IN·CLUED: Inclusive Healthcare – Youth & Providers Empowered

Developers

Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawai'i, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky 

Program Summary

IN·clued is an educational program that addresses the sexual health disparities affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) youth. The program aims to address teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates among LGBTQ+ youth ages 14 to 19. The IN·clued program takes a dual approach to address the sexual health outcomes for LGBTQ+ young people: (1) a three-hour workshop for LGBTQ+ youth on sexual health and accessing health care, and (2) two 90-minute workshops for health care providers and clinic staff on best practices for providing care to LGBTQ+ young people. The health center workshop is co-facilitated by adult facilitators and peer educators. This combination ideally results in the outcome of these youth seeking and receiving sexual health services more consistently.

Intended Population

The program is made up of two workshops that serve different populations: (1) LGBTQ+ youth and (2) health care providers and clinic staff. The program was evaluated with LGBTQ+ youth.

The youth workshop serves youth ages 14 to 19 who identify as LGBTQ+ in some way; however, participants do not have to identify as LGBTQ+ or disclose their sexual orientation. The workshop can be facilitated with groups of youth who are already members of an established group (for example, a queer-straight alliance, LGBTQ+ community youth activism group, etc.), as well as groups of youth recruited specifically for the purpose of this program. The participants should always be attending the workshop willingly, and have the choice not to participate at any time. For example, if a young person is reliant on an organization for housing, food, job stability, and so on, at no point should their receipt of services be contingent on participation in this program. 

The health center workshop is for all health care providers and clinic staff who provide care to LGBTQ+ youth.

Program Setting

The IN·clued youth workshops take place in community-based settings and can be implemented in urban, suburban, and rural communities of all sizes. The health center workshops take place at local health care providers or clinics. The program was evaluated in after school settings, community-based settings, and health clinics.

Contact and Availability Information

For curriculum, materials, and pricing information, please contact:
To purchase the program (as individual workshops or together as a bundle): https://www.etr.org/store/curricula/in-clued/.

To learn more about the program: https://www.etr.org/ebi/programs/in-clued/.

For training and support, please contact: INclued@ppgnhaik.org.

For information on training or further support, please contact: INclued@ppgnhaik.org.

Sample of Curriculum Available for Review Prior to Purchase
No
Languages Available
English
Monitoring and Evaluation Tools
Monitoring and evaluation tools available
Yes
Monitoring and evaluation tool usage required
No
Information about available monitoring and evaluation tools (if applicable)

Fidelity forms are available for IN·clued by contacting INclued@ppgnhaik.org.

Program Core Components

Last updated in 2023

The data presented on this page reflects responses from the program’s developer or distributor to a program component checklist that asked them to report on the individual components within their TPP program. The same program component checklist was sent to the developer or distributor of every active TPP program with evidence of effectiveness. The program component table provides data on seven types of program components including content, delivery mechanism, dosage, staffing, format, environment, and intended population characteristics; whether the component was present or optional in the program; whether the component is considered to be core to the program; and the lesson number or activity where the component can be found in the program. For more details, refer to the FAQ.

Category Component Core Component Component present Notes Lesson number(s) / activities where present
Content Goal setting No No
Content Spirituality No No
Content Morals/values No Yes (evaluated version) Health Center Workshop Session 1, Section 2, Activity 3: Exploring Messages and Beliefs, Session 1, Section 2, Activity 4: Binary Thinking and Sexual Identities
Content Identity development No No
Content Social support/capital No No
Content Social influence/actual vs. perceived social norms No Yes (evaluated version) Youth Workshop Section 1 Activity 6: Why Us?, Section 2: Activity 1: Let's Talk About Sex!; Zine page 3

