Client

NJ Physicians Advisory Group (NJPAG), through a contract with AMTC Consulting

Challenge

According to the Centers for Disease Control many young persons in the United States engage in risky sexual behavior and experience negative reproductive health outcomes NJPAG has created a curriculum for youth to help them avoid risk and make healthy choices using a three-pronged approach: the right information, a realistic application to one’s life, and sincere encouragement and support. In other words, NJPAG educators strive to give young people the facts and help them believe that they can make difficult, yet wise, choices in their own best interest. Their curriculum is currently used in over 250 schools throughout New Jersey and 8 additional states. They were recently awarded a PREIS grant to conduct a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) to determine the impact of their curriculum.

Solution

In this project we work closely with NJPAG as their external evaluator. We have created all of the processes and procedures associated with data collection and analysis. We have conducted site visits to ensure these processes and procedures are implemented with fidelity. Specifically, we are responsible for registering the study and obtaining IRB approval, creating valid and reliable measures, developing scripts for data collection processes, conducting power analyses and tests of baseline equivalence, and tracking attrition of our treatment and control groups to ensure we do not have differential attrition. The goal of this study is to see if the NJPAG curriculum can be added to the evidence based list for promising programs for reducing sexual risk. 

Impact

The impact of this study is that if found successful the curriculum will be included on the evidence abased list.