The YES! Club is an abstinence-only after school or summer program utilizing a three-tiered mentoring, peer education, system (college mentors work with high school students, high school students mentor 5th-8th grade club participants, 8th grade club participants prepare to mentor as they participate in the clubs).
Youth acquire skills necessary to choose abstinence from sex and other related risky behaviors. It also aims at developing positive social behaviors such as self-discipline, responsibility, good judgment, school and family attachment, and the ability to get along with others.
It is expected that these youth will then go into the local community and school to become positive role models advocating abstinence with their friends, family and in the community at large.
This intervention provides a much needed after school/summer program during hours youth are most commonly unsupervised. Positive components include: service learning, teen mentoring, educating about positive peer pressure, refusal and resistance skills.
The clubs incorporate the ten characteristics of effective curricula and meet state guidelines for abstinence education programs. In order to be eligible to attend a Promise Ceremony, where the students make public pledges to remain abstinent until marriage, the students had to have either a 75% attendance record or 14 hours (this is determined by location).
Frequency/Duration of Club:
YES! Club participants one or two days a week for at least eight sessions. Each session is normally two to three hours in length depending on the location. Teens reflect on the week’s activities as well as discuss and learn skills that are applicable to the issues faced by teens.
Daily Schedule (as presented in four stations):
1. Abstinence Education: Small group work, broken down into grade level groups where time is allotted for learning, practicing the skills necessary to avoid risky behaviors.
2. Non-competitive team building activities: Designed to teach and incorporate communication, problem solving, and refusal skills.
3. Make it take it lesson: A hands on learning activity (generally a craft) that relates to the abstinence education lesson. When youth take it home, it reinforces the message to the youth, and to family and friends.
4. Tutoring (some locations): Time allotted for participants to complete the day’s homework or receive homework assistance from qualified tutors.
Cost:
The club is free to club members and the teen mentors. Additionally, free transportation home is provided at some club locations. Incentives and/or pay is given to teen mentors for their contribution to the success of this program.
Evaluation:
Linked pre and post-tests will be used to evaluate changes in knowledge, attitude, behavior or intentions associated with the 14 hour programming requirement.
Typical Units:
Some of the units covered MAY include the ones listed below. Some clubs may not cover all of these units, others may incorporate other topics, depending on length of program and/or needs of the student population:
Unit 1- Getting to Know You
Normally held in the first week, this unit is used to get the youth and workers acquainted with the program and each other. Activities are centered around ice-breaking games. Crafts are used to tell a story about the person—a way to get to know each person. Education is about everyone’s roles/expectations, with an additional unit on Love Languages, which is an introduction for parents to get involved as well.
Unit 2- Character
This unit examines the importance of having good character. The goal is for participants to understand what it consists of and how to achieve it.
Unit 3- Conflict Resolution and Violence
Participants examine ways to resolve conflicts, and the violent situations they need to stay away from. Activities promote everyone working together on a common goal, while learning to get along.
Unit 4- Abstinence and Media Pressures
A unit used to point out how much pressure and influence our media culture exerts on youth in regards to sex and other risky behaviors.
Unit 5- STDs and Other Risks of Early Sexual Involvement
Youth learn the risks they face by becoming sexually active at an early age and/or outside of marriage. Education uses resource materials on all the different STDs and HIV/AIDS. The education is more intensive in that overheads and more statistical information is relayed, but in an interesting manner. Activities reinforce how prevalent STDs are and all the risks associated with not saying NO.
Unit 6- Peer Pressure
The concept of peer pressure—positive and negative types—are examined. Activities highlight ways to get out of negative pressure situations. Education is primarily through videotapes with follow-up discussions.
Unit 7- Sexual and Risky Behaviors with Refusal Skills
This unit takes the peer pressure unit a step further by concentrating more on ways to get out of high-risk situations. Information is given regarding the effects of alcohol and other drugs on a person’s ability to resist sexual situations. Activities rely on youth being creative, with follow-up done during the education portions.
Unit 8- Marriage and Making the Promise
This unit is intended to be used during the final week of the program. Plans for a promise ring ceremony are made, explained and promoted. Activities center around wrapping up what everyone learned during the past weeks of the program. The importance of making a promise to remain abstinent are explained, and those who want to are encouraged to participate in making that pledge.
