¡Cuídate! Curriculum in Spanish Now Available

SELECT MEDIA ANNOUNCES EVIDENCE-BASED SPANISH LANGUAGE HIV RISK-REDUCTION PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY FOR LATINO YOUTH

NEW YORK, March 24^th, 2010 – Evidence-based curriculum publisher Select Media, Inc., announced the release of the Spanish language version of the Best-Evidence curriculum, ¡Cuídate!

¡Cuídate! is an HIV risk-reduction program designed specifically for Latino youth, that is proven to reduce the frequency of sexual intercourse and number of sex partners, and increase condom-use. The program is an adaptation of the Be Proud! Be Responsible! Program, one of the first evidence-based HIV prevention programs for at-risk youth.  The Spanish language version of ¡Cuídate! incorporates salient aspects of Latino culture, specifically familialism (the importance of family), machismo, and other gender role expectations. It is intended for use with Latino youth in grades 8 to 11 and will be available for schools and youth organizations to purchase this spring.

The culturally-based curriculum is based on social cognitive theory and the theories of reasoned action and planned behavior, and presents both abstinence and condom use as culturally acceptable and effective ways to prevent STIs, including HIV.  It is a small-group intervention that consists of six 60-minute modules delivered to small, mixed-gender groups.

The authors and researchers are Antonia M. Villarruel, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N., Loretta Sweet Jemmott, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N, and John B. Jemmott III, Ph.D.

The Spanish language ¡Cuídate! program includes learning activities such as small group discussions, videos, games, demonstrations and role-plays. Activities are designed to help teens get the skills they need to negotiate and practice abstinence and condom use. These activities make teens aware of how choices about their sexual behavior an affect their health. The activities show how safer sex behavior can help avoid pregnancy and STDs like HIV and AIDS.

The curriculum has six hours of content, divided into six 60-minute modules. The learning modules are: “Introducción y Bienvenida” (Introduction and Overview), “Aprendiendo Sobre el VIH” (Building HIV Knowledge), “Entendiendo la Vulnerabilidad a la Infección del VIH” (Understanding Vulnerability to HIV), “Actitudes y Creencias Sobre el VIH/SIDA y el Sexo Más Seguro” (Attitudes and Beliefs about HIV/AIDS), “Desarrollar Técnicas para el Uso del Condón” (Building Condom-Use Skills), and “Desarrollo de Estrategias de Negociación y Rechazo” (Negotiation and Refusal Skills).

About the Authors

Antonia M. Villarruel, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N, is an Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Health Promotion at the University of Michigan. She received her Ph.D. from Wayne State University and completed post-doctoral training at the University of Michigan. Dr. Villarruel has an extensive background in health promotion and health disparities research and practice. Her research focuses on the development and testing interventions to reduce HIV sexual risk among Mexican and Latino youth. Dr. Villarruel is also the Director of an NINR P20, which is a partnership with the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in San Antonio, designed to increase the capacity of minority nurse researchers.

Loretta Sweet Jemmott, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N, and John B. Jemmott III, PhD., are both internationally renowned researchers and professors at the University of Pennsylvania. Loretta is a professor of nursing and chair of the Center for Health Disparities and John is a professor of communication and specialist in health psychology. They collaborate along with other psychologists and health professionals who are working to stem the rapid spread of HIV among at-risk populations including urban adolescents. The Jemmotts have been working for 15 years to increase HIV/AIDS awareness among inner-city adolescents, have published five “Best-Evidence” interventions recognized by the CDC as the highest standard of research. Their on-going research efforts continue to achieve national attention.

Learning Objectives

After participating in the curriculum, students will be better able to:

• Recognize their vulnerability to HIV and other STIs
• Develop attitudes that support safe decision-making
• Build skills to better able to abstain from sex and use condoms
• Respond with confidence to pressures to have unsafe sex

Pricing and Availability

The Spanish language version of “¡Cuídate!,” which includes a 150-page printed curriculum with activities, student hand-outs, DVD video clips, and posters, is expected to be available this spring for $165 from Select Media. Professional development will be offered as an additional option. For information, call Select Media at 800-707-6334, e-mail info@selectmedia.org, or visit www.selectmedia.org.

To listen to a brief description of the ¡Cuídate! curriculum, click HERE and you will be taken to the CDC’s Podcast page.

¡Cuídate! was included in The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy’s “What Works 2010: Replicating Evidence-Based Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs for Latino Youth” Webinar on March 23, 2010. Click HERE to listen to the archive of the Webinar.