Evaluation and lessons learned from an undergraduate service learning course providing youth-focused relationship education

Alyssa McElwain, Vanessa Finnegan, Angela Whittaker, Jennifer Kerpelman, Francesca Adler-Baeder and Adrienne Duke

Evaluation and Program Planning, 2016, vol. 58, issue C, 116-124

Abstract: Adolescent romantic relationships are known to have a significant impact on individual well-being and development. However, few teens experience formal education about the knowledge and skills necessary for building healthy romantic relationships. In response, a statewide relationship education initiative was developed at a large university in a Southeastern state. Undergraduates who enrolled in a service learning course in Human Development and Family Studies partnered with this initiative and implemented a relationship education program targeting high school students. A service learning model is used in this initiative because it offers opportunities for students’ professional development and experiential learning. The present article provides a formative and illustrative summative evaluation of the service learning program. Specifically, the primary aims of this paper are to 1) provide an overview of the service learning course components; 2) describe preparation of the service learning students and their implementation of the relationship education program; 3) discuss challenges and lessons learned; and 4) offer initial evidence of effectiveness by showing change in targeted outcomes for the high school student recipients of the relationship education program.

Keywords: Romance; Adolescent development; Service learning; Program evaluation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:epplan:v:58:y:2016:i:c:p:116-124

DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2016.06.002

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