Power Through Choices
Proven effective. Designed for and with young people involved in systems of care.
Power Through Choices is a 10-session, evidence-based sexual health education program specifically designed for adolescents ages 13–18 involved in systems of care. Power Through Choices was the first sexuality education curriculum developed for young people who are involved in a child welfare or juvenile justice system.
The Power Through Choices curriculum is available for purchase. While training is not required to implement, purchasers have the option to enroll in a virtual Training-of-Facilitators session within one year of purchase—at no additional cost. These virtual trainings are offered twice a year.
Quick Look
Power Through Choices is an evidence-based sexual health education program specifically designed for adolescents ages 13–18 involved in systems of care.
10, 90-Minute Sessions
For Young People, Ages 13-18, Involved in Systems of Care
Trauma-Informed
Choice-Focused
Evidence-Based Program
Based in Theory
Self-Empowering
LGBTQ+-Inclusive
Implement in a Wide Range of Settings
For Groups of 8-20 Participants
Read on to learn more about the curriculum including evaluation findings, adaptations, facilitator resources, and training.
About the Curriculum
Power Through Choices was the first sexuality education curriculum developed for young people, ages 13-18, who are involved in a child welfare or juvenile justice system to help them prevent pregnancy, HIV, and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
The curriculum’s goal is to provide young people involved in systems of care with specific information and skills to help them avoid risk-taking sexual behavior and reduce the incidence of adolescent pregnancy, HIV, and other STIs.
The proven-effective sexual health curriculum is
- Based in theory,
- LGBTQ+ inclusive, and
- Trauma-Informed.
Goal & Behaviors
The curriculum’s goal is to provide young people involved in systems of care with specific information and skills to help them avoid risk-taking sexual behaviors and reduce the incidence of adolescent pregnancy, HIV, and other STIs.
Through this curriculum, with a focus on self-empowerment and the impact of choices, youth participants learn to:
- Make healthy, positive choices related to sexual behaviors
- Develop and practice effective communication skills;
- Identify and access available resources; and
- Use effective pregnancy and STI protection.
Theoretical Framework
Power Through Choices is anchored on four theories:
Health Belief Model
Readiness for action is fueled by an individual’s confidence in their ability to prevent undesired outcomes and take proactive steps toward a healthier future. In this context, the focus is on preventing pregnancy, HIV, and other STIs. The curriculum’s skill-building approach and emphasis on self-empowerment aim to enhance participants’ belief in their ability to effectively navigate these situations and make positive choices.
Theory of Reasoned Action/Rational Model
Behavioral intention is a strong predictor of behavior. This theory focuses on the individual evaluating the consequences of their behavior and their attitudes, as well as the attitudes of others. The curriculum’s emphasis on making choices and the impact of choices on an individual’s future relates directly to this theory.
Self-Regulation Theory
Individuals are viewed as feedback systems attempting to bring their current states closer to their goal states. Power Through Choices focuses on setting short- and long-term goals, as well as the importance of planning and protecting oneself if they are going to have sex.
Social and Cognitive Learning Theory
Actions are often learned by watching others model the action and then practicing the behavior. Power Through Choices provides many opportunities for observation and practice through activities that engage young people.
About the Training
Don’t just take our word for it! Check out what some of our past participants have to say about attending a Power Through Choices training.
Get It Now: Curriculum Materials
Power Through Choices is available for purchase now. Materials include everything you need to implement the curriculum with young people.
Print Materials
With your purchase, you’ll receive a print copy of the following materials in a three-ring binder.
- Session plans
- Facilitator notes
- Handouts
Digital Downloads
With your purchase, you will also receive a link to download a digital copy of the documents needed for implementation:
- Survey tool for youth participants
- Certificates of completion template
- Power Through Choices style guide
- Slideshow template for the sessions on STIs and anatomy
Optional Training-of-Facilitators
As of September 2023, the Power Through Choices Training-of-Facilitators is encouraged but not required. After purchasing the curriculum, you have the option to enroll in a virtual Power Through Choices Training-of-Facilitators within one year of purchase, at no additional cost (training fee is included in the cost of the curriculum). We offer these trainings virtually twice a year.
