The purpose of the SRAE program is to fund projects to implement sexual risk avoidance education, defined by statuteas voluntarily refraining from non-marital sexual activity. The services are targeted to participants who reside in underrepresented or underserved communities with high rates of teen births and/or are at greatest risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Departmental SRAE FOA Due 6/24/24
We will be updating the HFNC tool kit as necessary. Please check back frequently.
Program Goals
Click here for a description of program goals, each unit’s objectives, time required to administer each unit, and expected outcomes.
Goals, Objectives and Logic Models
Program Approach
Healthy Futures Nu-CULTURE (HFNC) uses a strengths-based approach to motivate adolescents to embrace the developmentally appropriate truth that “The choices you make NOW affect you LATER!” Engaging youth throughout the program with interactive activities, competitions, and games inspires youth to create a strong sense of individual agency.
Click Here for details regarding the theoretical frameworks supporting the program activities.
Click Here to access the program’s logic model.
Through engaging activities, HFNC develops skills youth need to avoid sexual activity during their teen years. The program serves youth in middle school by delivering 8 (50) minute lessons in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, targeting youth ages 11-15 from diversecommunities and backgrounds. HFNC provides lessons about contraceptives and STI/STD prevention without normalizing sexual activity for youth because the information includes both the risks and benefits of using reduction strategies; however, the information is not personalized to adolescents. The contraceptive and STI/STD information does not include demonstrations and was updated for medical accuracy in 2023. Engaging activities support adolescents, encouraging them to consider making the healthiest decision, which is to avoid sexual risk during their teen years.
Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate: The Healthy Futures program has been implemented successfully in diverse communities, including urban, suburban, rural, and tribal nations across the United States. The program is in English but can be easily translated into Spanish. HFNC is successfully implemented in communities experiencing health disparities and high levels of adolescent pregnancy.
HFNC weaves a positive youth development (PYD) approach throughout the three-year program. Strategies include positive connections with supportive adults, self-regulation and self-control, planning and decision-making, developing a sense of purpose, and practicing a healthy lifestyle addressed in the core components of the curriculum. Click here for a detailed analysis of the PYD utilized in Healthy Futures.
Trauma-Informed Approaches: The facilitator training includes strategies for implementing the program using trauma-informed approaches recommended by the Family and Youth Services Bureau. A copy of the Creating Safe Spaces Guide is provided directly in the curriculum for all licensed facilitators. The curriculum overview for the program provides warnings and strategies for providing adolescents and their parents with sensitive content before it is delivered.
Using a spiral curriculum design, developmentally appropriate concepts are introduced beginning with the 6th grade and then expanded in the 7th and 8th grades. Parents, caregivers, and other trusted adults receive a Parent/Trusted Adult Connection form highlighting each lesson. All Parent/Trusted Adult Connection forms provide tips for parents and caregivers to expand and reinforce critical conversations with their teens.
A-F Topic | Lesson # |
A. Holistic individual and societal benefits associated with personal responsibility, self-regulation, goal setting, healthy decision making and a focus on the future. | Session 6.1 Decision Making, Mission Possible Session 6.4 Interpersonal Interactions and Romantic Relationships Session 6.7 Conflict Resolution Session 7.1: Keys to Success Session 7.4 Stress, Positive Character Traits and Peer Pressure Activity 7.5.3 Rules, Limits and Boundaries Session 8.1 Goals and Dreams, Healthy Relationships and Emotional Needs
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B. Advantage of refraining from non-marital sexual activity to improve future prospects and physical and emotional health of youth. | Session 6.3 Gender Reflection, Emotional Needs, Identity and Self Concept Session 6.6 Abstinence and Developing Refusal Skills Session 7. 2 Basic Human Needs, Levels of Friendship Session 7.5 Consequences of Sexual Activity: Pregnancy and Emotional Needs Session 7.6 Consequences of Sexual Activity: STIs Session 8.1 Goals and Dreams, Healthy Relationships and Emotional Needs Session 8.2 Puberty, Pregnancy, and Abstinence Session 8.4 Sexually Transmitted Infections Session 8.7 Peer Pressure and Avoiding Risky Behavior |
C. The increased likelihood of avoiding poverty when youth attain self-sufficiency and emotional maturity before engaging in sexual activity. | Session 8.1 Introduction to Healthy Futures, Goals and Dreams, Healthy Relationships, and Emotional Needs. This lesson includes an supplemental lesson about Success Sequencing for Poverty Prevention |
D. The foundational components of healthy relationships and their impact on the formation of healthy marriages and safe and stable families. | Session 6.4 Interpersonal Interactions and Romantic Relationships Session 6.5 Healthy Relationships with Family and Peers Session 7.2 Basic Human Needs, Levels of Friendship Session 8.6 Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships |
E. How other youth risk behaviors, such as drug and alcohol usage increase the risk for teen sex. | Activity 6.1.6 Decision Making Activity 6.1.7 Decision Making Scale Activity 7.4.9 Refusal Scenarios Activity 7.5.3 Rules Limits and Boundaries Session 8.7 Peer Pressure and Avoiding Risky Behavior |
F. How to resist and avoid, and receive help regarding sexual coercion and dating violence, recognizing that even with consent teen sex remains a youth risk behavior. | Session 6.5 Healthy Relationships with Family and Peers Session 6.6 Abstinence and Developing Refusal Skills Session 6.7 Conflict Resolution, Sexual Abuse and Cyber Assault Session 7.2.6 Online Safety Session 7.4 Stress, Positive Character Traits, Peer Pressure Session 7.7 Sexual Offenses Session 8.7 Peer Pressure and Avoiding Risky Behavior Session 8.8 Sex and the Law, Media Influence |
Rationale for Using Healthy Futures Nu-CULTURE
Program elements used in HFNC are effective for positive youth behavior change through a rigorous randomized controlled study demonstrating the program significantly delayed the initiation of sexual activity.
