Advocates for Youth is applying under Components 3A (SHE, preferred), 3B (SHS) and 3C (SSE, preferred) to contribute to reductions in HIV infection, other STDs and related risk behaviors among adolescents, and disparities in HIV infection and other STDs among specific adolescent sub-populations. Advocates will build the capacity of Component 2-funded LEAs to under 3A, strengthen the effectiveness of instructional materials and instructional delivery in classrooms; under 3B, strengthen the effectiveness of SHS required activities; and under 3C strengthen work to establish and maintain SSE in schools, especially for youth at highest risk of HIV and other STDs. Advocates will use a three-tiered capacity building assistance strategy with all three components. Through Tier I Services (General), Advocates will provide all Component 2 LEAs and their stakeholders with information and resources to increase awareness and knowledge of evidence-based SHE, SHS and SSE-related topics, including bi-monthly e-newsletters, listservs, websites, downloadable materials, individual calls as requested, online training modules and quarterly webinars, and under 3C, scholarships to Stonewall National Education Project Symposium. Tier II Services (Intensive) under 3A will support collaboration, partnerships and peer-to-peer learning for newly funded LEAs in up to 16 school districts over the 5-year period (e.g., ongoing tailored TA/CB via monthly individual calls, bi-monthly group calls [Learning Collaborative], annual site visits, FUS, attendance at the State Sex Education Summit and 1-day pre- or post-Summit meeting and a 2-day convening to finalize action plans); under 3B will provide/facilitate professional development (PD) for teachers and/or training for school staff using a Training of Educators (TOE) model in up to 25 school districts over the 5-year period (e.g., ongoing tailored TA/CB via bi-monthly individual calls, a site visit, a TOE, FUS, and other PD optio
ns); and under 3C will provide/facilitate PD for teachers and/or training for school staff using a TOE model in up to 25 schools districts over the 5-year period (e.g., ongoing tailored intensive TA/CB via bi-monthly individual calls, a site visit, a TOE, FUS and other PD options). Tier III Services (Specialized) under 3A will go deep in up to 16 school districts over the 5-year period and include ongoing tailored TA/CB through bi-monthly individual calls, bi-monthly group calls (Learning Collaborative), attendance at the State Sex Education Summit and 1-day pre- or post-Summit meeting, a 2-day Institute to create a plan to scale SHE district-wide, FUS, and micro-grants to implement plan components; under 3B will go deep in up to 10 school districts over the 5-year period and include ongoing tailored TA/CB through monthly individual calls, quarterly calls (Learning Collaborative), a site visit, training, 2-day Roundtable to create a plan to scale SHS district-wide, FUS and micro-grants to implement plan components; and under 3C will go deep in up to 10 school districts over the 5-year period and include ongoing tailored TA/CB via monthly individual calls, quarterly calls (Learning Collaborative), a site visit, training, 2-day Roundtable to create a plan to scale SSE district-wide, FUS and micro-grants to implement plan components. By the end of the project, through its CBA provision, Advocates intends to delay onset of sexual activity; decrease condomless sex; increase contraceptive use; decrease risk behaviors placing youth at high risk of substance use, violence and mental illness; reduce HIV/STD infection; decrease teen pregnancy rates; and increase academic success. The proposed project supports public health priorities identified in Healthy People 2020, the CDC National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention’s Strategic Plan, the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and the National Prevention Strategy. Advocates’ two highest preferred applications are C
omponents 3A and 3C.
