and community levels. Youth will receive at least 10 (9th+), 8 (7-8th), or 6 (5-6th) hours of age-appropriate, medically accurate and evidence-based curriculum through Love Notes SRA, Choosing the Best, and REAL Essentials EBP with activities that incorporate healthy relationship skills training. Up to 100 parents/caregivers will be engaged in parent support education to strengthen family communication. Community mobilization activities will be utilized to strengthen capacity within the target communities. Evaluation: A qualified evaluation team will work with staff to collect, track, and monitor performance measure data and evaluate fidelity and progress toward program’s goals and objectives. The evaluator will document and report on the project’s success in changing behavior, behavior intentions skills, knowledge and attitudes that are consistent with the outcomes for the program. An annual report of key findings will be disseminated to our key stakeholders. Organizational Capacity: Under the oversight of the Executive Director, the Solid Ground Director of Grants has 30 years of project management experience and will oversee a qualified project team, led by an experienced project director, dedicated to providing youth-centered, high-quality sexual risk avoidance education services for our youth, their families, and the community.