Health Center Workshop Session 1, Section 2, Activity 3: Exploring Messages and Beliefs, Session 1, Section 2, Activity 4: Binary Thinking and Sexual Identities
Content Social competence No Yes (evaluated version) Health Center Workshop Session 1, Section 3, Activity 1: What Not to Do Role-Play, Session 1, Section 3, Activity 2: Six Practice Recommendations, Session 1, Section 3, Activity 3: What to Do Role-Play
Content Parenting skills No No
Content Normative beliefs Yes Yes (evaluated version) Youth Workshop Section 2: Activity 1: Let's Talk About Sex!
Health Center Workshop Session 1, Section 2, Activity 3: Exploring Messages and Beliefs, Session 1, Section 2, Activity 4: Binary Thinking and Sexual Identities
Content Leadership No No
Content Gender roles No Yes (evaluated version) Health Center Workshop Session 1, Section 2, Activity 3: Exploring Messages and Beliefs, Session 1, Section 2, Activity 4: Binary Thinking and Sexual Identities
Content Gender identity Yes Yes (evaluated version) Youth Workshop Section 2 Activity 1: Let's Talk About Sex!
Health Center Workshop Session 1, Section 1 Activity 4: LGBTQ Terms & Definitions
Content Cultural values No No
Content Connections with trusted adults No No
Content Conflict resolution/social problem solving No No
Content Communication skills Yes Yes (evaluated version) Youth Workshop Section 3 Activity 1: Chat Groups, Section 3 Activity 2: Exam Room Practice; Zine pages 23-24
Health Center Workshop Session 1, Section 3, Activity 1: What Not to Do Role-Play, Session 1, Section 3, Activity 2: Six Practice Recommendations, Session 1, Section 3, Activity 3: What to Do Role-Play, Session 1, Section 3, Activity 4: Implementing Inclusive Practices, Session 2, Section 1, Activity 2: Review and Preparation, Session 2, Section 2, Activity 2: Patient Simulations
Content Child development No No
Content Boundary setting/refusal skills Yes Yes (evaluated version) Youth Workshop Section 3, Activity 1: Chat Groups, Section 3, Activity 2: Exam Room Practice; Zine pages 22-24, and 26
Content Substance use cessation No No
Content Substance use - Other drugs No No
Content Substance use - Alcohol No No
Content Substance use - Abstinence No No
Content Brain development and substance use No No
Content Vocational/skills training No No
Content Supplemental academic services No No
Content School engagement No No
Content Graduating from high school No No
Content College preparation No No
Content Alternative schooling No No
Content Self-regulation No No
Content Self-esteem No No
Content Self-efficacy/empowerment Yes Yes (evaluated version) Youth Workshop Section 2, Activity 3: Safer Sex and Me, Section 3 Activity 1: Chat Groups, Section 3 Activity 2: Exam Room Practice, Section 3 Activity 3: Debrief and Workshop Reflection; Zine pages 18-25
Health Center Workshop Session 1, Section 3, Activity 4: Implementing Inclusive Practices, Session 2, Section 1, Activity 2: Review and Preparation, Session 2, Section 2, Activity 2: Patient Simulations
Content Resilience No No
Content Personal vulnerability No Yes (evaluated version) Youth Workshop Section 3, Activity 1: Chat Groups, Section 3, Activity 2: Exam Room Practice
Content Motivational interviewing No No
Content Mindfulness No No
Content Meditation No No
Content Puberty/development No No
Content Sexual risk reduction No Yes (evaluated version) Youth Workshop Section 2 Activity 2: INclued video and Video Debrief, and Section 2 Activity 3: Safer Sex and Me; Zine pages 6-17
Content Sexual risk discontinuation No No
Content Volunteering/civic engagement No No
Content Sexual risk avoidance No No
Content Sexual orientation Yes Yes (evaluated version) Youth Workshop Section 2 Activity 1: Let's Talk About Sex!

Health Center Workshop Session 1, Section 1 Activity 4: LGBTQ Terms & Definitions
Content Sexual health Yes Yes (evaluated version) Youth Workshop Section 1 Activity 6: Why Us?

Health Center Workshop Session 1, Section 2 Activity 2: Believe It or Not
Content Risk of STIs and Pregnancy Yes Yes (evaluated version) Youth Workshop Section 1 Activity 6: Why Us?, Section 2 Activity 2: INclued video and Video Debrief; Zine pages 3, 6-7, and 15-16
Content Reproduction Yes Yes (evaluated version) Youth Workshop Section 2 Activity 2: INclued video and Video Debrief, and Section 2 Activity 3: Safer Sex and Me; Zine page 15
Content Contraception - Long-acting reversible contraceptives Yes Yes (evaluated version) Youth Workshop Section 2 Activity 2: INclued video and Video Debrief, and Section 2 Activity 3: Safer Sex and Me; Zine pages 14-15
Content Other
Content Anatomy/physiology No No
Content Contraception - Condoms Yes Yes (evaluated version) Youth Workshop Section 2 Activity 2: INclued video and Video Debrief, and Section 2 Activity 3: Safer Sex and Me; Zine pages 8-12
Program Objectives

IN·clued is grounded in the Health Belief Model Theory of Change and is intended to lower teen pregnancy and STI rates among LGBTQ+ young people ages 14 to 19. IN·clued aims to increase sexual health knowledge and skills, provide the tools for youth to advocate for their sexual health, and educate health center staff directly to provide LGBTQ+-inclusive sexual health care. IN·clued also aims to uplift the voices of LGBTQ+ youth. It uses a systems change approach to education by providing referrals to appropriate clinical services and sexual health care that centers the needs of LGBTQ+ people.

