PPSDRC is dedicated to helping people make positive choices about their reproductive health. Preventing teen pregnancy is an integral part of this work. PPSDRC’s Youth Development Program highlights leadership and goal achievement, which is reflected in their motto: Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow. This program emphasizes a whole person experience and focuses on building self-esteem, strengthening community involvement, and assisting participants in developing skills that will help them set and achieve their goals. 

PPSDRC’s youth development program is an award-winning program targeting elementary and middle school students through three programs, MARCH, STAR, and TEACH. The MARCH program was created in 1997 when PPSDRC received a grant to create a male-involvement program. After much research, PPSDRC decided to target fifth-grade boys. As the MARCH program grew in popularity, schools and parents asked if we could develop a similar program for girls. We modified the established MARCH curriculum to create the STAR program for girls. TEACH was created in 2007 and is a continuation of the MARCH and STAR programs, targeting boys and girls in middle school.

The YDP has three components that each student must participate in: 1.) Classroom-based life skills curriculum including lessons in decision making, goal setting, communication skills and health, 2) outings, including hiking, the opera and tours of local universities, and 3) community service/involvement such as neighborhood clean-ups, graffiti removal, or feeding the homeless.

The Youth Development Program is comprised of the following:

• MARCH—Males Acting Responsibly for Community and Health is an 11-week after school life-skills program designed for 5th and 6th grade boys. Participants are required to meet once a week for 90 minutes and participate in field trips and community involvement projects.
• STAR—Sisters Together Acting Responsibly is an 11-week after school life-skills program designed for 5th and 6th grade girls. Participants are required to meet once a week for 90 minutes and participate in field trips and community involvement projects.

MARCH and STAR were designed to combat an increase in young people engaging in higher risk behaviors and increased peer pressure as they graduate to middle school. These programs reach young people before they face the pressures of junior high and high school.

• TEACH—Teens Empowered About Community and Health is a 15-week after school life-skills program designed for boys and girls entering middle school. Participants are required to meet twice a week for 90 minutes each session. This program is an extension of the MARCH and STAR programs and builds on what the participants learned in the previous program.

Mentoring is also an important component of the Youth Development Program at Planned Parenthood. Each TEACH participant is partnered with a current MARCH or STAR participant for outings and community service projects. The Youth Development Program educators also serve as mentors and role-models to the participants.

To learn more about PPSDRC’s Youth Development Program, please contact our office by location: 

• San Diego County, pvizcarra@planned.org  or (619)881-4553
• Coachella Valley, omontes@planned.org or (760) 779-0360