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The Research
The Intervention The Research
The Science Behind the Package
Project AIM is a group-level youth development intervention designed to reduce
HIV risk behaviors among youth. The intervention is based on the Theory of
Possible Selves, which states that a person’s motivation is determined by a
balance of positive and negative ways people see themselves in the future.
Individuals who are able to imagine both possible positive and negative futures
are more likely to work toward their life goals and achieve future success.
Thus, Project AIM encourages at-risk youth to imagine a positive future and
discuss how current risk behaviors can be a barrier to a successful adulthood.
Target Population
African American youth ages 11-14
Intervention
Project AIM originally consisted of ten 50-minute sessions delivered to groups
of 10 to 20 youth. During translation and packaging, the intervention was
expanded to twelve sessions by making some of the activities its own
session. The intervention is divided into four parts. Using group
discussions and interactive activities, Part One encourages youth to explore
their personal interests, social surrounding, and what they want to become
as an adult. Youth also identify people in their lives who may be barriers
or supporters to their successful adulthood. Young adults from the community
who are on their road to success are invited to speak with youth in Part
One. In Part Two of the intervention, youth envision themselves in a future
career and connect current behavior with success as an adult through
activities such as completing a career interest inventory, developing
business cards and resumes, and participating in interviews. Part Three of
the intervention engages youth in role-plays around communication and small
group activities involving planning and decision-making. Part Four provides
the opportunity for youth to think about their future in terms of milestones
to accomplish goals and overcome potential obstacles they may encounter in
life.
Research Results
Project AIM was tested in schools among African American 7th grade
students in a suburb near Birmingham, Alabama. At 12 weeks after the
intervention youth participating in Project AIM compared with youth not
receiving the intervention reported the following outcomes:
- Increased abstinence
- Decreased intention to engage in sex
For Details on the Research Design
Clark, L., Miller, K., Nagy, S., Avery, J., Roth, D., Liddon, N., et
al. (2005). Adult identity mentoring: Reducing sexual risk for
African-American seventh grade students. Journal of Adolescent
Health, 37, 337.e1–337.e10.
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The Intervention
A Package Developed from Science
Replicating Effective Programs (REP) is a CDC-initiated project that
identifies HIV/AIDS prevention interventions with demonstrated
evidence of efficacy. REP supports the original researchers in
developing a user-friendly package of materials designed for
prevention providers. Project AIM is one the REP interventions and
is the product of extensive collaboration among researchers,
educators, providers, community agencies, and youth. Project AIM has
been field tested in two community-based settings, including a
church setting, by non-research staff with African American and
Latino youth. Therefore, this intervention package is appropriate
for implementation in community settings by agency staff serving
African American and Latino youth. With minor adaptation, the
intervention package also may be appropriate for youth of other
races or ethnicities living in low-income neighborhoods. Project AIM
is also currently being field tested in low-income school districts.
Core Elements
Core elements are intervention components that must
be maintained without alteration to ensure program effectiveness.
Project AIM core elements include: Content Core Elements
- Engage youth in thinking about a positive possible future self.
- Look ahead to the future as successful adults.
- Envision a positive future self.
- Set goals and plans to achieve a positive future as an adult.
- Articulate the specific details of a positive future self.
- Engage youth in present actions to achieve future success.
- Develop skills to achieve effective communication.
- Identify their strengths and the resources needed for future
success.
- Experience success to reinforce youths’ positive future selves.
- Encourage youth to safeguard the future through risk reduction.
- Develop strategies to safeguard the likelihood of a positive future
self through risk reduction and a balance of their future possible
positive and negative selves.
Implementation Core Elements
- Use two skilled and trained facilitators whom youth find credible to
deliver Project AIM.
- Deliver multiple intervention sessions, with sufficient time between
sessions for youth to process information, draw conclusions, and invest in
their goals.
Pedagogical Core Element
- Have youth create a compilation of their work representing
their positive possible future self and the activities for achieving that
possible future self.
- Deliver activities in ways that support youths with enthusiastic
positive feedback that focuses on their individual strengths.
Package Contents
- Project AIM Implementation Manual including a Facilitator’s
Handbook
- Posters and a CD with youth worksheets
These additional materials are not part of the package and must
be ordered by agencies on their own:
- The Career Game Explorer Booklets and Web tickets
Intervention Orientation
Program staff from agencies adopting Project AIM attend a 3-day
training in which they learn about the intervention objectives, why
it works, and how to conduct the program in their setting. They also
have the opportunity to practice intervention delivery skills, and
identify agency-specific intervention strategies.
Technical Assistance
To be determined
Timeline for
Availability
Development of the REP package is underway. Pilot testing of the
package has been completed. Final versions of REP materials will be
available soon.
For More Information
on Project AIM Package
Donna Lopez or Dr. Leslie Clark at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles,
Division of Research on Children, Youth and Families, 6430 Sunset
Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90027. Phone: 323.361-8446. E-mail:
dolopez@chla.usc.edu or
lclark@chla.usc.edu.
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