Personal Responsibility Education Program Innovative Strategies: Digital Initiative for Youth
Condition: Reproductive Health; Contraception; Sexually Transmitted Diseases
MeSH terms: Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      This randomized control trial (RCT) will assess an innovative demonstration project to
      improve adolescent sexual and reproductive health among highly mobile and marginalized youth
      in Fresno County, California. The Digital Initiative for Youth intervention combines
      existing, in-person, group-based, comprehensive sexual health education with wraparound
      digital technologies. The technological component was designed by Youth+Tech+Health using a
      "youth-centered" design approach and the intervention is implemented by Fresno Economic
      Opportunities Commission (Fresno EOC). The University of California, San Francisco is the
      external evaluator. The RCT will assess health and behavioral outcomes at three time points
      (baseline, 4 months, 10 months).
    

Detailed description: 
      The Digital Initiative for Youth (DIY) is an innovative, youth-centered, digital intervention
      that aims to improve the health and well-being of adolescents ages 13-19 in Fresno County,
      California. In particular, it will address the needs of homeless and unstably housed youth,
      youth of color, sexual minority youth, and Native American youth using a trauma-informed
      approach and positive youth development framework.

      DIY combines existing, in-person, group-based, comprehensive sexual health education with an
      app designed in consultation with youth. DIY is built on three strategies: positive youth
      development, youth-centered design, and wraparound technologies. It will focus on four main
      areas: sexual health and contraceptive use, healthy relationships, educational and career
      development, and life skills. The intervention includes six hours of in-person education and
      an app that includes a resource locator, goal setting, text message reminders, and additional
      information and referrals.

      This study is funded through the Personal Responsibility Education Program Innovative
      Strategies (PREIS), which is administered by the Family and Youth Services Bureau, part of
      Health and Human Services,

      Fresno EOC is responsible for site and participant recruitment as well as the implementation
      of the intervention. Participants are randomized at the cohort (group) level. All control
      group participants will be invited to participate after completion of the long-term follow up
      period.
    

Intervention name(s): In the Know: sexual health education
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): The in-person sessions include modules on: sexual and reproductive health (2 hours - anatomy, gender and sexual orientation, pregnancy, contraception, sexually transmitted infections); healthy relationships and life skills (2 hours - communication and negotiation, consent, violence, online dating, goal setting, strengths); and educational and career success (2 hours - educational and career options, applying for scholarships and financial aid, job readiness, resume preparation, interview skills). The app includes: online referrals, personal life plans/goal setting, text message reminders, quizzes, and other resources.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: Adolescents will be randomly assigned to treatment or control by cohort (groups of 5-25 adolescents). Adolescents will consent to participation and complete baseline survey prior to randomization. Enrollment will continue by cohort for approximately 2 years. Approximately 15 sites will participate with 2-4 cohorts per site per year.
Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Prevention
Keywords: youth; adolescent