Strategies

Match disadvantaged or at-risk youth with volunteer mentors in school or community settings

Provide information about contraception and protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in classroom or community settings

Provide condoms free of charge or at a reduced cost in community and school-based settings

Involve consumers in health care governance via roles on governing boards, advisory committees, or shorter-term special projects

Increase patients’ health-related knowledge via efforts to simplify health education materials, improve patient-provider communication, and increase overall literacy

Coordinate efforts to reduce risky sexual behavior among adolescents with work, vocational training, or sports

Pair youth at risk for delinquent behavior with mentors to develop relationships and spend time at regular meetings for an extended period; mentors have greater knowledge, skills, etc. than mentees

Support initiatives that combine multiple components such as education, skills building, and contraceptive promotion to reduce pregnancy among youth

Promote abstinence from sexual activity, generally only with mention of condoms and birth control to highlight failure rates