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## Breadcrumb

            -  Evidence and Innovation 
            -  Teen Pregnancy Prevention Evidence Review 
            -  Programs 
            -           Making a Difference! - INACTIVE      

# Making a Difference! - INACTIVE

- Program Information
- Program Overview
- Program Description
- Program Component Table
- Program Implementation

- Research Evidence
- Reviewed Studies
- Study Characteristics
- Study Findings

The program was designed to be delivered in the classroom, either in-school or in community-based locations. The program was evaluated in an outside-of-school community-based setting.

http://www.etr.org/ebi/programs/making-a-difference/

http://www.etr.org/ebi/programs/making-a-difference/

Program component data is not available.

Making A Difference! draws on three theories of change: 1) The Social Cognitive Theory; 2) The Theory of Reasoned Action; and 3) The Theory of Planned Behavior. This framework relies on the concepts of self-efficacy or perceived behavioral control beliefs (beliefs about the ability to conduct the behavior), and outcome expectancies (beliefs about the consequences of the behaviors).

The eight session curriculum addresses three types of core behavioral beliefs and outcome expectancies:
                        - Goals and Dreams Beliefs  — the belief that sexual involvement might interfere with one's goals and dreams for education and a career. In Session 1, the participants engage in a goals and dreams activity and discuss obstacles to goals and dreams. Having sex is listed and discussed as an obstacle. This belief is incorporated throughout the curriculum.
                        - Prevention Beliefs  — the belief that abstinence can eliminate the risk of pregnancy, STDs and HIV/AIDS. This belief is incorporated throughout the curriculum.
                        - Partner-Reaction Beliefs  — the belief that one's boyfriend/girlfriend would not approve of abstinence behaviors and react negatively to it, which may prevent a person from negotiating abstinence. In Sessions 7 and 8, participants learn how to get out of a risky situation, set physical limits, and use negotiation and refusal skills to communicate with their partners about abstinence.

The Making A Difference! curriculum modules are as follows:
                        - Module 1:  “Getting to Know You and Steps to Making Your Dreams and Goals Come True” provides an introduction to the curriculum, sets up the theme of proud and responsible behavior, and asks participants to identify short-term and long-term goals and dreams.
                        - Module 2 : “Understanding Adolescent Sexuality and Abstinence” provides an overview of reproductive anatomy, discusses messages about sex, discusses how people express themselves sexually, and the benefits of abstinence.
                        - Module 3:  “The Consequences of Sex: HIV/AIDS” includes information on HIV etiology, transmission and prevention.
                        - Module 4:  “Attitudes, Beliefs, and Giving Advice about HIV/STDs and Abstinence” includes activities that explore how self-esteem affects decision-making, especially in relation to giving advice about abstinence.
                        - Module 5:  “The Consequences of Sex: STDs” includes activities that teach information about STD etiology, types, transmission and prevention.
                        - Module 6:  “The Consequences of Sex: Pregnancy” includes activities that teach knowledge about pregnancy and prevention, as well as how to respond to peer pressure.
                        - Module 7:  “Responding to Peer Pressure and Partner Pressure” includes interactive activities that address participants’ problem-solving and negotiation skills regarding abstinence.
                        - Module 8:  “Role Plays: Refusal and Negotiation Skills” includes activities for participants to further practice refusal and address partner and peer pressure.Teach correct information about puberty and adolescent sexual development

Making A Difference! aims to create a youth-centered, positive learning environment. Activities are designed to increase comfort with practicing abstinence, address concerns about practicing abstinence, and provide strategies for overcoming concerns and obstacles to practicing abstinence.

The activities incorporate social cognitive-behavioral skill-building strategies (i.e., presentation, modeling, and the practice of abstinence negotiation skills). The curriculum involves culturally sensitive video clips, games, brainstorming, role-playing, skill-building activities and small group discussions that build group cohesion and enhance learning. Each activity lasts a brief time, and most are active exercises in which the adolescents get out of their seats and interact with each other.

The curriculum consists of eight modules, each of which is 60 minutes long. The modules should be delivered in the order presented, and should ideally be completed in two weeks. Ideal group size is 8 students per facilitator.

Developers have also adapted Making A Difference to be implemented in schools (See Making A Difference - School Edition), which consists of thirteen 40-minute modules.

                        - They must be able to use highly participatory and interactive skills.
                        - They must be able to work with youth and relate to them and their life circumstances. 
                        - They must believe in the teens and believe in their resilience. 
                        - Facilitators should have a comprehensive understanding of adolescent development; the developing sexual needs of youth, and the relevance of HIV/AIDS, STDs, and pregnancy for youth.

Staffing should consist of 1 facilitator for 8-10 youth and support staff to assist when implementing the program in larger class size settings. 

The Making A Difference! curriculum package consists of:
                        - Facilitator Curriculum;
                        - Activity Set (student handouts, role-plays, posters);
                        - Student workbooks (classroom set of 30); and
                        - Curriculum DVDs:	                           - Tanisha & Shay
                          - The Subject Is: HIV (Abstinence Only)
                          - The Subject Is: Puberty (Abstinence Only)

The distributor also provides access to a table of contents and sample lesson on their website: http://www.etr.org/ebi/programs/making-a-difference/

The curriculum requires the use of a TV monitor and DVD player.

Other materials and infrastructure necessary for working in school settings includes:
                        - A private room that fits the size of the group comfortably with movable chairs
                        - Space on walls to tape curriculum specific posters and newsprints
                        - Audiovisual equipment and electrical outlets.

                        - The curriculum modules should be delivered in the order presented.
                        - Delivery of the intervention must be highly participatory. 

Adaptation guidance for Making a Difference! can be found on ETR’s Program Success Center website: http://www.etr.org/ebi/programs/making-a-difference/

It is highly recommended that educators who plan to teach Making a Difference! receive research-based professional development to prepare them to effectively implement and replicate the curriculum with fidelity for the intended target group.

Training on Making a Difference! is available through ETR's Professional Learning Services. Visit http://www.etr.org/ebi/training-ta/types-of-services/training-of-educators/ for more information or submit a Training & TA Request Form (http://www.etr.org/solutions/professional-development/training-ta-request-form/).

https://programsupport.etr.org/http://www.etr.org/ebi/training-ta/

                        - The curriculum may be delivered in other settings such as community-based organizations. The curriculum may also be delivered in schools either during the regular school day or in after-school programming. However, the activities must remain interactive and all of the youth must have a chance to participate in role plays and practice new skills.
                        - If integrating the curriculum into the school period, implementers may use Making A Difference - School Edition.
                        - The eight-hour intervention may be delivered in different ways, such as 2 modules per day over 4 days or 1 module per day over 8 days. However, the developer recommends that the entire intervention be completed within 2 weeks if possible.
                        - The program may be delivered to either single gender or mixed gender groups.
                        - The original study used African-American adults, who were community leaders, counselors, or teachers, as facilitators. The program may be implemented using facilitators of different ethnic or professional backgrounds, so long as the facilitators possess the skills and characteristics of a good facilitator and have experience working with teens.
                        - Peer educators are allowed, as long as they are paired with an appropriate adult.
                        - In the original study, the participants were placed in groups of 6-8 teens. Larger groups are allowable, provided that additional time is built into the schedule to ensure that the youth are able to participate in activities and practice skills.
                        - Teens of different racial and ethnic groups may participate, and changing the names and settings of the situations in the role plays to reflect the culture of participants is allowed.
                        - Use of the intervention with teens older than 13 is allowed, provided that older teens would not be grouped with younger teens. The developers recommend dividing youth into groups of similar ages.

### Evidence by Outcome Domain and Study

#### 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.*