The evidence-based version implements 1200 minutes over 3 years (400 minutes per year, (24) 50-minute sessions). Implementation of the delivery is flexible and appropriate for in-school, after-school, and summer camps. Each lesson includes a Parent/Trusted Adult Connection form. Click on the links below to review the scope and sequence of each grade.
The core components implemented in the program are
- Incorporating the message “The choices you make now affect you later!”
- Implement (24)50-minute lessons over 3 three years to 6th, 7th, and 8th grade
- Building participants’ skills and self-efficacy to effectively weigh the benefits and consequences of their
- Incorporating activities that increase knowledge and influence positive attitudes, beliefs and self-efficacy to prepare teens for making healthy choices regarding relationships and sexual activity.
- Using age-appropriate and medically accurate materials and activities
- Delivering high-quality, participatory, and interactive
- Engaging parents and guardians via distribution of daily Parent/Trusted Adult Connection
- Curriculum Outline:
Formal Training and Year – Long Technical Assistance
Dr. Lisa Rue and developer Rhea Gordon conduct the training for school district health teachers and community-based organizations that desire to become licensed users of HFNC. For over twenty years, HFNC has served multiple populations, including communities and youth who face significant needs and systemic disparities.
Rhea Gordon, the program developer, was the foster parent for over 35 youth. This keen insight into the needs of youth who have experienced significant trauma and loss supported the development of an effective program for ALL youth. Click here for Rhea’s resume.
Dr. Lisa Rue has over 30 years of experience working with adolescents, including school-based sex education. She received her PhD from Colorado State University in 2005. She has developed risk reduction and avoidance prevention programs for adolescents and emerging adults. Dr. Rue has been funded as Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator on 10 teen pregnancy prevention program evaluations. She is a popular presenter both in the U.S. and Internationally with 24 professional publications, including 51 juried and invited conference presentations in education and adolescent health promotion. Click here for Lisa’s resume.
All facilitators/educators participate in a 3-day licensure training that reviews the program model, theoretical models, youth risk and protective factors, and elements of successful implementation. Click here to review a sample training agenda.
Implementation with Fidelity and Inclusive Language
In 2023, the entire curriculum was independently reviewed and updated for medical accuracy, trauma-informed implementation, and inclusive language and strategies. All citations related to the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases, contraception, and HIV prevention wereupdated to 2019 statistics and referenced in peer-reviewed publications by educational, scientific, governmental, or health organizations.
Where appropriate, sections include trigger warnings for sensitive content. The program and training include Creating Safe Spaces: SRAEFacilitator Guide to Trauma Informed Programing by the Family and Youth Services Bureau. The program aligns with the CDC’s Health Education Curriculum Assessment Tool, accessible by clicking here. Inclusive materials representing diverse populations are provided in the updated HFNC 2.0 curriculum. The training licenses facilitators using guidelines to ensure their program implementation is inclusive to all children. Refusal skills and scripts for role-play scenarios include characters from diverse groups. Click here for Inclusive Guidelines.
Each session includes fidelity monitoring checklists (6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade), including guidelines for appropriate adaptations to the evidence-based model. Several lessons provide opportunities supporting the decision to delay sexual activity or return to a lifestyle that avoids sexual risk-taking (Decision-Making Session 6.1, Session 7.3 Rules, Setting Limits, and Boundaries, Session 8.1 Peer Pressure and Avoiding).
