Project RUSH (Realistic Understanding of Sexual Health) - Project R.U.S.H. (Realistic Understanding of Sexual Health) is an innovative community intervention to educate high school youth and their families in the creation of an environment that encourages healthy adolescence and to address youth sexual risk holistically or across the interrelated factors that promote optimal health and result in healthy decision-making and teen pregnancy prevention. Project R.U.S.H. is a partnership between Coastal Bend Wellness Foundation and PILLAR to provide services throughout 16 counties in South Texas: Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Duval, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Live Oak, McMullen, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Starr, Webb, and Zapata. Together, these two institutions are proposing to implement. Project R.U.S.H. (Realistic Understanding of Sexual Health), a project designed to replicate and scale up the evidence-based approach, “Tool to Assess the Characteristics of Effective Sex and STD/HIV Education Programs” to implement the evidence-based curriculum, “Making Proud Choices!”
Youth aged 15-19 are reported as being the most vulnerable to teen pregnancy, STDs, multiple partners, and other risks associated with sexual activity. The U.S. teen population is estimated at 41,731,233 compared to Texas, estimated at 1,876,283, which is 4.4% of the total U.S. teen population. In 2016, Texas ranked 4 out of 51 on teen birth rates among females aged 15-19, with a rank of 1 representing the highest rate and 51 representing the lowest rate. The teen birth rate in 2016 for females aged 15-19 in Texas was 31.0 compared to U.S. teen birth rate 20.3. In the proposed 16 county service delivery area, 5.4% of all live births were among females aged 15-19 in 2016. The teen birth rate among target population in the propose 16 counties ranged from 42.7 to 114.7. In 2017, Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual students were at greater risk of experiencing sexual risk factors. Youth who identified as Lesbian, Gay, or Bisexual (LGB) were 62% more likely to have 4 or more sexual partners during their lifetime. LGBT Youth were 54% less likely to have used a condom or effective birth control. Project R.U.S.H. will support LGBTQ youth by creating inclusiveness and equity in the sexual and reproductive health programs selected.
Project R.U.S.H. intends to increase the number of youth, aged 15-19, who change their behavior in a sustainable manner that yields a reduction in their risk of becoming infected with HIV and other STDs, and their risk for pregnancy and increase the level of collaboration among youth, families, and community partners engaged in HIV and other STDs, and pregnancy prevention within the target 16 counties in South Texas. This will be accomplished through direct targeted outreach, usage of evidence-based educational interventions, community coalition efforts, and proven service navigation tactics. Project R.U.S.H. will deliver the evidence-based education, Making Proud Choices! to an estimated 1,000 youth ages 15-19. Project R.U.S.H. will engage an estimated 10,000 youth, families, and community partners through outreach, community mobilization activities, and educational presentations. By delivering evidence-based, tailored, comprehensive sexual health education, Project R.U.S.H will address protective factors across youth, family/caregivers, and at the systems-level to reduce exposure to risk and encouraging behavior that prevents negative outcomes, such as HIV, STDs, and teen pregnancy.
Project R.U.S.H.’s goal is to achieve the following outcome measures: a statistically significant reduction in teen pregnancy, new STD and HIV infections, diagnosed behavioral health and substance use issues, and other social determinants of health that serve as barriers for improvement in the targeted areas within the population of focus under this project.
