Carrera Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

Carrera Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention program is a comprehensive youth development program with the goal of reducing teen pregnancy among economically disadvantaged youth. The program serves youth in New York City, Baltimore, Washington D. C., Flint and Toledo. Generally, youth enroll at 13-15 years of age and participate in the program for at least three years. The program is offered after school, in community centers, for approximately three hours each day. Some sites have recently integrated the program into the school setting.

The program offers: (1) daily academic assistance, (2) a weekly career building class, (3) a weekly mental health class, (3) a weekly family life and sexual education class, (4) a weekly art/ self expression class, and (4) a weekly physical education class. The program also provides free medical and dental services. Participants receive health care, physical exams, counseling, and contraceptive options.

Carrera Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention program is sponsored by the Children's Aid Society. It is funded through public and government support and fees for children's services from parents.

Goal / Mission

The Carrera Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program's goal is to provide comprehensive youth development services and reduce teen pregnancy among economically disadvantaged teenagers.

Impact

Pregnancy prevention programs can work successfully among females when started early in adolescence and when male counterparts are also educated appropriately on condom-use and delayed sexual actively onset.

Results / Accomplishments

The Carrera program was evaluated from 1997-2004 using a large, multi-site randomized controlled trial at 12 urban community centers. All effects described are statistically significant at the 0.05 level.

Compared to the control group, Carrera females were 40% less likely to have ever been pregnant (15% vs. 25% of control), and 50% less likely to have ever given birth (5% vs. 10% control). For Carrera males, there was no significant effect on the likelihood of causing a pregnancy or fathering a child. At the seven-year follow-up, Carrera participants (male and female) were 30% more likely to have graduated high school or obtained a G.E.D. (86% vs. 66% control), and 37% more likely to be enrolled in college (63% vs. 46% control).

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Children's Aid Society
Primary Contact
Shelia Reich, Senior Assistant Director, National Implementation & Quality Assurance
The Children's Aid Society Carrera Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program
National Accreditation and Training Center
3708 Mayfair Street, Suite 310
Durham, NC 27707
718.208.5939
sheliar@childrensaidsociety.org
http://www.stopteenpregnancy.com
Topics
Health / Adolescent Health
Education / Educational Attainment
Organization(s)
Children's Aid Society
Source
Coalition For Evidence-Based Policy
Date of publication
2009
Geographic Type
Urban
Location
USA
For more details
http://tppevidencereview.aspe.hhs.gov/document.asp...
http://stopteenpregnancy.childrensaidsociety.org/s...
Target Audience
Teens

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Related Content for: Carrera Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program

An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.