Digital Initiative for Youth (DIY): An innovative youth-centered initiative to improve the sexual health and socio-economic well-being of youth in Fresno County, California

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Investigator: Claire Brindis, DrPH
Sponsor: HHS OHDS Administration for Children and Families

Location(s): United States

Description

Design and evaluate a unique intervention with youth in Fresno, CA. The intervention specifically focuses on the needs of and outreach to: homeless and unstably housed youth, youth of color, LGBTQ youth, and Native American youth, age 13-19 in Fresno County, CA. 

The Digital Initiative for Youth (DIY) is built on three strategies: positive youth development, youth-centered health design, and wraparound technologies. Content experts and designers will directly implement youth-centered health design methodology with target populations developing prototypes that support existing curricula focusing on four main areas: sexual health and contraceptive use, healthy relationships, educational and career development, and general life skills. Through a robust evaluation process, we intend to demonstrate the effectiveness of the intervention and make it available for other organizations to replicate.