PROJECT

Evaluation of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Adolescent Sexuality Education (ASE) program

Client

Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Key Contact

Between December 2024 and July 2025, ICH conducted an evaluation of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s (DPH) Adolescent Sexuality Education (ASE) program.  The ASE program provides evidence-based sexuality health education to young people aged 10-21, working with 16 community-based agencies across the state of Massachusetts. Programming is focused on communities with high teen birth rates, with the goal of improving sexual and reproductive health outcomes for youth. ICH conducted qualitative focus groups with youth who had participated in the ASE program across the state. ICH focused recruitment on hearing from young people from priority populations, such as those who identify as being a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and youth who have an intellectual or developmental disability. ICH also conducted an interview with a caregiver whose child was eligible for the program. Additionally, ICH utilized a participatory process to engage a select group of ASE program participants to partake in a Community Advisory Board (CAB), in order to collect feedback on the evaluation process and findings. The results from the evaluation were shared with DPH, with the goal of  improving the ASE program, preparing for the next grant cycle, and sharing findings with other stakeholders such as program leaders and policymakers. ICH produced a presentation and a final report for DPH with evaluation findings, and a visual two-pager for dissemination to project stakeholders.