Peer Advocates for Health
A community-based program for adolescent African-American males, 14 to 19 years of age, living on Chicago's South Side.
Goals of PAH
- Improve reproductive health knowledge
- Promote healthy lifestyle choices
- Increase utilization of clinic services
Program Activities
- Provides information and training, starting with an eight-week summer session followed by weekly group meetings throughout the school year.
- Offers one-on-one support through an ongoing, personal relationship with the Project Coordinator who serves as friend and advocate.
- Provides job skills training and employment in community outreach.
- Enables participants to work in their own schools and neighborhoods, as Peer Advocates, providing information and serving as role models.
Outcomes
- 175 adolescent males attending 33 high schools have been trained to be effective communicators on issues surrounding male health.
- Significant increases in reproductive health knowledge and lifestyle choices have been reported among PAH participants.
- Peer Advocates have provided information to 8,000 other adolescents in neighborhoods on the south side of Chicago.
Supported by: Department of Health and Human Services, Region V, Office of Family Planning through Title X.
