Source: UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING submitted to
RELATIONSHIP EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP: YOUTH-FOCUSED RELATIONSHIP EDUCATION AND UNDERGRADUATE SERVICE LEARNING
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
NEW
Funding Source
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1012747
Grant No.
(N/A)
Project No.
WYO-584-17
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
May 1, 2017
Project End Date
Sep 30, 2021
Grant Year
(N/A)
Project Director
McElwain, AL, .
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
1000 E UNIVERSITY AVE DEPARTMENT 3434
LARAMIE,WY 82071-2000
Performing Department
Family And Consumer Sciences
Non Technical Summary
Non-technical Summary: This project will examine relationship experiences of adolescents in Wyoming and will begin by gathering baseline information about the relationship experiences and potential need for relationship education programming. Specifically, information about the positive and negative outcomes of adolescent relationships, where and how adolescents learn about relationships, and experiences with relationships will be collected. After determining what needs exist, evidence-based and/or research-informed curricula will be used to implement prevention programming targeting adolescents. A parallel aim of this project is to involve undergraduate students in the implementation of prevention programs focused on healthy adolescent relationship knowledge and skills. Young adult undergraduates and high school students are similar-aged peers and instruction from an undergraduate could be an effective tool for program implementation. Personal and professional development of undergraduate service learning students will be assessed as they provide formal youth-focused education about healthy relationships. Data collection methods will include surveys to assess adolescent relationships and program-related change. Qualitative data will be collected using young adult undergraduate reflective journal entries and will be coded for themes and issues.
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
50%
Developmental
0%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
80260203080100%
Goals / Objectives
Overall this project will gather information about adolescents and young adults in Wyoming that will help inform youth-focused relationship education programs and young adult professional development.Objectives:To collect data about adolescent relationships in Wyoming.To pilot and conduct a formative evaluation of a youth-focused relationship education program with Wyoming youth.To gather data about the professional and individual social, cognitive, and emotional development of young adult undergraduate students in social sciences who participate in experiential learning.To collect data about the effectiveness of young adult undergraduate facilitators of youth-focused relationship educationTo evaluate the comparative effectiveness of professional educators (e.g., high school teachers, professional facilitators) and similar aged peer educators (undergraduates) in a youth-focused intervention program.
Project Methods
Methods: 1) Create and pilot a survey to collect data about adolescent relationships.*2) Implement a YRE program using an established, research-based curriculum taught by professional educators. Pre and post-test surveys will be used to collect quantitative and qualitative information about the impressions of the program, facilitators, and overall effectiveness of the program in changing targeted outcomes. Locations will include youth-serving organizations such as schools, after-school clubs, and organizations.3) Develop and use a survey and conduct qualitative analysis of young adult undergraduate's journal entries describing their experiences as participants in implementing a prevention program as part of a service learning experience.4) Implement a YRE program using an established, research-based curriculum taught by trained young adult undergraduate facilitators. These facilitators will be trained throughout a formal service learning course in the department of Family and Consumer Sciences, instructed by the primary investigator of this project. Evaluation instruments (pre- and post-test surveys) will be used to determine the effectiveness of the program for adolescent participants. The instruments in this phase will be similar to those used when the program is taught by professional educators.5) Statistical analyses will be conducted to compare the effectiveness of professional educators and undergraduate facilitators in effecting change in targeted YRE outcomes.*Note that survey instruments will be developed over the next six months. When a final version is complete, Institutional IRB approval will be requested. Participant involvement will not take place until 2018.

Progress 05/01/17 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems:Due to some confusion about the project start date, the first project year was from May 1 to September 30, 2017 instead of the proposed October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018 time period. Therefore, the original proposed timeline will be adjusted to reflect this change. Only minor adjustments to the activities and no changes to the project objectives are needed due to this issue. The following is an amended timeline for the project: Project Year 1 (May 1-September 30, 2017): Partnerships and collaborations with schools and community youth organizations will be established. A survey will be created to assess adolescent demographic, social, emotional, and family/relationship variables, in addition to targeted outcomes of the YRE program (e.g., romantic relationship engagement, conflict management skills, relational aggression, and relationship attitudes). Project Year 2 (October 1, 2017-September 30, 2018): A survey will be distributed to assess adolescent demographic, social, emotional, and family/relationship variables, in addition to targeted outcomes of the YRE program (e.g., romantic relationship engagement, conflict management skills, relational aggression, and relationship attitudes). Another survey will be created to assess young adult personal and professional variables (e.g., self-esteem, career identity, community engagement). An undergraduate service learning opportunity will be developed and offered during the Fall 2018 semester. Project Year 3 (October 1, 2018-September 30, 2019): A pilot program implementation will occur with the young adult undergraduate facilitators that will be evaluated with a pilot distribution of the adolescent pre- and posttest surveys. The young adult facilitators will reflect on their experiences and respond to survey items that assess a variety of demographic, cognitive, emotional, relational, and professional development issues. Additionally, undergraduates will reflect on their experiences by writing journal-style reflection papers at three time points across the semester. Project Year 4 (October 1, 2019-September 30, 2020): A second round of program implementation with undergraduate facilitators will be conducted within the formal service learning course offered during the Fall, 2019 semester. Surveys and qualitative data collection methods used in Phase 2 will again be used to collect data from adolescents and young adult facilitators. Quantitative and qualitative data will be entered and preliminary analyses will be conducted. Project Year 5 (October 1, 2020-September 30, 2021): Qualitative analysis of young adult experiences will be conducted using reflection papers. Data from both adolescent recipients of YRE programs and the data collected from young adults will be entered and preliminary analyses will be conducted to provide initial information for educators and practitioners who target youth in the state of Wyoming. Data will be analyzed and results will be disseminated with recommendations for youth-focused programming and young adult professional development. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In Project Year 2, Objective 1will continue to be the focus ofactivities. Pending school permission and agreement, IRB approval will be submitted in Spring 2018 and subject to approval the survey distributed in Spring and Fall of 2018. Another survey will be created to assess young adult personal and professional variables (e.g., self-esteem, career identity, community engagement). An undergraduate service learning opportunity will be developed and offered during the Fall 2018 semester in which undergraduates teach youth-focused relationship education.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Accomplishments in the first project year are related to meeting the first objective. A survey was created to assess adolescent demographic, social, emotional, and family/relationship variables, in addition to targeted outcomes of the YRE program (e.g., romantic relationship engagement, conflict management skills, relational aggression, and relationship attitudes). A sampling plan and IRB materials were developed. Partnerships and collaborations with schools and community youth organizations are developing.

Publications