Positive Prevention PLUS

Program Overview

Developer(s)

Kim Robert Clark, DrPH, MPH and Christine Ridley, RN, MEd

Program Summary

Positive Prevention PLUS is a 13-lesson curriculum that addresses risk factors and behaviors associated with unplanned teen pregnancy by increasing adolescent's ability to use risk-reduction skills including contraceptive use, resistance and negotiation skills, and accessing reproductive health services. The program seeks to teach adolescents to either delay/abstain from sexual activity or use birth control consistently and correctly when engaging in sexual activity.

Target Population

The program was designed in three levels, for middle school (grades 7-8) and high school (grades 9-12.), and Special Education. A high school Independent Study Program is also available. The program was evaluated with 9th grade students.

Program Setting

The program was designed for implementation in a classroom-based setting or community based organization, and was evaluated in a high school setting.

Contact and Availability Information

For curriculum, materials, and pricing information, please contact:

For training and support, please contact:

Cardea Services Phone: 510-835-3700 Website: http://www.cardeaservices.org/ E-mail: positive.prevention@cardeaservices.org

Sample of curriculum available for review prior to purchase: Yes

Adaptation guidelines or kit available: Yes

Languages available: English and Spanish

Program Components

Program Objectives

The primary goal of Positive Prevention PLUS is to address risk factors and behaviors associated with unplanned teen pregnancy by increasing an adolescent's ability to use risk-reduction skills. The program seeks to teach adolescents to either abstain from sexual activity or use birth control when engaging in sexual activity by building or enhancing:

  1. Knowledge of the consequences of teen pregnancy and risk situations, contraception and health services
  2. Self-efficacy to use birth control and condoms
  3. Parent-adolescent communication
  4. Refusal skills
  5. Positive attitudes toward abstinence
   

Program Content

Positive Prevention PLUS is based on Social Cognitive Theory. The lesson topics consist of:

  • Getting started: classroom ground rules, vocabulary, and changes during puberty
  • Life planning
  • Exploring friendships and other relationships
  • Bullying and relationship abuse
  • Preventing unplanned pregnancies (contraception)
  • Teen pregnancy: choices and responsibilities
  • Myths and stereotypes regarding persons with HIV
  • HIV and AIDS
  • Preventing sexually transmitted infections
  • Risk recognition and risk reduction
  • Media and peer pressure
  • Accessing community services
  • Setting goals

Program Methods

Positive Prevention PLUS is delivered through: 1) direct instruction using teacher slides (provided); 2) normative discussion via large group and small group activities; 3) resistance and negation skills practice; and 4) student workbooks with daily assignments to be completed with a parent or trusted adult.

Implementation Requirements and Guidance

Program Structure and Timeline

The curriculum consists of thirteen 45-minute lessons intended to be taught on 13 consecutive days. It may be adapted for weekly presentations,  and also as multi-hour workshops. The ideal class size is 12 to 30 students in the same age group (for example: middle school or high school). Independent Study and Special Education versions are also available.

Staffing

The program should be delivered by a credentialed health teacher or health educator who has completed the two-day Positive Prevention PLUS curriculum training.

Program Materials and Resources

Available tools and resources for the program are:

  • High school sexual health curriculum (three-hole punched with tabs, shrink-wrapped)
  • High school sexual health workbooks in English and Spanish
  • Family home assignments
  • Black line masters for overhead transparencies
  • Masters for student activity cards
  • All teacher support materials downloadable from the Positive Prevention PLUS website, including slides, sexting powerpoint, Safe Surrender video clips, STI photos, and parent materials in Spanish and English

Additional Needs for Implementation

Additional materials for implementation include student workbooks or duplicated student worksheets, duplicated activity cards, video about persons infected with HIV, sample contraceptives, supplies for Exchanging Body Fluid activity, and a projector with sound.

Fidelity

Pre-Post tests, fidelity monitoring logs, logic model, and observation forms are available from the developer.

Training and Staff Support

Staff Training:

The developer strongly recommends that educators who plan to teach Positive Prevention PLUS receive a two-day training.

