Project Description
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have demonstrated higher rates of infection in Alachua County (Florida Department of Health, 2022) and among those who have experienced ACEs (Felitti et al., 2018). Additionally, STI testing resources in low-income communities have often been under-utilized (Fasciana et al., 2022). Based on this, I have proposed an intervention to improve STI knowledge and safe sexual health practices, including routine STI testing, among a population of 14-21-year-old adolescents who have experienced at least one ACE in Alachua County. The program includes educational sessions in monthly meetings, group outings to build peer bonds and resiliency, and visits with provided licensed therapists and social workers. Participants will also receive provided STI testing panels every 6 months to instill habits of routine STI testing. This project intends to build a robust sexual health skillset in participants, improve knowledge about STIs, and build resiliency in participants and family members.
Trauma-Informed Principles
Four trauma-informed principles laid out by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration are built into the program (substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2014). Peer support is critical to project activities, as participants will be split into 6 groups of 12-14 individuals that do activities such as group outings together. These groups will be monitored to ensure they are beneficial to participants. Collaboration and mutuality are promoted through the diverse group of professionals working with the project, including social workers, therapists, and public health professionals. To protect safety, project staff will be cognizant of participants' self-perceived safety, and there will be methods to inform the staff if participants feel unsafe, and activities will be adjusted accordingly. Lastly, trustworthiness and transparency are promoted through constant communication with participants and family members, and the sharing of the project's materials with all involved parties.
Levels of the Social-Ecological Model
This program specifically targets the individual and relationship level of the CDC's social-ecological model (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). The individual level is addressed through activities targeting individuals regarding sexual health, coping, and self-care strategies. The relationship level is addressed in the peer-to-peer bonding and interactions that function to increase resiliency through social support. The program also engages the community level in smaller ways, as it is intended that the program provides a safe environment for participants to build relationships and skillsets in the other two levels.
Public Health Framework
This program was built to address multiple levels of public health prevention to provide a thorough and well-balanced approach to reaching the project's goals. This includes the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels (Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia, 2016). At the primary level, the knowledge participants gain can be used to prevent STI infection in the future, lowering the risk of infection. Since this program also provides STI testing, this is an application of secondary prevention, as they can help connect participants to immediate care. The care itself is a tertiary prevention, as well as the therapists that participants are provided. Overall, these program procedures were carefully planned to ensure participants both have their immediate sexual and mental health concerns taken care of, and are provided the skillset to protect their health in the future
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). The Social-Ecological Model. https://www.cdc.gov/violencepr...petrating%20violence.
Fasciana, T., Capra, G., Lipari, D., Firenze, A., & Giammanco, A. (2022). Sexually transmitted diseases: Diagnosis and control. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(9), 5293. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19095293
Felitti, V. J., Anda, R. F., Nordenberg, D., Williamson, D. F., Spitz, A. M., Edwards, V., Koss, M. P., & Marks, J. S. (1998). Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14(4), 245-258. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0749-3797(98)00017-8
Florida Department of Health (2022). Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). https://www.flhealthcharts.gov/Charts/
Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia. (2016). Trauma-Informed Philanthropy: A Funder’s Resource Guide for Supporting Trauma-Informed Practice in the Delaware Valley.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2014). SAMHSA’s concept of trauma and guidance for a trauma-informed approach. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Comments (0)