HORIZONS

Featured Grant OpportunitySchool Emergency Response to Violence (Project SERV) (Funding Opportunity) 

Featured Grant OpportunityShare with Youth: NOAA Student Opportunities Database

Developers

Ralph J. DiClemente, Ph.D., Gina M. Wingood, Sc.D. M.P.H., Eve S. Rose, M.S.P.H., Jessica M. Sales, Ph.D., Delia L. Lang, Ph.D. M.P.H., Angela M. Caliendo, M.D. Ph.D., James W. Hardin, Ph.D., and Richard A. Crosby, Ph.D.

Program Summary

HORIZONS is a clinic-based STI/HIV intervention for African American adolescent females that teaches assertive communication skills and proper condom use, and fosters cultural and gender pride. The program is delivered through two 4-hour small group sessions followed by four 15-minute booster phone calls over the following year.

Intended Population

The program is designed for African American females ages 15 to 21, who are sexually active, single, and trying to avoid pregnancy. The program was evaluated first with 18 to 19 year-old African American females, and more recently with younger females, who were 14 to 17 years old.

Program Setting

The program was developed to be delivered in a community-based or health clinic setting. The program was evaluated in a health clinic setting.

Contact and Availability Information

Sociometrics Corporation
1580 W. El Camino Real, Suite 8
Mountain View, CA 94040
Ph: 650-949-3282
Email: socio@socio.com
Website: https://www.socio.com/products/pasha-horizons-sti-hiv-sexual-risk-reduction-intervention-for-african-american-girls

See above

Sample of curriculum available for review prior to purchase

Adaptation guidelines or kit available

Languages available

English

Program Core Components

Program Objectives

HORIZONS seeks to reduce STIs by: 1) improving STI/HIV risk-reduction knowledge; 2) improving condom use skills; 3) improving communication with male partners about safer sex practices; 4) reducing the frequency of douching; and 5) facilitating male partners' access to STI screening/treatment.

Program Content

The group sessions are interactive and help train teens in assertive communication skills to negotiate abstinence or safer sex. The program also teaches condom use skills, and participants must complete homework assignments involving the male partner. The program materials are targeted to motivate gender and ethnic pride.

Four follow-up booster; calls reinforce the prevention information provided in the group

Participants are also given a $20 voucher redeemable by their male partner(s) toward the cost of STI services.

Program Methods

HORIZONS is delivered through small, interactive group workshops that include games, group discussion, condom demonstration, and brief follow-up phone calls.

Program Structure and Timeline

The program is designed to be delivered in a health clinic or a community-based setting to groups of up to twelve youth. The core program includes two 4-hour group sessions, 15-minute follow-up phone conversations held at three to four weeks, 10 to 12 weeks, 6 to 7 months, and 9 to 10 months after the second workshop, and vouchers for STD services.

Staffing

The group sessions should be facilitated by two skilled African American female health educators.

Program Materials and Resources

The following program materials are available through the distributor:

HORIZONS User's Guide
HORIZONS Facilitator's Manual (2 copies for each health educator)
Journal Pages copy maters (2 packets - 1 per workshop)
Handouts copy masters (2 packets - 1 per workshop)
Game Pieces (2 packets - 1 per workshop)
Poster copy masters (2 packets - 1 per workshop)
Phone Sessions Manual
Training Manual
Fidelity Kit
Local Evaluator Consultant Network Directory
Set of Original Evaluation Instruments
Prevention Minimum Evaluation Data Set (PMEDS)

While a free sample curriculum is not available, providers may purchase an automatic digital download of the user’s guide to review program components, core competencies for facilitators, and scientific evidence of effectiveness. If providers decide to purchase the program, the price of the download is deducted.

Additional Needs for Implementation

Materials required for the delivery of the program include condoms, personal lubricants, and penis models.

Fidelity

HORIZONS has a fidelity toolkit/checklist and tools for monitoring program implementation. These may be accessed on the Sociometrics website:

https://www.socio.com/products/pasha-horizons-sti-hiv-sexual-risk-reduction-intervention-for-african-american-girls

Staff Training

There is no required training for this program. Providers interested in training should contact Sociometrics.

Technical Assistance and Ongoing Support

Sociometrics provides telephone technical support on implementation and evaluation for one year with purchase of the program materials.

Allowable Adaptations

All adaptations must be approved by the developer, in consultation with the distributor.

Reviewed Studies

Citation	High-Quality Randomized Trial	Did Not Meet Eligibility Criteria
DiClemente et al. 2009 Sales et al. 2012	✓
DiClemente et al. 2014 Steiner et al. 2014		✓
Latham et al. 2010		✓

Study Characteristics

Citation	Setting	Majority Age Group	Majority Racial/Ethnic Group	Gender	Sample Size
DiClemente et al. 2009 Sales et al. 2012	Health clinic or medical facility	18 or 19	African American or Black	Young women	715
DiClemente et al. 2014 Steiner et al. 2014	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
Latham et al. 2010	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.

Study Findings

Evidence by Outcome Domain and Study

Citation	Sexual Activity	Number of Sexual Partners	Contraceptive Use	STIs or HIV	Pregnancy
DiClemente et al. 2009 Sales et al. 2012	n.a.	n.a.			n.a.
DiClemente et al. 2014 Steiner et al. 2014	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
Latham et al. 2010	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.

Detailed Findings

Citation	Details
DiClemente et al. 2009 Sales et al. 2012	The program's evidence of effectiveness was first established in a randomized controlled trial involving sexually active African American females recruited from three health clinics in Atlanta, Georgia. Participants were randomly assigned either to a treatment group that received the HORIZONS program or to a control group that received the current standard of care, consisting of a one-hour STD/HIV prevention group session. Surveys were administered before the program began (baseline) and at six and 12 months after completion of the program. Data collection also included testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomonas. The study found that both 12 months after the program ended, and when averaging data across the two follow-up periods, youth participating in the program reported a significantly higher proportion of condom-protected sex acts, and were significantly more likely to report consistent condom use and condom use at their last sexual encounter. The study also found that youth in the treatment group were significantly less likely to test positive for chlamydia 12 months after the program ended. The study found no statistically significant impacts on gonorrhea or trichomonas infection. For the 6-month follow-up survey, the study found that youth participating in the program reported a significantly higher proportion of condom-protected sex acts in the 14 days and 60 days preceding the survey. The study found no statistically significant impacts on consistent condom use or condom use at last sexual encounter. The study also examined program impacts on measures of STD/HIV knowledge, condom self-efficacy, partner communication, and frequency of douching. Findings for these outcomes were not considered for the review because they fell outside the scope of the review.
DiClemente et al. 2014 Steiner et al. 2014
Latham et al. 2010

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