This program is for youth who are in 7th and 8th grade.

It's Your Game... Keep it Real (IYG), a school-based prevention program, is designed to delay sexual behavior, help youth develop positive attitudes toward abstinence, enhance self-efficacy for refusing sex, and increase knowledge about condom and contraceptive use in participants.

Evaluations have produced mixed results. Randomized controlled efficacy trials conducted by program developers in minority youth found that the IYG group had delays in sexual initiation and reductions in other sexual-risk behaviors in 9th and 10th grades compared to a control group. A randomized controlled effectiveness trial by program developers among minority youth indicated improvements in knowledge outcomes in the intervention group, but no differences between groups in initiation of vaginal or oral sex at a 24-month follow-up. A randomized controlled efficacy trial of a computerized version of the program was conducted by program developers among primarily Hispanic youth and found no differences in the delay of sexual activity or any other sexual behavior between intervention and control groups. A randomized controlled effectiveness trial conducted independently of program developers found that the IYG group was significantly more likely to initiate sex at a 9th-grade follow-up compared to a control group. Finally, a quasi-experimental study conducted independently of program developers among minority youth found that youth who had been exposed to the program in middle school were less likely to report initiation of sexual activity, were less likely to have engaged in presexual behaviors, and had better outcomes on psychosocial variables at a follow-up in 9th grade, compared to those who had not been exposed to the program.

IYG intends to prevent pregnancy, HIV, and other sexually transmitted infections (STI). This program uses group-based classroom activities; personalized journaling activities; and individually tailored, computer-based activities that encourage abstinence, help youth set limits, and help youth strengthen refusal skills. Computer-based activities address the following:

• Knowing Your Body – Learn about the physiological and psychological changes that happen during puberty and understand reproductive anatomy and the biology of reproduction;
• Healthy Friendships and Healthy Relationships – Realize the importance of social connections and creating healthy friendships and relationships;
• Selecting, Detecting, and Protecting Your Rules – Learn how to select personal rules, identify situations that may challenge those rules, and protect yourself when your rules are threatened;
• Consequences of Sex – Consider the emotional, physical, and social consequences of having sex, contracting HIV or another STI, or becoming pregnant; and
• Risk Reduction Strategies – Understand ways to protect yourself if you decide to have sex.

Information regarding previous use of this program was not located.

IYG is implemented by facilitators who should have experience using interactive teaching methods, discussing sensitive topics, and leading group discussions. Training is not required but is highly recommended. Online training is available. Please use details in the Contact section to learn more.

Considerations for implementing this program include acquiring school administration, youth buy-in, and parental consent; recruiting facilitators who are comfortable delivering program content and making sure they receive training, if desired; understanding this program will address sensitive topics; ensuring students have access to a computer in the classroom or at home to complete the computer-based activities; and incorporating lessons into an existing classroom curriculum.  

The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

If you are interested in implementing IYG, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you!
Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

This program consists of 24 lessons that are delivered over 2 years. There are 12 50-minute lessons (eight classroom-based lessons and 4 computer-based lessons) delivered in 7th grade and 12 50-minute lessons (seven classroom-based lessons and 5 computer-based lessons) delivered in 8th grade. Delivery of lessons can vary based on the schedule of the classroom (e.g., lessons can be taught every day, once a week, twice a week).

A 1-year license costs $199, and a 5-year license costs $600. Please visit https://www.etr.org/store/curricula/its-your-game-keep-it-real/ to learn more.

To move IYG to the Promising category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence, one to two additional studies must be conducted that demonstrate consistently positive effects across all participants that last at least one year from the beginning of the program or six months from program completion.

The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program.
Phone: 1-877-382-9185 Email: Clearinghouse@psu.edu

You may also contact ETR by mail 5619 Scotts Valley Drive, Suite 140, Scotts Valley, CA 95066, phone 1-800-620-8884, fax 1-831-438-4284, email customerservice@etr.org, or visit https://www.etr.org/about-us/contact/

https://www.etr.org/ebi/programs/its-your-game/ and Tortolero et al. (2010).

Markham, C. M., Peskin, M. F., Shegog, R., Baumler, E. R., Addy, R. C., Thiel, M., … Tortolero, S. R. (2014). Behavioral and psychosocial effects of two middle school sexual health education programs at tenth-grade follow-up. Journal of Adolescent Health, 54(2), 151-159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.10.204

Markham, C. M., Tortolero, S. R., Peskin, M. F., Shegog, R., Thiel, M., Baumler, E. R., ... Robin, L. (2012). Sexual risk avoidance and sexual risk reduction interventions for middle school youth: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Adolescent Health, 50(3), 279-288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2011.07.010

Peskin, M. F., Coyle, K. K., Anderson, P. M., Laris, B. A., Glassman, J. R., Franks, H. M., … Emery, S. T. (2019). Replication of It's Your Game…Keep It Real! in Southeast Texas. The Journal of Primary Prevention, 40(3), 297-323. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-019-00549-0

Peskin, M. F., Markham, C. M., Shegog, R., Baumler, E. R., Addy, R. C., & Tortolero, S. R. (2014). Effects of the It's Your Game … Keep It Real program on dating violence in ethnic-minority middle school youths: A group randomized trial. American Journal of Public Health, 104(8), 1471-1477. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2014.301902

Potter, S. C., Coyle, K. K., Glassman, J. R., Kershner, S., & Prince, M. S. (2016). It's Your Game...Keep It Real in South Carolina: A group randomized trial evaluating the replication of an evidence-based adolescent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection prevention program. American Journal of Public Health, 106, S60-S69. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2016.303419

Rohrbach, L. A., Donatello, R. A., Moulton, B. D., Afifi, A. A., Meyer, K. I., & De Rosa, C. J. (2019). Effectiveness evaluation of It's Your Game: Keep It Real, a middle school HIV/sexually transmitted infection/pregnancy prevention program. Journal of Adolescent Health, 64(3), 382-389. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.09.021

Tortolero, S. R., Markham, C. M., Peskin, M. F., Shegog, R., Addy, R. C., Escobar-Chaves, S., & Baumler, E. R. (2010). It's Your Game: Keep It Real: Delaying sexual behavior with an effective middle school program. Journal of Adolescent Health, 46(2), 169-179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.06.008

Vasilenko, S. A., Glassman, J. R., Kugler, K. C., Peskin, M. F., Shegog, R., Markham, C. M., … Coyle, K. K. (2019). Examining the effects of an adolescent pregnancy prevention program by risk profiles: A more nuanced approach to program evaluation. Journal of Adolescent Health, 64(6), 732-736. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.12.003