Evaluation of the Spark of Duval Intervention

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The S.P.A.R.K (Speaking to the Potential, Ability, and Resilience inside Kids) Teen Pregnancy Prevention and Mentoring program is being administered to youth (ages 11-17) living in out-of-home foster care in Duval County, Florida. Children's Home Society of Florida in Jacksonville received grant funding for the implementation and evaluation of the S.P.A.R.K program. The University of South Florida is examining the effects of intervention on reducing youth involvement in risky sexual behavior and incidents of teen pregnancy.

Detailed Description
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The evaluation is conducting an individual randomized controlled trial to test the S.P.A.R.K. (Speaking to the Potential, Ability, and Resilience inside Kids) Teen Pregnancy Prevention and Mentoring intervention with youth assigned to either the intervention or control group. As youth are referred to the study, grantee staff confirm their eligibility and then work with the youth's child welfare case manager to obtain youth assent and parental consent. Once approximately 40 to 60 youth are recruited, grantee staff selects a day for baseline survey administration. Survey administration and group assignment take place at the grantee agency and incentives to complete the survey are provided including a gift card and snacks. All eligible youth with a signed assent and informed consent forms are invited to attend the baseline survey administration and group assignment. The evaluation team generates random numbers using computer software, and the grantee staff uses these numbers to indicate youth assignment to the intervention or control group, after youth have completed the baseline survey.

Official Title
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Evaluation of the Spark of Duval, an Innovative Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program

Conditions
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Teen Pregnancy Prevention

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: S.P.A.R.K (Speaking to the Potential, Ability and Resilience inside Kids) Teen Pregnancy Prevention and Mentoring


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Youth aged 11-17, living in out-of-home foster care in Duval County, FL (Florida) are eligible for participation. Only youth who have provided assent and have received parental/guardian informed consent are included in the study. Exclusion Criteria: Youth who are teen parents, expectant parents, or currently living in residential facilities are excluded from the study.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 11 Years
Maximum Age: 17 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: Control Group<br> | |
| Experimental: Intervention Group<br> | Behavioral: S.P.A.R.K (Speaking to the Potential, Ability and Resilience inside Kids) Teen Pregnancy Prevention and Mentoring<br>* S.P.A.R.K is a curriculum-based group intervention for youth ages 11-17 living in out-of-home foster care. The curriculum consists of 23 topical lessons made up of a combination of educational and interactive activities on each topic. The curriculum covers four Adult Preparation Subjects (healthy relationships, educational and career success, healthy life skills, adolescent development) as well as mentoring, bully prevention, emotional competency, self-efficacy, communication, conflict resolution, and pregnancy prevention.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Sex Initiation | Yes or No question regarding sexual activity | 3 months and 6 months | 
| Change in Sexual Activity in the Past Three Months | Number of times vaginal sex occurred in the past three months. | 3 months and 6 months | 
| Change in Condom and Birth Control Use during Sex | Frequency of condom use | 3 months and 6 months | 
| Change in Pregnancy Occurrence | Yes or No question regarding pregnancy | 3 months and 6 months | 
| Change in Behaviors | Survey questionnaire related to adolescent behaviors. | 3 months and 6 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Connections with Peers | Survey questionnaire related to connections with peers. | 3 months and 6 months | 
| Change in Relationships with People | Survey questionnaire related to relationships with people. | 3 months and 6 months | 
| Change in Basic Life Skills | Survey questionnaire related to basic life skills. | 3 months and 6 months | 
| Change in Educational Expectations and Academic Success | Survey questionnaire related to education expectations and academic successes. | 3 months and 6 months |