Evaluation of My Future Self, an New Teen Pregnancy Prevention Group Intervention for Youth in Non-traditional Settings

Evaluation of My Future Self, an Innovative Teen Pregnancy Prevention Intervention

Children's Hospital Los Angeles and ETR will implement and test the effectiveness of a pregnancy prevention intervention, My Future Self, targeting youth ages 16-19 in Los Angeles and San Diego Counties who, for a variety of reasons, are receiving education or training in non-traditional settings. These youth typically experience a combination of needs related to unstable or no housing, extreme poverty, involvement with child welfare or juvenile justice, historical trauma, and/or learning differences. My Future Self is a 5 week program consisting of 5 group sessions. Our study will enroll up to 704 highly mobile youth from various sites in Los Angeles and San Diego. Youth will be randomized to receive the My Future Self intervention in conjunction with their regular services or just their regular services. All youth enrolled will complete baseline, 6 month and 12 month surveys.

Children's Hospital Los Angeles and ETR will implement and test the effectiveness of a pregnancy prevention intervention, My Future Self, targeting youth ages 16-19 in Los Angeles and San Diego Counties who, for a variety of reasons, are receiving education or training in non-traditional settings. These youth typically experience a combination of needs related to unstable or no housing, extreme poverty, involvement with child welfare or juvenile justice, historical trauma, and/or learning differences.

Currently, there are a few evidence-based interventions that focus on sub populations of these youth in alternative schools (All4You!, All4You2!), those at risk for dropping out of school (Crossroads/TCAP), and those coming from out of home care settings (Power Through Choices). However additional interventions are needed as these youth represent a vulnerable population with unique needs and barriers to pregnancy prevention requiring approaches that are tailored to nontraditional educational settings, familial circumstances, developmental trajectory, and that are synergistic with the generational reliance on technology.

Inclusion Criteria:

Youth will be eligible for enrollment in the evaluation if they:

• Are served, or identified on outreach, by one of our partner youth-serving agencies or schools
• Are ages 16-19 years
• Are English-language speakers
• Are not currently pregnant
• Have no immediate travel plans (i.e., are planning on being in the area for the length of the intervention)
• Have not previously enrolled in the study, and
• Answer the baseline survey items related to our primary outcome (which will be assessed after completion of the baseline survey).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Outside of age range
• Currently pregnant
• Not planning to be in the area for the length of the intervention)
• Previously enrolled in the study