The Adolescent Health and Youth Development (AHYD) program focuses on improving the health of young people, ages 10-19, and providing educational and skill building workshops and programs that help them navigate safely through adolescence and into adulthood. By partnering with schools, youth service agencies and the faith community, AHYD is able to help build support systems for district youth that engage them in fun and innovative programs during the peak hours for high risk behaviors. The program offers a variety of interactive, age-appropriate workshops and activities designed to help young people think clearly about consequences and personal goals. There are also interactive workshops and presentations for parents and other interested adults.

Adolescent Health & Youth Development (AHYD) utilizes a variety of age appropriate curricula designed to prevent teen pregnancy by helping youth understand the importance of abstaining from sexual activity and equipping them with skills to do so. Our program takes a non-traditional approach to educating teens and adults by providing training and workshops in the afternoons and on weekends. Two evidence based curriculums are used to teach teens about the consequences of sex with one being abstinence-based (Making A Difference) and the other being a comprehensive approach aimed to encouraging safe sex with the use of contraception (Making Proud Choices). Each of the evidence based curriculum consist of 8 modules which are usually conducted over a span of 8 one hour sessions. Additional prevention trainings and presentations include: Alcohol and Drug Education, Developmental Assets, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and Statutory Rape.

Topics covered in abstinence education curriculum (Making A Difference) include:

• Self-esteem
• Communication
• Sexuality
• Dating violence
• Abstinence
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases
• Goal-setting
• Decision-Making

Topics covered in the comprehensive sex education curriculum (Making Proud Choices) curriculum include:

• Goal-Setting
• Decision-Making
• Teen Pregnancy
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases
• HIV
• Condom Education
• Negotiation and Refusal Skills

AHYD programs are free of charge. The Adolescent Health & Youth Development program currently provides these services in Crisp, Dooly, and Sumter Counties with special grant funding through the Georgia Department of Human Resources Program of Excellence. Workshops are conducted by a trained adult facilitator and can be implemented in a variety of settings.

AHYD program participants learn and develop skills from an array of experiences, including:

Discussions, Audiovisuals, Role playing, Structured and semi-structured activities, Brainstorming, and Lectures

Additional Initiatives Include:

Youth Advisory Council
The Youth Advisory Board (YAC) is the Adolescent Health & Youth Development (AHYD) teen leadership group. The YAC helps AHYD by providing an adolescent perspective on programs and activities offered in the community.

The YAC also participates in planning and implementation of youth outreach events throughout the year, as well as being involved in various community service projects. YAC members attend Georgia Teen Institute summer trainings and various other leadership conferences and summits throughout Georgia.

Step UP, Step IN

AHYD is a partner in the Step UP, Step IN Sexual Bullying Awareness Campaign that addresses sexual bullying in Georgia schools.  AHYD partners with Americus-Sumter High South, Dooly County Middle School, and Dooly County High School to launch the Step UP, Step IN Campaign to held end sexual bullying in schools.  This is also a joint partner with the Georgia Network to End Sexual Assault (GNESA) and the Rape Prevention and Education Program.

For More Information, contact: Katrisha Williams, Youth Development Coordinator at
229-271-1054, ext. 4 or email Katrisha.Williams@dph.ga.gov