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FOCUS- Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program

Teen Pregnancy Program
As a sexual health program, FOCUS addresses the risks of sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies in young women between the ages of 16-19 years old.  Funded through a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services, FOCUS is implemented in schools and community agencies in Butler, Warren, Hamilton and Montgomery Counties. 

FOCUS is an eight hour multi-session program that incorporates interactive activities such as role-plays, visualizations, PowerPoint sides, lecture and discussions. There is no cost for participating in the program and we provide a $50 gift card to each participant for completing the program. Each participant will be asked to complete two follow up surveys at 4 months and 12 months and will receive another $50 gift card for each survey they complete and return.

The grant was written in collaboration with Miami University’s Department of Nursing. The program will be utilizing third year nursing students as “peer educators” to present the FOCUS curriculum to the participants. The nursing students will obtain credit for their service learning requirement and they will also benefit from the information learned throughout their professional careers. In addition to the nursing students, community educators of the YWCA also serve as "peer educators" in presenting the FOCUS curriculum to young women.

To date, the YWCA Hamilton and Miami University have provided the FOCUS program to over 250 participants in area schools, community agencies and churches.  The goal of the Teen Pregnancy Prevention program is to promote healthy behavior and responsible decision making in the lives of young women.

The program is important because it:

  • Builds confidence in young women
  • Helps young women to develop negotiation skills
  • Empowers them to take ownership of their own bodies and choices
  • Avoiding teen pregnancy reduces their risk of dropping out of high school
  • Provides tools to avoid high risk behavior that could have lasting consequences on their health
  • Promotes a strong sense of self efficacy and hope for the future
  • Encourages future aspirations and positive life options for these young women

Some comments from participant evaluations include:

“I will definitely change my behavior as a result of this program. I will be more careful in choosing my sexual partners.”

“The information was explained very clearly, concisely, professionally and in an interesting way.”

“I learned a lot more than what I knew before. I like how they [community educators/nursing students] help you make better decisions”

“I feel the most important thing [learned] was how to protect myself from STDs.”

“I liked that the program showed both perspectives, abstinence and prevention methods.”


 
For additional information, including how FOCUS can be implemented at your school/community agency, please contact Jennifer Kruger, jkruger@ywcahamilton.com or 513.856.9800.
 

To Register for the FOCUS Program: FOCUS Registration Form