| Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention and Services (APPS) project is pleased to offer the scientifically proven Teen Outreach Program (TOP) to the APW, Hannibal and Mexico Middle School’s After School Programs. TOP has been proven to reduce participants rate of course failure in school by 11%; lower the rate of school suspension by 14%; lower the rate of teen pregnancy by 33% and lower the rate of school dropouts by 60%.
TOP employs a two-part strategy of community service and small group discussion. The program brings youth together with their peers in discussions facilitated by an APPS staff member trained in the TOP Program, to talk about school, family, friends, relationships, sex, ambitions and their community. Through a series of curriculum guided interactive exercises, youth in TOP develop life skills such as communication, decision-making, and goal setting.
In addition, participants each complete an average of 20 hours of community service work during the school year. In conjunction with the group experience, young people design and participate in individual and team service projects. These experiences help youth develop the lifelong learning skills of assessment, information gathering, problem solving, negotiation, and evaluation. The program will be a partnership between schools and community, which can be the catalyst for forging strong community wide partnerships in local efforts to promote positive youth development. |
