Joven Noble: evaluation of a culturally focused youth development program

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The purpose of this study was to describe and evaluate a promising program model, the Joven Nobel curriculum, for Latino male adolescents that promotes positive youth development and addresses prevention of a number of risk‐related sexual behaviors within a cultural context. A quasi‐experimental design was used that included a pre‐ and posttest assessment of 683 adolescent males. Results revealed that youth exposed to the 10‐week curriculum had significant increases in knowledge and decrease in behavior related to high risk sexual behaviors. Out of eight scale measures (ATSS, Perceived Risk, HIV Knowledge, CAPS: Talk, CAPS: Comfort Talk, CAPS: Cool Sex, ATA, Cultural Esteem, and Hombres Con Palabra) seven yielded a significant and positive outcome results. The curriculum appears effective in shaping youth's attitudes and beliefs about high‐risk sexual behaviors.