Pediatrics
P.O.W.E.R. Program
(Peer Outreach Workers Educating Risk-Takers)
The Peer Outreach Workers Educating Risk-Takers - POWER Program was established in 1995. POWER's goal is to educate, promote, and demonstrate strategic planning for healthy behaviors among teens (13-19), who are at risk for contracting and transmitting sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV. This goal is accomplished by providing modernized and culturally appropriate services and materials through prevention education.
POWER provides two unique services, Powerful Training and VOICES. Powerful Training is a peer education certification course that equips teens to make responsible decisions. The following topics are addressed:
- HIV/STI education
- Self-confidence
- Peer pressure
- Peer to peer education
- Negotiation skills
- Free teen services
VOICES is an evidence proven intervention, approved by the Center for Disease Control. VOICES is a 45 minute gender and ethnic specific intervention that includes:
- Viewing culturally specific videos portraying condom negotiation
- Group skill building sessions to work on overcoming barriers to condom use
- Educating participants about different types of condoms and their features
- Distributing condoms identified by participants as best meeting their need
Providing youth with information is valuable, but hwat is even more important is that youth are taught the techniques necessary to turn their knowledge into action. Contact the POWER Program today!