Overview of the Peer to Peer: Stop, Think, Be Safe! Program

Often, sexually transmitted disease (STD) education does not begin until students reach high school. Statistics and research consistently show, however, that young people begin making sexual decisions and acting on them as early as 11 years of age. Therefore, Danya International, Inc., (Danya) developed this video-based program as an age-appropriate intervention for young people who are at a critical stage in their development and who we believe will greatly benefit from discussions regarding STDs.

The Stop, Think, Be Safe! intervention
Stop, Think, Be Safe! is a video-based intervention that was created under the Peer to Peer project by Danya with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It targets primarily African American youth 12 to 15 years of age, but target-aged children of all backgrounds and ethnicities can benefit from viewing the video and engaging in the discussions and activities outlined in the facilitator's guide.

Where the intervention can be used
The video is appropriate for viewing in schools, after-school programs, residential homes, substance abuse treatment settings, juvenile detention centers, court-based youth risk reduction programs, and "wrap-around" youth programs. It is also suitable for clinical settings (such as doctor's offices and free clinics), as well as at home with a parent or responsible adult. It is important that when showing the video, enough time is also allocated for discussion afterward. The video may bring up a lot of mixed feelings for young people—as well as facilitators—so it is crucial that all viewers have an opportunity to discuss the issues it raises.