title: Evaluation and lessons learned from an undergraduate service learning course providing youth-focused relationship education.
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.
authors.affiliation: University of Wyoming, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, Department #3354, 1000 E. University Avenue, Laramie, WY 82071, United States. Electronic address: amcelwai@uwyo.edu.
authors.forename: Alyssa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McElwain
authors.affiliation: Auburn University, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, 203 Spidle Hall, Auburn, AL 36849, United States.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Finnegan
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, 167 Bevier Hall, 905 South Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, United States.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Whittaker
authors.affiliation: Auburn University, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, 203 Spidle Hall, Auburn, AL 36849, United States.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kerpelman
authors.affiliation: Auburn University, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, 203 Spidle Hall, Auburn, AL 36849, United States.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Adler-Baeder
authors.affiliation: Auburn University, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, 203 Spidle Hall, Auburn, AL 36849, United States.
authors.forename: Adrienne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duke
mesh_terms: D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003479:Curriculum; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D014838:Volunteers / Q000193:education*
keywords: Adolescent development; Program evaluation; Romance; Service learning