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An Evaluation of Achieving Condom Empowerment (ACE)-Plus in Foster Care Agencies in New York City

Abstract Objectives To test the ACE-Plus curriculum, a two-session program that teaches males in foster care and/or preventive services about correct and consistent condom use, and engagement with female partners to obtain and use contraception. Methods Nine foster care agencies in New York City randomly assigned 223 males aged 16–20 to the ACE-Plus intervention or a benign program. Youth completed surveys at baseline, 3-month follow-up, and 9-month follow-up. Regression analyses assessed the effects of program participation on condom use, use of hormonal birth control method, use of birth control by female sex partner(s), obtaining birth control with a sex partner(s), and communication about birth control with a sex partner(s). Results At 3-month follow-up, treatment youth were significantly more likely than control youth to report communicating with their sexual partner(s) about birth control (p = .0062). While not statistically significant, treatment youth were more likely to report obtaining birth control with a sex partner(s) than control youth at 3-month follow-up. Impact estimates for the remaining behavioral outcomes favored the control group, though not significantly. Implementation data suggest the program was delivered with fidelity. Conclusion Based on these mixed results, perhaps more developmental research into this short-duration intervention for this high-needs population is necessary.