Ordered your curriculum already? Check out our events calendar to find the next training date. Or, let us know how we can help.
Ongoing Curriculum Review & Updates
At least every three years, or as needed, Healthy Teen Network reviews the curriculum for:
- Medical accuracy updates;
- Language and pedagogy updates;
- Alignment with diversity, equity, and inclusion best practices; and
- Alignment with trauma-informed practices and inclusive best practices.
We provide, at no additional cost, a summary list of updates.
Facilitation Resources & Training
Ready to go? We’ve got the resources, training, and support you need to implement Power Through Choices.
Evidence-Based Program
Power Through Choices is a proven effective program and is widely recognized as an evidence-based program:
- Teen Pregnancy Evidence Review (TPPER): Evidence-Based Program
- Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development: Certified Promising Program
As part of the program’s randomized control trial, young people receiving the Power Through Choices curriculum reported statistically significant impacts in numerous areas on a 12-month post-program survey.
Participants…
- Reported lower rates of sexual activity,
- Were less likely to be involved in a pregnancy, and
- Were less likely to report having sex without birth control.
Learn more about our evaluation findings in our curriculum reports and journal articles.
The History
After years of collaborative efforts and providing training and technical assistance, Healthy Teen Network acquired the evidence-based program Power Through Choices from the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy. Since the first edition in 1995, the curriculum has seen many revisions accompanied by evaluation studies.
1ST EDITION (1995)
The original Power Through Choices curriculum was created in the mid-1990s by the Family Welfare Research Group in the School of Social Work at the University of California, Berkeley. The curriculum was based on focus group work with young people in out-of-home care throughout California, interviews with staff working with young people involved in systems of care, site visits, pilot testing, and a process evaluation of participant satisfaction. When the Power Through Choices curriculum was developed in the mid-1990s, it was the only adolescent pregnancy prevention program designed with and for young people in systems of care. Though participant feedback was positive, no rigorous evaluation had been conducted to document its effectiveness.
2ND EDITION (2008-2010)
From 2008-2010, the curriculum was revised by a team from the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center as part of the Promoting Science-Based Approaches to Teen Pregnancy Prevention initiative coordinated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This revision added sessions on reproductive health basics and STIs. Other revisions expanded the content, ensured medical accuracy, and more closely aligned the curriculum with the needs of the child welfare system and the youth they serve.
3RD EDITION (2010-2017)
In 2010, the Power Through Choices Demonstration and Evaluation Project was selected by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration on Children and Families (ACF) as an Innovative Strategies grant in the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP). The three-state research project was designed to test the efficacy of the recently updated and expanded curriculum. The final impact evaluation report documenting outcome findings showed strong evidence of effectiveness.
The success of the Power Through Choices program model was built upon the initial program design and core content created in 1995 by the original developers of the curriculum: Richard P. Barth, MSW, Ph.D.; Marla Becker, M.P.H.; Helen H. Cagampang, M.P.P., Ph.D.; and Ruth C. White, M.S.W., M.P.H. Their commitment to actively engaging young people themselves in designing and shaping the program’s content remained a commitment through the revision process led by Janene Fluhr, Shante Fenner, and Sharon Rodine. The commitment to ensuring the voices of youth inform the program’s implementation to ensure its relevance continues today.
4TH EDITION (2018)
In 2018, we updated the curriculum, making language more gender-inclusive, clarifying instructions, adding activities and resources, and ensuring content is up-to-date and medically accurate. We updated the Training-of-Facilitators (TOF) and developed a Training-of-Trainers (TOT) to prepare experienced trainers to conduct a Training-of-Facilitators, where health educators are prepared to implement the curriculum with youth. TOTs are a great way to support long-term sustainability because trainers will be ready to train teams of health educators.
5TH EDITION (2020)
The 5th edition contains updates made in 2020 to incorporate feedback from facilitators and improve the integration of a health-promotion frame and an inclusive approach to education.
Upcoming Events