Healthy & Empowered Youth: A Positive Youth Development Program for Native Youth

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Youth Development
• Health Education

Background:

• Evaluation of the Healthy & Empowered Youth Project, a positive youth development program.
• Collaboration between Oregon Health & Science University, a Northwest Tribe, and the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board.
• Program targeted American Indian and Alaska Native high school students.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the Healthy & Empowered Youth Project.
• To assess the impact of media design enhancements on student engagement.
• To improve sexual and reproductive health knowledge and behaviors.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Native STAND (Students Together Against Negative Decisions) curriculum.
• Incorporated hands-on media design activities, guest speakers, field trips, and extracurricular activities.
• Collected data through pre- and post-surveys, focus groups, and key informant interviews.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated improvements in student leadership, academic achievement, physical and mental health.
• Increased condom use among female teens from 17% to 30%.
• Doubled rates of sexually transmitted illness testing from 12% to 24% among female teens.

Conclusions:

• The Healthy & Empowered Youth Project successfully educated and empowered Native youth.
• Media enhancements significantly contributed to the program's success.
• Program outcomes included improved self-esteem, life skills, health behaviors, and community engagement.