| TOP: The Teen Outreach Program is a program based on the principles of positive youth development designed to meet the needs of adolescents during the transitional period in which they are growing into adulthood. TOP combines curriculum-guided experiential activities and discussion plus community service work in a program that supports positive youth development and prevents negative youth behaviors, such as early pregnancy and school failure. There are four flexible levels of curriculum, as well as an integrated community service guide. The four levels of curriculum are age-appropriate to the needs of adolescents ages 12-17, are designed to be interactive and engaging, and cover a wide variety of developmental topics of interest to teens. TOP emphasizes universal values of respect, justice, and service to others. It is important to understand that TOP aims to support youth in learning critical thinking skills therefore we create a neutral environment where many ideas and points of view can be shared without judgment.
Core activities across the curriculum levels include:
- Values Clarification: Teens explore and challenge their own values, the impact of gender roles on values, the values of their family and friends, and the impact of the larger society on their value formation.
- Relationships: Teens examine the dynamics of friendships, family relationships, and conflicts, peer pressure, romantic relationships, dating, and violence within relationships.
- Communication/Assertiveness: Teens discuss and apply concepts such as active listening, assertive communication, nonverbal communication, how to say “no” and refuse a request, the use of “I” messages, and how to utilize personal and community resources to meet their needs.
- Influence: Teens explore and grapple with the various influences on their lives and decisions, including peer pressure and media messages.
- Goal-Setting: Teens practice goal identification, understand short-term versus long-term goals, explore their future options, think about plans for life after high school, and discuss the potential impact of teen parenting on their future plans.
- Decision-Making: Teens examine choices and consequences, practice using decision-making tools, and reflect upon recent decisions they have made.
- Development and Human Sexuality: Teens learn about adolescent development (emotional and physical) and human sexuality from a holistic perspective. The curriculum is designed as an abstinence-plus approach. This technique provides information on abstinence as the safest way to not become pregnant/father a child and to remain free from any sexually-transmitted diseases. Information on the reproductive process and contraception is also provided, however, for teens to make informed choices about their sexual activity. Each organization and community can tailor the human sexuality content to their teens’ particular needs.
- Community Service Learning: Each year, teens engage in community service learning. The curriculum provides a series of activities and techniques to help teens identify service opportunities, plan service projects, and most importantly, reflect on and learn from their service experience.
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