The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
has changed the way it’s promoting sexual health. In the
past, large projects often focused on educating as many
individuals as possible. Today, new data have shown better
ways to use limited resources to the greatest effect. More
effort will be spent reaching and engaging those at high-
est risk for poor health outcomes such as HIV, STD and
unplanned pregnancy.
ETR is working on several projects funded by the CDC
to promote targeted outreach to high-risk adolescents and
young adults. We’re also working collaboratively with
other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to pro-
vide capacity-building assistance to local- and state-level
educators. This will help them strengthen efforts toward
establishing exemplary programs.
In the HIV prevention arena, one new strategy is called
“treatment as prevention.” Essential components include
identifying those with HIV, facilitating their entry into
treatment, and offering ongoing support that helps them
stay in treatment. Early and ongoing treatment lowers
More effort will be spent reaching
and engaging those at highest risk
for poor health outcomes such as
HIV, STD and unplanned pregnancy.
For more information about
ETR’s work in sexual and reproductive health, contact:
the level of virus in the body and reduces transmission to
others. Programs serving those with HIV are also paying
greater attention to social determinants of health that can
affect enrollment in and adherence to treatment.
This new model of health promotion has challenged
many organizations and schools accustomed to differ-
ent types of service delivery. ETR is excited to be a part
of these important efforts, and gratified to play a role in
bringing greater innovation to the field.
What happens when students have an opportunity to
use school-based health and wellness services? The San
Francisco Wellness Initiative found that these services sig-
nificantly increased youth development assets for public
high school students.
This means that youth who used the services, even just
one or two times, reported more caring relationships with
adults at their school, a belief that adults held high expec-
tations for their success, and a sense that they had oppor-
tunities to participate in their school in meaningful ways.
These three factors have been shown to promote better
social, emotional and academic outcomes for all students.
The largest impacts were found among students with
the highest risk factors for things such as skipping over a
month of school, using alcohol and other drugs, attempt-
ing suicide and getting poor grades.
“This research provides robust evidence that school-
based health services make an effective and powerful dif-
ference for students,” says John Shields, PhD, lead program
evaluator and co-author of the recently-published study.
SFUSD Superintendent Richard Carranza says the
study provides “the strongest evidence we have to date of
the positive impact our Wellness Centers have… [and]
shows we are having the greatest impact on the very stu-
dents who need the most support to succeed in school.”
To read a summary of the research,
Our Impact on
School-Based Youth Development Assets,
please visit the
For more information about
ETR’s work with the Wellness Initiative, contact:
John Shields
HIV, STD & Pregnancy Prevention
NewWays to Focus
Finding Better Ways to Reach At-Risk Youth
San Francisco Wellness Initiative
This study was conducted in
partnership with the San Francisco
Wellness Initiative, the University
of California, Berkeley, and the
University of Denver.
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Quarterly Report
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