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PROJECT EBAN: MOVING BEYOND THE FENCES - PROJECT EBAN IS A CULTURALLY TAILORED, MULTI-DIMENSIONAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE THAT WILL SEEK TO SERVE 2700 HIGH-RISK YOUNG BLACK MALES AGES 13-19 IN THE COUNTIES OF CLAYTON AND MACON-BIBB IN GEORGIA. THE “EBAN” IS THE WEST AFRICAN ADINKRAN SYMBOL FOR “FENCE.” PROJECT EBAN INCREASES THE FENCES OR PROTECTIVE FACTORS THAT PROMOTE POSITIVE MALE DEVELOPMENT, WHILE KEEPING OUT (OR REDUCING) RISK FACTORS. EBAN CREATES PROSOCIAL SPACES THAT CENTER YOUNG BLACK MALES IN A HOST OF INTERRELATED PROGRAM ACTIVITIES THAT SHARE POWER, GIVE THEM AGENCY, AND PROMOTE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

PROJECT EBAN: MOVING BEYOND THE FENCES - PROJECT EBAN IS A CULTURALLY TAILORED, MULTI-DIMENSIONAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE THAT WILL SEEK TO SERVE 2700 HIGH-RISK YOUNG BLACK MALES AGES 13-19 IN THE COUNTIES OF CLAYTON AND MACON-BIBB IN GEORGIA. THE “EBAN” IS THE WEST AFRICAN ADINKRAN SYMBOL FOR “FENCE.” PROJECT EBAN INCREASES THE FENCES OR PROTECTIVE FACTORS THAT PROMOTE POSITIVE MALE DEVELOPMENT, WHILE KEEPING OUT (OR REDUCING) RISK FACTORS. EBAN CREATES PROSOCIAL SPACES THAT CENTER YOUNG BLACK MALES IN A HOST OF INTERRELATED PROGRAM ACTIVITIES THAT SHARE POWER, GIVE THEM AGENCY, AND PROMOTE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

ALIGNING COMMUNITY SYSTEMS FOR OPTIMAL ADOLESCENT HEALTH - THE ALIGNING COMMUNITY SYSTEMS FOR OPTIMAL ADOLESCENT HEALTH (ACSOAH) IS A MULTIDIMENSIONAL FRAMEWORK THAT FACILITATES TRANSFORMATIVE COMMUNITY ACTION FOR VULNERABLE YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY OF SOUTHWEST MACON IN GEORGIA. ACSOAH SEEKS TO COORDINATE THE EFFORTS OF KEY STAKEHOLDERS AT VARIOUS LEVELS OF THE COMMUNITY ECOSYSTEM IN SUPPORT OF OPTIMAL HEALTH FOR VULNERABLE (OFTEN MARGINALIZED) YOUTH. USING THE ALIGNING COMMUNITY SYSTEMS (ACS) FRAMEWORK AS A MEANS OF AUTHENTICALLY ENGAGING “TREETOP” (SYSTEMS LEADERS) AND “GRASSROOTS” (YOUTH, FAMILIES AND MEMBERS OF THE TARGETED COMMUNITY) STAKEHOLDERS IN A DYNAMIC ACTION PLANNING PROCESS REFLECTIVE OF PARITY AND INCLUSION, STAKEHOLDERS COME TOGETHER TO DEVELOP THE MACON BLUEPRINT FOR OPTIMAL ADOLESCENT HEALTH. THE BLUEPRINT WILL SERVE AS A COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN DESIGNED TO REDUCE COMMUNITY RISK FACTORS AND INCREASE PROTECTIVE FACTORS IN SOUTHWEST MACON. EMBEDDED IN THE PROJECT IS THE DIFFUSION OF MULTIPLE EVIDENCE PROGRAMS BASED PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES INCLUDING THE REDUCING THE RISK (RTR) AND THE POWER THROUGH CHOICES (PTC) CURRICULA. REDUCING THE RISK IS A 16-SESSION CURRICULUM THAT EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF SEXUAL RISK REDUCTION AND INCREASING THE USE OF USING PROTECTIVE MEASURES TO AVOID STI/STDS/HIV OVERALL. PTC WAS CHOSEN TO ADDRESS MORE POPULATIONS FURTHER ALONG THE RISK CONTINUUM, SUCH AS YOUTH INVOLVED IN SYSTEMS OF CARE. PTC ENCOMPASSES 10 SESSIONS AND IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTION THAT IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT PREGNANCY, HIV, AND STI’S AMONG TEENS BETWEEN THE AGES 13-18 YEARS OF AGE. ACSOAH BRINGS TOGETHER PARTNERS REPRESENTING VARIOUS SYSTEMS INCLUDING JUVENILE JUSTICE, PUBLIC HEALTH, THE MACON-BIBB PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS (CIS) AND ALIGNS THEIR EFFORTS WITH ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING THE UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL GEORGIA, THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF CENTRAL GEORGIA AND HOST OF STAKEHOLDERS REPRESENTATIVE OF CRITICAL YOUTH FACING ORGANIZATIONS AND THE YOUTH AND FAMILIES THEREIN.