Evaluation of Abstinence Education Program

The University of Kentucky School of Public Health will provide technical support for evaluation to Kentucky's Direct Community Grant program under the Kentucky Abstinence Education Program 'for the 2003/2004 Fiscal Year. Dr. Evelyn Knight, Ph.D. will be the chief technical advisor and F. Douglas Scutchfield will provide on-going consultation. Dr. Knight will provide technical assistance and consultation to four project sites receiving funding through the Federal Abstinence Education Grant. Assistance will include help in designing evaluation surveys and report writing. Sites for evaluation will be selected in conjunction with the state abstinence education coordinator at the Department for Public Health (DPH). Dr. Knight will also counsel trainees about the importance of their counseling clients and families on the importance of avoiding tobacco use as well as referring appropriate youth to smoking cessation programs. She will also discuss the importance of avoiding exposure to second hand smoke. It is expected that this will assist in removing the discrepancy in tobacco-related diseases in minority, economically disadvantaged and rural populations. Trips to Frankfo,rt and four evaluation sites will involve University of Kentucky staff for multiple meetings with DPH staff and grantees, with mileage and incidental expenses. Office expense includes communicating with DPH and grantees via faxes and phone.. duplicating materials for the workshop and reports to grantees and DPH.