Evaluation of the Teen Outreach Program in Hennepin County, Minnesota

Evaluation of the Teen Outreach Program in Hennepin County, Minnesota: Findings From the Replication of an Evidence-Based Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program

This study tested the extent to which TOP®, when replicated with fidelity, produced impacts on sexual risk-taking behaviors in the short term and the longer term.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Sexual Behavior; Pregnancy Early
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Teen Outreach Program

Detailed Description

This is a cluster randomized controlled trial. Teachers were randomized within schools to the treatment and control conditions. To assess the impact of offering TOP®, students were surveyed three times: at baseline, before the intervention began for the treatment group; 12 months after baseline (short-term impacts); and 24 months after baseline (long-term impacts). Baseline data and subsequent follow-up data were collected using a Web-based survey. Paper surveys were used as back-up for baseline data collection. The pooled survey data from two school-year cohorts (school years 2011-2012 and 2012-2013) were used to estimate program impacts using an intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis. Program fidelity and interview data were used to describe program implementation.TOP® was delivered in middle schools, high schools, alternative schools, and public charter schools in Hennepin County. It was implemented during school hours in classes that spanned an entire school year with the same cohort of students. The subject of the class in which TOP® was placed differed across schools (for example, social studies, study hall, health).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 1644
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Minnesota
    • Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55415
      • Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 12 years to 19 years (Child, Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Enrolled in a study teacher's class at the time of the baseline survey
• Active parental consent and youth assent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to complete survey in the languages provided
• Prior participation in TOP

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Teen Outreach Program	Behavioral: Teen Outreach Program; TOP® is a youth development and service learning program for youth ages 12 to 17 designed to reduce teenage pregnancy and increase school success by helping youth develop a positive self-image, life management skills, and realistic goals. The TOP® program model consists of three components implemented in school, after school, or in community settings over nine consecutive months: (1) weekly curriculum sessions, (2) community service learning (CSL), and (3) positive adult guidance and support. The TOP® Changing Scenes® curriculum is separated into four age- and stage-appropriate levels, which range from Level 1, typically for youth ages 12 or 13, to Level 4, typically for youth age 17.
No Intervention: Control; Business as usual.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Sex in the last 90 days	Single dichotomous item on self-report questionnaire	12 months after baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Sex without contraception in the last 90 days	Single dichotomous item on self-report questionnaire	12 months after baseline
Sex in the last 90 days	Single dichotomous item on self-report questionnaire	24 months after baseline
Sex without contraception in the last 90 days	Single dichotomous item on self-report questionnaire	24 months after baseline
Ever had sex	This outcome was measured among the subgroup of participants who had never had sex at baseline. Single dichotomous item on self-report questionnaire.	12 months after baseline
Ever had sex	This outcome was measured among the subgroup of participants who had never had sex at baseline. Single dichotomous item on self-report questionnaire.	24 months after baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Abt Associates
• Collaborators: Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department
• Investigators: Study Director: Kimberly Francis, PhD, Abt Associates Inc.

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Francis, K., Woodford, M., and Kelsey, M. (2015). "Evaluation of the Teen Outreach Program in Hennepin County, MN: Findings from the Replication of an Evidence-Based Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program." Cambridge, MA: Abt Associates Inc.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: July 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 1, 2014
• Study Completion (Actual): November 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 27, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 27, 2015
• First Posted (Estimate): July 29, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): July 29, 2015
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 27, 2015
• Last Verified: July 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Teen pregnancy
• Other Study ID Numbers: TP1AH000078