Overview
The Teen Outreach Program (TOP) is a three-year program that empowers teens to make healthy decisions and avoid risky behaviors. Curriculum lessons, community service learning activities, tools and resources will help youth identify sexual risk behaviors and employ practical skills to make smart choices in their relationships and health. The Office of Community Health and Research is partnering with the Springdale Public School District and local nonprofit youth agencies to provide the program to 1,200 ninth graders in the Springdale Public School District.
Teen Empowerment
The Teen Outreach Program empowers teens to better navigate challenges during their teenage years — a time when decisions matter most. The curriculum includes topics such as healthy relationships, communication, critical thinking, goal setting, decision-making and health and wellness.
Community Service
TOP students are required to take action in their community through a variety of Community Service Learning (CSL) opportunities. This has included cleaning up parks, providing lunch to first responders, delivering Thank You cards to healthcare staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, and more.
By the Numbers
As of Spring 2022, the UAMS Teen Outreach Program at the Springdale School District has had ### total participants, and completed an incredible ### hours of community service. Members of the TOP Club are paving the way for their peers to excel and make a huge difference in their communities.
Wyman Center’s TOP Approach
The Teen Outreach Program uses the Wyman Center’s TOP approach, which uses a medically accurate curriculum that is age-appropriate, culturally and linguistically appropriate, and trauma informed. The Wyman TOP curriculum has been in existence for more than 30 years and has piloted some of the nation’s most successful youth development solutions.
For more information about the Teen Outreach Program, contact Hershell West at HDWest@uams.edu.
Funding
Funding for Teen Outreach Program is provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Children, Youth and Families.