Specific goals of the youth workshop intended to improve sexual health outcomes are to:

  1. Increase LGBTQ+ young people’s knowledge of protective and relevant sexual health information
  2. Increase LGBTQ+ young people’s self-efficacy around accessing sexual health services
  3. Decrease LGBTQ+ young people’s rates of unprotected oral, anal, and vaginal sex
Program Content

The IN·clued youth workshop covers topics such as (1) learning about sexual health needs of LGBTQ+ youth, (2) redefining sex for LGBTQ+ youth, (3) increasing knowledge of STI and pregnancy prevention methods, and (4) learning how to access sexual health care and advocate with a provider practice. The workshop includes the following sessions:

  • Let’s Talk About Sex 
  • Safer Sex and Me 
  • Health-IQ Steps 
  • Exam Room Practice
  • Know Your Rights

The health center workshop focuses on teaching health center staff to provide LGBTQ+-inclusive health care. It covers best practices for working with LGBTQ+ youth, including how to make the health center LGBTQ+ friendly and how to engage these youth in the exam room so they feel safe, comfortable, and open to sharing their sexual health behaviors. Workshop sessions include the following:

  • Remember Me
  • Believe It or Not
  • Exploring Messages and Beliefs
  • Binary Thinking and Sexual Identities
  • Recommendations for Practice
  • Implementing Inclusive Practices
  • Patient Simulations 

Additional details about program context can be found here: https://www.etr.org/ebi/assets/File/INclued-Program-Summary.pdf.

Program Methods

Both the youth and health center workshops are interactive and include debriefs, peer education, and opportunities to practice the skills and knowledge discussed during the group’s time together. 

Program Structure and Timeline

Two components of the IN·clued program can be implemented in a community, either in combination with one another or separately:

  • The IN·clued youth workshop: Delivered in one three-hour session and facilitated by adult facilitators or co-facilitated by adult facilitators and youth peer educators. This workshop includes an optional component for providing text messages, to which participants can opt in to receive at the end of the workshop. 
  • The IN·clued health center workshop: Co-facilitated by adult facilitators and youth peer educators, and delivered in two 90-minute sessions or one three-hour session. The two sessions can either be implemented one after the other or take place on different days. This workshop includes two e-learning modules and an online resource page for health center staff participants after the workshop is complete. 

The two sessions can be implemented one after the other or can take place on different days.

The ideal group size for both the youth and health center workshops is 12 to 15 participants, although both workshops have been facilitated successfully with both far more and fewer participants. For especially large or small groups, adaptations will need to be made to the activities and space. 

Staffing

The youth workshop can be facilitated by adult facilitators or co-facilitated by adult facilitators and teen peer educators. Adult facilitators should be community-based educators or staff with sexual health education experience, sufficient health knowledge, and facilitation skills. The program encourages the use of facilitators who have demonstrated connection to, identity with, or experience with the LGBTQ+ community participating in the workshop. 

The health center workshop is co-facilitated by adult facilitators and teen peer educators. The program suggests that the adult facilitators be community-based educators working with a pre-existing peer education program. The peer educator component of the health center workshop is required—in particular for the patient simulations component. 

All adult facilitators implementing the program should be knowledgeable about the content, comfortable discussing the material and answering sensitive questions about sexual behavior and LGBTQ+ sexual health care, and experienced in using interactive teaching strategies.

Staff Training

It is highly recommended that all IN·clued adult facilitators participate in the training of facilitators (TOF), available both virtually and in person for the youth and health center workshops. The TOF process for each workshop consists of a four-hour virtual or one-day full in-person training for a team delivered by IN·clued trainers. The in-person training delves deeper into the IN·clued program and builds the knowledge and skills for facilitating the program. Both TOFs include an interactive learning process in which educators will be trained to implement the curriculum using an LGBTQ+-centered approach to sex education. 

For more information about the IN·clued TOF, go to https://sparked.net/courses/inclued/. Additional virtual professional development for facilitators is available through Spark*ED’s e-learning program, including “LGBTQ+ Affirming and Inclusive Facilitation,” “Facilitating from a Trauma-Informed Lens,” “Cultural Humility and Responsive Facilitation,” and “Facilitating Sex Ed.” More information about these trainings can be found at http://SparkED.net/.