Dr. Lisa Rue provides all SRAE facilitators with ongoing technical assistance support throughout the year. In addition, SRAE facilitators participate in an annual 4-hour technical assistance networking meeting. This support session is designed to encourage licensed facilitators by providing tips and tricks to overcome barriers and enhance the effective delivery of the program. During this meeting, new strategies and research are presented, and SRAE facilitators are provided the opportunity to troubleshoot successes and barriers and share capacity-building ideas with the other licensed facilitators across the country.
Evidence Based Strategies
Healthy Futures Nu-CULTURE (HFNC) was found effective at increasing the percentage of adolescents that delay the initiation of sexual activity. The study concluded that the program delayed sexual initiation for girls and for Hispanic populations1. Empowering youth to delay the onset of sexual activity improves health equity and sexual reproductive health outcomes by:
- reducing the chances of a pregnancy early in adolescence2
- reducing the chances of STI infection
In 2016, the program’s outcomes were published in the American Journal of Public Health in 2016.1 This independent evaluation found that the program significantly delayed the onset of sexual activity specifically for girls and for Hispanic populations. This study placed HFNC on the Health and Human Services list for evidence-based programs.
1 Calise, T. V., Chow, W., Dore, K. F., O’Brien, M. J., Heitz, E. R., & Millock, R. R. (2016). Healthy futures program and adolescent sexual behaviors in 3 Massachusetts cities: A randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Public Health, 106, SI03-Sl09. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2016.303389
2 Rotz Dana, Brian Goesling, Nicholas Redel, Menbree Shiferaw, and Claire Smither-Wulsin (2020). Assessing the Benefits of Delayed Sexual Activity: A Synthesis of the Literature. OPRE Report 2020-04, Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
For the full report about the benefits of delayed sexual activity, click here.
For the full impact study about the Healthy Futures program, click here.
Tools for Grant Application
Populations
- Tribal Youth
- Inner City Youth
- Rural, Urban and Suburban Youth
- Youth in Foster Care
Setting
- Faith Based
- Schools
- Summer Camps
- Community Based Agencies
- Group Homes and Foster Care
Annotated slide deck
Subject Matter Experts and Evaluators at Healthy Futures provide the following add-on services including:
- Getting ‘buy-in’ and scaling
- Monitoring and recruiting participants
- Implementation strategies across program settings
- Pre implementation program planning, avoiding pitfalls and barriers during implementation, and post implementation debriefing sessions
- Monitoring and support for appropriate green light cultural adaptations
- Alignment of HFNU to your area Health Education Standards
Base Budget Costs for HFNC Implementation
| Tool Kits (includes 6th, 7th, and 8th grade tangibles may need more than one) | $1,680.00 |
| Wheels (may need more than one and can share) | $432.00 |
| Access Codes (per school setting) license is transferable and for perpetuity | $2,250.00 |
Three-day in person training @ $5,000 per day (30 people) $500.00 per person, training costs are adjusted for smaller groups
| $15,000.00 $3,180.00 |
Additional Tangibles purchased separately.
| Locks and Keys for 7th Grade Keys to Success (set of 12) | $40.00 |
Now and Later Candies, Hershey Kisses (400 count mixed flavor) $25 Colored Beads, brown paper bags $15.00 Plastic eggs $15.00
| $55.00 |
| Hybrid Training 2 days in person and 1 day of zoom teach-backs | $10,000.00 |
Gnowbe Micro Learning (ages 14–17) Initial set up fee
(Facilitator fees provided by district or CBO) | $4,500.00 |
To ensure the highest quality, we recommend in person training for 3 full days. Training costs depend on number of youth and students served.
Hybrid model includes 2 full days of training and 1 day of online teach-backs. Train-the-trainer guidelines provided by request.
Annual 4-hour Booster Training and Ongoing Technical Assistance (via zoom). $3,000.00
Click here to review a sample training agenda
- Introduction to CQI teams. Describes the importance of having a CQI implementation team, who should be on the team, and how it should operate.
- Team charter/agreement. Contains a template that CQI implementation teams can use to define core team
- Team decision-making techniques. Describes two decision-making models CQI implementation teams can use to make key decisions.
- Team meeting sample agenda. Contains a draft agenda template that CQI implementation teams can use to review and analyze data to inform decision-making.
- Team meeting facilitation strategies. Describes facilitation strategies CQI teams can use to incorporate diverse perspectives, guide question development, and gain consensus.
- Team communication processes. CQI implementation teams can use this worksheet to develop their communication protocols, which is relevant to a broader audience.
- Team composition. Helps CQI implementation teams map the characteristics of team members to understand the team’s strengths and gaps in perspectives and experience.
- CQI template. This template is intended to guide the development of CQI
- Webinar: What makes a high-quality CQI plan? Webinar provides actionable guidance/examples on how the CQI template can be completed.
- Templates for feedback surveys and exit tickets. Two examples of feedback forms CQI implementation teams can use or adapt to collect client feedback on workshops.