As a pilot program and proof of concept, Conant Foundation partnered with the students and administration of The Urban School of San Francisco to create a student-organized, student-run, in-school HIV education and testing program. The pilot program successfully launched on February 11, 2011.
Goals of the Urban program:
- Educate the senior class about HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention, the benefits of regular testing, and discussing STI testing with their physician using a peer-education model.
- Test the entire senior class for HIV.
- Reduce the fear and stigma associated with HIV testing among high school seniors.
- Create an environment of open, honest dialogue among students regarding HIV and STI testing.
- Develop leadership, community organizing, project management, logistical scheduling and presentation skills in students.
- Create a replicable framework for testing to be implemented at other schools.
Features and Successes of the Urban program:
- 99% student participation rate from the senior class at The Urban School
- Significant interest from students in other grades, faculty and staff
- Student hosted HIV/AIDS and testing Q&A forums
- Student-created presentation materials
- Student-driven testing day scheduling, workflow and logistics
- Students were the primary educators of their peers
- Physician supervised HIV testing conducted by trained HIV testers
- Delayed results to protect student confidentiality
What we learned:
- Students can create and implement a sexual health education program tailored to their peers.
- Students will take advantage of confidential, in-school testing.
- Students are willing and able to make decisions about their sexual health when presented with the opportunity to do so.
Our next steps:
- Continue to work with the students at Urban to enhance and expand the program there next year.
- Expand the program to two additional Bay Area schools before the end of the school year.
- Secure funding for additional expansion.