A separate training for peer educators occurs after purchase of the program.

Program Materials and Resources

The youth workshop includes a youth program manual, facilitator curriculum, peer educator training materials, and workshop materials and resources (IN·clued zine, mp4 workshop video, adaptations guidance, and more).

The health center workshop includes a facilitator curriculum, peer educator training materials, and workshop materials and resources (adaptations guidance, e-learning modules, and more).

Required materials, including the IN·clued zine, Q Cards©, and more; as well as additional optional materials, including stickers, shirts, pronoun pins, and more, can be found online here: https://www.etr.org/store/categories/topics/inclued/?orderBy=rank%7CASC.

Additional Needs for Implementation

None

Fidelity

To meet the intended outcomes for this program, the entirety of the three-hour youth and three-hour health center workshops each need to be completed.

For more information about fidelity forms, please contact INclued@ppgnhaik.org.

Technical Assistance and Ongoing Support

For technical assistance, support, and additional information with about IN·clued, please contact INclued@ppgnhaik.org.

Allowable Adaptations

Adaptation guidelines for the IN·clued youth workshop can be found here: https://www.etr.org/ebi/assets/File/Adaptations/IN-clued_Youth_Adaptations_Guidance-ETR.pdf.

Allowable adaptations for the youth workshop include updating materials with more up-to-date language and to reflect more identities and new or more community-specific research, enhancing interactivity and games in an activity, adding discussions and materials, and updating names in role-play activities. 

Adaptation guidelines for the health center workshop are outlined here: https://www.etr.org/ebi/assets/File/Adaptations/IN-clued_Health_Center_Adaptations_Guidance-ETR.pdf.

Allowable adaptations for the health center workshop include enhancing interactivity, lengthening introductions, adding trauma-informed best practices, making language changes to reflect more identities, using props and wardrobe changes, bringing in clinic-specific information, and necessary changes to accommodate health center group size.

Adaptation Guidelines or Kit
Yes
Study Characteristics
KEY
Evidence Indication
Favorable findings
Two or more favorable impacts and no unfavorable impacts, regardless of null findings
Potentially favorable findings
At least one favorable impact and no unfavorable impacts, regardless of null findings
Indeterminate findings
Uniformly null findings
Conflicting findings
At least one favorable and at least one unfavorable impact, regardless of null findings
Potentially unfavorable findings
At least one unfavorable impact and no favorable impacts, regardless of null findings
Unfavorable findings
Two or more unfavorable impacts and no favorable impacts, regardless of null findings
Note: n.a. indicates the study did not examine any outcome measures within that particular outcome domain, or the study examined outcome measures within that domain but the findings did not meet the review evidence standards.
Detailed Findings
Citation Details

Philliber, A. (2021). The IN·clued program: A randomized control trial of an effective sex education program for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youths.Journal of Adolescent Health, 69(4), 636–643. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.04.002

IN·clued was evaluated using a randomized controlled trial design involving LGBTQ youth recruited through 16 Planned Parenthood affiliates in these states: Alaska, California, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin. Groups of participants were randomly assigned to either a treatment group that received a one-time, three-hour workshop or a control group that participated in an activity on a topic unrelated to sexual health or accessing sexual health care. Surveys were administered immediately before the program and 12 months after the end of the program, or nine months after the conclusion of an opt-in, 12-week supplemental text message service. The study found that 12 months after the workshop, youth participating in IN·clued were significantly less likely to report having had vaginal sex without using a condom in the past three months (effect size: -0.20). The study also found that, 12 months after study enrollment, youth participating in the treatment group reported having significantly less vaginal sex without using a condom in the past three months (effect size: -0.15). The study found that 12 months after study enrollment, there were no statistically significant program impacts on the following outcomes: lifetime vaginal sex, lifetime pregnancies, lifetime frequency of pregnancy, having vaginal sex in the past three months, having vaginal sex without the use of birth control in the past three months, frequency of vaginal sex without the use of birth control in the

Notes

Some study entries may include more than one citation because each citation examines a different follow-up period from the same study sample, or because each citation examines a different set of outcome measures on the same study sample. A blank cell indicates the study did not examine any outcome measures within the particular outcome domain or the findings for the outcome measures within that domain did not meet the review evidence standards.

Information on evidence of effectiveness is available only for studies that received a high or moderate rating. Read the description of the review process for more information on how these programs are identified.