Evaluation Outcomes

This program began training youth-serving professionals in California in 2001 through a generous grant from the California Wellness Foundation. During the past four years 117 trainings have been held throughout the State and over 2,800 adults have received the training.

Proven Effective

Extensive evaluation by Philliber Research Associates and the SRI International has shown statistically significant changes in participants’ knowledge, attitudes and behavior in six-month post training follow-up surveys. Behavioral changes demonstrated include:

• Greater comfort in answering teen’s questions about sex (11% increase, P<.001);
• Improved communication with teens of different sexual orientations (11% increase in rating, P<.001); and
• Feelings of increased capability to help teens develop assertiveness and refusal skills (14% increase, P<.001).

Participants completed a four-page survey to assess changes in the identified evaluation measures. Behavioral measures were rated on a five-point scale, one (1) being “needs improvement” and five (5) being “fully competent.”

View the full evaluation report. (In PDF)

Evaluation Design

Matched pre-tests and 6-month post-tests have shown statistically significant changes in participants’ knowledge, attitudes and behavior.

Evaluation measures included:

Knowledge

• Current trends in youth sexual behavior, birth control methods and sexually transmitted diseases

Attitudes

• Risk-taking as a normal developmental marker
• Confidence in ability to foster resiliency in teens

Behaviors

• Initiating conversations and answering teens’ questions about sex
• Practicing effective communication techniques
• Helping teens develop assertiveness & refusal skills