Topic: Alcohol/Drugs/Tobacco, Reproductive Health, Antisocial Behavior, STI
Target Population: Adolescents, Middle Childhood
Sector: School-Based
This program is for boys who are in 5th to 8th grade and are of African American or Black heritage.
The Aban Aya Youth Project, a school-based program, is designed to prevent or reduce violence, aggressive behavior, delinquency, sexual activity, and substance use among youth.
A randomized, longitudinal study of this program conducted between 1994 and 1998 compared two versions of the intervention (i.e., one that included community and family involvement and one that did not) and a control condition that provided only basic healthy living and hygiene information. This study found that boys who participated in either of the intervention conditions showed reduced violent, provoking, and sexual behavior; reduced substance use and school delinquency; and increased condom use compared to the control group. This study also found that boys who participated in the intervention condition that included community and family involvement had significantly less school delinquency than boys who participated in the intervention condition that did not include community and family involvement. There was no significant difference between the two intervention conditions on violence, provoking violence, sexual behavior, or condom use. This study also included girls, also of African American or Black heritage, but did not find any significant effects of either intervention condition on girls' outcomes. The intervention condition that included community and family involvement is the version that is currently available.
The Aban Aya Youth Project intends to lessen violent and problem behaviors in boys of African American or Black heritage by increasing protective factors and reducing risk factors. Sessions are conducted as part of a school’s social studies curriculum and address the following topics:
Activities include group discussions, lectures, role-play, video, games, homework, public service announcements, an anonymous question box, and quizzes (in 5th and 6th grades).
This program was evaluated with a sample of students in the Chicago metropolitan area between 1994 and 1998. Additional previous use information was not located.
The classroom instruction is implemented by health educators. Training is strongly encouraged but not required. Training and ongoing technical support are available from Sociometrics. Please use details in the Contact section to learn more.
Considerations for implementing this program include recruiting health educators, obtaining school and parent buy-in and consent, and amending social studies curricula to include the program.
The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
If you are interested in implementing Aban Aya Youth Project, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you!
Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
This program is delivered to students beginning in 5th grade and consists of 16 to 21 40- to 45-minute sessions that are delivered every year for 4 years during social studies classes.
A user’s guide, facilitator’s manual, and additional materials are available from Sociometrics. Please use details in the Contact section to learn more about implementation costs.
To move Aban Aya Youth Project to the Effective category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence at least one external evaluation must be conducted that demonstrates sustained, positive outcomes. This study must be conducted independently of the program developer.
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 Sociometrics Corporation by mail 13023 La Cresta Drive, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022, phone 1-650-949-3282, fax 1-650-949-3299, email socio@socio.com, or visit https://www.socio.com/pages/contact_us
Flay, B. R., Graumlich, S., Segawa, E., Burns, J. L., Holliday, M. Y., & Aban Aya Investigators. (2004). Effects of 2 prevention programs on high-risk behaviors among African American youth: A randomized trial. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 158(4), 377-384. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.158.4.377
