Project Legacy Impact Evaluation Study

The study uses a multi-site randomized group trial (RGT) cohort design to evaluate the
Project Legacy intervention curriculum for reducing sexual risk behaviors among homeless
youth age 14-19. CHLA project staff will work with 6 homeless youth serving sites in Southern
California (Los Angeles, San Diego) to recruit 600 youth. Randomization to the intervention
or control condition will occur at the group level and will be stratified by site. Field
staff will survey all eligible homeless youth who provide consent to participate in the study
at baseline (before randomization and implementation) and at 3 and 9 months post intervention
(5-5.5 and 11-11.5 months post-baseline). The program group will receive an additional
intervention-based survey immediately upon completion of the program.

Youth in the control condition will receive the normal standard of care provided at the
recruitment sites. Services available as standard of care at the recruitment sites include:
medical care; mental health services; substance abuse services; educational, career, and
vocational services. Intervention participants will not be excluded from receiving these
services as well. Surveys will capture mental and physical health care service utilization
and services to reduce substance use across both groups. The study team will monitor HIV and
pregnancy prevention programming and other similar goal-planning/decision-making
interventions offered to homeless youth in the study areas during the program implementation
and follow-up period via interviews with site staff. The study team will include selected
program exposure items on the follow up surveys to assess youth's self-reported exposure to
similar goal-planning/decision-making and sexual health (pregnancy prevention and STI/HIV)
education.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Served or identified on outreach by one of our partner homeless youth serving agencies
in Los Angeles or San Diego

- 14-19 years of age

- English-language speaker (able to complete consent and survey in English)

- not currently pregnant

- no immediate travel plans (are planning on being in the area for the length of the
intervention - 8 weeks).

Exclusion Criteria:

There are no exclusion criteria. Youth who are not initially eligible based on the criteria
above may be enrolled at a later date if their eligibility changes.