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The Web of Life Study

A program evaluation study of an experiential, positive youth development approach to prevent teen pregnancy

for Native youth

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The Web of Life Program: Funding and Purpose

• Funded by a five year grant to the National Indian Youth Leadership Project, Gallup, NM by the U.S. Office of Adolescent Health (HHS), 2010-2015

• Purpose is to develop and study an adaptation of NIYLP’s Project Venture to prevent unwanted teen pregnancy, and related risk factors.

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The Web of Life Program:Key Elements

• Carefully structured and sequenced adventure-based experiential activities, including problem solving, service learning, & equine activities, delivered to 6th grade youth in three settings:

• School-based: weekly sessions develop social emotional learning skills

• Community-based: weekly after school sessions, and bi-monthly weekend/vacation sessions build on school component and further develop skills to support healthy development (the “Six Cs”)

• Wilderness-based: hiking, camping, etc.

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The Web of Life Study:Evaluation Design

• Quasi-experimental, with two program sites (Laguna Middle School and Chief Manuelito Middle School, Gallup), and two comparison sites (Zuni Middle School and JF Kennedy Middle School, Gallup)

• Pre, post and one year follow-up survey designed to measure risk as well as resilience factors

• Careful documentation of program delivery, fidelity, and quality

• Four cohorts of 6th graders, beginning with 2011-2012 school year.

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Web of Life Study:Outcome Measures

• Developmental assets

• Substance use

• Mental health (depression, anxiety)

• Ethnic Identity

• Sexual behavior

• www.niylp.org

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