Are ETR's evidence-based programs aligned to national standards?

As research-based programs that emphasize skill development, ETR’s evidence-based programs support concepts and skills in the National Health Education Standards (NHES). However, they have not been formally aligned to these documents.

Because evidence-based programs (EBPs) are targeted programs designed to address particular behaviors, with an emphasis on the particular skills shown to influence outcomes, they are unlikely to provide full coverage of or fulfill all performance indicators of the 8 NHES in the same way that a comprehensive health education curriculum would. Most will address the concepts standards (Standard 1) around how healthy behaviors affect health status, ways to reduce or prevent health risks, benefits and barriers to practicing healthy behaviors, and personal susceptibility. Since the goal of these EBPs is to reduce young people’s risk of pregnancy, HIV and other STD, performance indicators for Standard 7: Practicing Health-Enhancing Behaviors around personal responsibility and demonstrating behaviors that avoid or reduce health risks are also well covered.

EBPs also address some of the skills standards—most notably Standard 4: Interpersonal Communication around refusal and negotiation skills. There may also be activities that support Standard 2: Analyzing Influences (e.g., peer pressures, perception of norms), Standard 3: Accessing Resources (e.g., clinic visits, HIV/STD testing), and Standard 8: Advocacy (e.g., spreading the word, poster campaigns).

The remaining skills of decision making (Standard 5) and goal setting (Standard 6) may also be addressed to some degree, depending on the EBP. However, the NHES outline specific processes in the performance indicators for these skills, so, while some EBPs include aspects of these two skills, they are unlikely to be covered in a way that completely meets the NHES.

Our EBPs address particular content and skills from the National Sexuality Education Standards as well. However, because most are highly focused and targeted programs, they will not provide the more complete coverage a comprehensive sexual health curriculum might offer.