The two-day teacher/staff training is provided by by Cardea Services for $3750, and includes an orientation to sexual health education, values and attitudes; state laws (if applicable), and previews and teach-backs of all lessons.    The training hours are 8am to 3pm.

Technical Assistance and Ongoing Support:

Technical assistance is available by contacting:   Cardea Services  
Phone: 510-835-3700
Website: http://www.cardeaservices.org/
E-mail: positive.prevention@cardeaservices.org

Allowable Adaptations

The developer provides guidelines for "green light, orange light, and red light" lesson modifications based on the curriculum's logic model as well as suggested adaptations for transitional and high risk youth.

Implementation Readiness Assessment

The review team conducted an independent assessment of the program’s readiness for implementation. This assessment is based on the team’s review of available program materials and documents. The team also requested input from program developers and distributors about the availability of implementation materials and resources.

On the basis of this assessment, the team calculated an implementation readiness score comprised of three component scores: (1) curriculum and materials, (2) training and staff support, and (3) fidelity monitoring tools and resources. The component scores are combined into a total score, which ranges from 0 to 8, with higher scores indicating the programs most ready to implement.

Curriculum and Materials

Has defined curriculum with lesson plans and/or activities?Yes
Has defined core or required components?Yes
Has facilitator’s guide or instructions?Yes
Component Score3/3

Training and Staff Support

Formal pre-implementation training (by qualified trainers) available?Yes
Supplemental training or ongoing technical support available?Yes
Component Score2/2

Fidelity Monitoring Tools and Resources

Has defined logic model?Yes
Defines fidelity guidelines and benchmarks?Yes
Offers monitoring and evaluation tools?Yes
Component Score3/3

Total Implementation Readiness Score

8/8

Reviewed Studies
CitationHigh-Quality Randomized TrialModerate-Quality Randomized TrialModerate-Quality Quasi-experimentLow Study RatingDid Not Meet Eligibility Criteria

LaChausse 2015

LaChausse 2016

 Yes✔   

Notes

Some study entries may include more than one citation because each citation examines a different follow-up period from the same study sample, or because each citation examines a different set of outcome measures on the same study sample.

Study Characteristics
CitationSettingMajority Age GroupMajority Racial/Ethnic GroupGenderSample Size

LaChausse 2015

LaChausse 2016

In School: High school14 to 17LatinoBoth3,490

Notes

Some study entries may include more than one citation because each citation examines a different follow-up period from the same study sample, or because each citation examines a different set of outcome measures on the same study sample.

Information on study characteristics is available only for studies that received a high or moderate rating. Read the description of the review process for more information on how these programs are identified.

Study Findings
Citation Sexual Activity Number of Sexual Partners Contraceptive Use STIs or HIV Pregnancy

LaChausse 2015

LaChausse 2016

 Uniformly positive impacts across the outcomes examined in this domain Uniformly positive impacts across the outcomes examined in this domain Uniformly null impacts across the outcomes examined in this domain
CitationDetails

LaChausse 2015

LaChausse 2016

This study evaluated the program using a clustered randomized controlled trial involving 21 high schools within six school districts in southern California. Eleven schools were randomly assigned to a treatment group that offered the Positive Prevention PLUS program in 9th grade classes. Ten schools were randomly assigned to a control group that offered their regular instruction. Surveys were administered immediately before the program (baseline) and roughly one, six, and 12 months after the end of the program.

The study found that six months after the program ended, students in the schools that offered the program were significantly less likely to report they ever have had sexual intercourse and that they have had sex in the past three months without using birth control. This study found no statistically significant program impacts on having being pregnant (or gotten someone pregnant) at the time of the six-month follow-up.

Notes

Some study entries may include more than one citation because each citation examines a different follow-up period from the same study sample, or because each citation examines a different set of outcome measures on the same study sample. A blank cell indicates the study did not examine any outcome measures within the particular outcome domain or the findings for the outcome measures within that domain did not meet the review evidence standards.

Information on evidence of effectiveness is available only for studies that received a high or moderate rating. Read the description of the review process for more information on how these programs are identified.