Project Abstract Summary
Purpose - The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Office of Student Health and Wellness (OSHW) proposes to collect, analyze, and disseminate quality data on student health by continuing the YRBS and School Health Profiles surveys, and to improve the delivery of Sexual Health Education (SHE), strengthen instruction and access of Sexual Health Services (SHS), and maintain Safe and Supportive Environments (SSE) through the CDC’s Promoting Adolescent Health through School-Based HIV Prevention program Components 1 and 2. CPS is the third largest school district in the U.S. and serves over 370,000 students. Of CPS students, 46.8% identify as Hispanic, 10.2% as White, 4.1% as Asian, and 37% as African American, the population most frequently diagnosed with HIV in the city. Between 2015 and 2016, HIV/STI diagnoses for Chicago youth ages 13-19 increased by 10.3%. Data from the 2017 Chicago YRBS and Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) STI/HIV Surveillance Report demonstrate the particular vulnerability of youth ages 13-19, youth of color, LGBT+ youth, and youth residing in areas that report high rates of STIs. OSHW will conduct the YRBS and Profiles survey, and develop and strengthen SHE, SHS, and SSE strategies in schools across the district and in priority schools, in order to support student health in the District and its target populations.
Outcomes - During the project period, OSHW will collect, analyze, and disseminate data from these surveys in order to increase understanding of youth risk behaviors and school health policies and practices. Survey results inform and support CPS policy, the scope of programming, services, and resources provided to CPS schools and students to address health risk behaviors and disparities, and their dissemination informs and supports the work of CDPH, community-based organizations, school-based health centers and partner health service agencies. OSHW will collaborate with internal and external stakeholders including the CDC DASH Project Officer, the CDC, other grant recipients, representatives from CDPH, School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) representatives, community based organizations, and relevant internal CPS departments. By implementing the CDC SHE, SHS, and SSE strategies and activities, OSHW will increase effective instruction and student receipt of SHE, student knowledge of reproductive rights, implementation of best practices for classroom management, and student participation in positive youth development activities, and will improve the use of a referral system to link students to community providers for SHS. After its 5 year period, this project is also expected to increase student knowledge, skills, and behaviors to avoid and reduce sexual risk behaviors, awareness of sexual health services, HIV/STD testing, reproductive healthcare visits, student connection to the school, parental monitoring, parent/student communication, and student access to confidential SHS in accordance with Illinois state laws.