The 1-session youth/parent component is delivered at home or in another private setting within 3 months after the 8 youth peer-group sessions. It can be implemented in various community-based settings. In past evaluation, the curriculum was implemented as part of an 8-day summer basketball camp. The curriculum was designed to be used with small groups of Native American youth ranging from 8 to 12 participants, led by two trained Native American facilitators. The accompanying DVD was reproduced with local actors and testimonials, including traditional Native storytelling and adding an emphasis on the balance among physical, spiritual and emotional health.All content was modified to reflect the local language, include familiar characters, and add culturally relevant examples and scenarios.Edits to reflect the importance of social pressure on males and self-esteem and connectedness on females for sexual decision making were added.

Comprehensive substance use prevention components teaching peer refusal and pro-peer relations were built in.

Community- and youth-centered strategies for overcoming access barriers to condom and contraceptive use were included.

Content around reproductive anatomy, sexual and reproductive health information, pregnancy prevention strategies and applied skills training was enhanced.

To better address the needs of Native American youth, the following adaptations were made to the FOY curriculum: The Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health worked with Native American community members to adapt the program for use with Native youth and families to include a focus on unintended pregnancy in addition to STD/HIV. Respecting the Circle of Life is adapted from Focus on Youth with ImPACT (FOY), a program originally developed in Baltimore to reduce the risk of HIV among urban African-American youth. Respecting the Circle of Life is one of the first sexual and reproductive health programs to be developed and rigorously evaluated with Native American youth and families. The program also covers decision making, values, goal setting, communication, and knowledge about risk behaviors associated with HIV, other STDs, teen pregnancy, violence, and alcohol and drug use. The primary goal of the program is to give youth the knowledge and skills they need to protect themselves from unplanned pregnancy and STDs. Respecting the Circle of Life: Mind, Body & Spirit is an STD/HIV and pregnancy prevention program for Native American youth between the ages 11 and 19 and their parents or other trusted adults. Overview | Description | Population | Author

The circle of life