Youth development programs

Youth development programs represent an alternative way to reduce teenage pregnancy. These programs do not focus on sexuality, as do traditional pregnancy prevention programs. Instead, they strive to improve adolescents' life skills, belief in their future, opportunities, or ''life options'' more generally. That is, they address motivation to avoid early childbearing. Research on the antecedents of adolescent sexual behaviors and pregnancy rates, as well as the experience in this country and other countries, suggest that youth development approaches may be effective. We review eight studies that have evaluated youth development programs. Although the rigor of these studies varies greatly, they collectively suggest that some youth development programs may effectively reduce adolescent pregnancy or birth rates.