Teen Outreach Program PDF Download

The "Wyman Teen Outreach Program" (TOP) is a life skills curriculum for 12- to 17-year-olds that aims to prevent negative youth behaviors, such as school failure and early pregnancy. Trained facilitators deliver the curriculum in weekly classes throughout the school year. Participants discuss topics such as goal-setting, peer pressure, relationship dynamics, values, and communication skills. The program can be integrated with a school's existing curriculum, offered as an in-school elective, or an after-school program. The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) identified 9 studies of TOP that were published or released between 1988 and 2008. Seven studies are within the scope of the review and have an eligible design, but do not meet WWC evidence standards, and two studies are out of the scope of the review, as defined by the Dropout Prevention protocol, because they do not present primary research. The lack of studies meeting WWC evidence standards means that, at this time, the WWC is unable to draw any conclusions based on research about the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of TOP.