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African Family Health Organization
Teen Health (Physical, Social, and Emotional) Program
Needs Assessment/Discussion Guide
OPTIONAL INTRODUCTION:​ This is to help us learn more about your physical,
social, and emotional health. The information you and others provide will assist us
to learn more about you and help us develop a program for teens. Please know
your thoughts and answers will be handled in the strictest confidence.
Open­Ended Questions
Behavioral and Social Questions
Main Question to Answer:​ ​What influences your behavior/ the way you act?
●​ ​How would you describe your behavior ?
●​ ​What do you consider to be positive behaviors for individuals in the same age
group as you?
●​ ​What do you consider to be negative behaviors for individuals in the same age
group as you?
●​ ​Do you think you engage in/have engaged in any negative behaviors?
○ ​ ​If yes, what are those behaviors and what do you think led to you engaging in
them?
○ ​ ​If no, what has prevented you from engaging in those behaviors?
●​ ​Are there role models and/or mentors in your life that guide your
decision­making? If yes, who are they?
○ ​ ​Do you think it’s important to have role models/mentors? Why/why not?
○ ​ ​What can a role model/mentor do to help you at this point in life?
●​ ​Who do you talk to when you need advice?
●​ ​Do you think your family’s cultural/religious beliefs impact your decision
making? How?
○ ​ ​Do your parents or family members put added pressure and/or expectations on you?
​●​ ​Would you say that your friends have the same values or beliefs as you? Why
or why not?

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●​ ​Would you be friends with someone that didn’t have the same values/beliefs as
you? Why or why not?
●​ ​Are you a religious person/Do you have a religion? If so, do your religious
beliefs influence how you make decisions that impact your life?
○ ​ ​If yes, please describe how your religious beliefs influence your decision making?
●​ ​How have your personal experiences with friends/loved ones contributed to
how you make good/bad decisions?
●​ ​If your parents are from Africa/the Caribbean (or you were born there), are
you connected to the African/Caribbean community here in Philadelphia?
●​ ​Is that connection beneficial or not? If yes, how? If not, why?
●​ ​Are there specific issues that you think African/Caribbean young people in
Philadelphia are facing? What are they?
●​ ​Have you experienced positive or negative pressure from friends/loved ones?
Please describe in more detail and how you handled it.
● What are some of your personal goals?
○ What do you need to help you achieve these goals?
● ​How does ​social media, music, and T.V​ impact decision making in your life?
o ​ ​Does the mass media/pop culture impact the way you see or feel about yourself?
o ​ ​What would you like to see more of on T.V./social media and in music that might be
good for people in your age group?
o ​ ​How is social media, music, t.v. etc harmful to people your age? Does it impact their
self­esteem? What about their body image?
● What are stereotypes?
● Do you think people believe certain stereotypes about you?
○ If yes, how does that impact you/make you feel?
● How would you define mental and behavioral health?
○ Do you think mental/behavioral health is an issue for people in your
age group? Why or why not?

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● What are some of the other things that you think influence how people in
your age group behave (positively or negatively)?
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Sexual/Reproductive Health Questions:
● Do you feel comfortable with your family or friends talking about sex,
pregnancy, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), family planning,
contraception and other issues related to sexual and reproductive health?
Why or why not?
● How do you define the term “family planning?” (write down their initial
answers).
(After a short discussion amongst group members, group facilitator will explain
what family planning means.)
○ ​ ​Was the definition what you expected?
○ ​Would you use a different term other than “family planning?” What would it be?
● If you have questions about sex, contraception, abstinence, relationships,
etc., ​where do you go for answers, advice, support?
● If a situation arises where your friends are pressuring you, how do you deal
with it? (Example: A situation could arise when friends are asking about
your relationship with a boy/girl that you do not want to talk about or your
boyfriend/girlfriend is pressuring you to engage in some form of sexual
activity)
● ​Have you ever felt pressure from a partner to engage in sexual activity?
● ​If you are not having sex, what has led to that decision? ​(Have participant
explain why.)
● ​If you are having sex, what led to that decision? Yes, personal preference.
● ​If you are sexually active, how do you engage your partner around safe sex?
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Wrap­Up Questions:

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● What kinds of programs would be helpful for you and your peers around the
sexual and reproductive health, relationships, and other health related
issues we’ve talked about today?
● ​What kinds of activities would you like to see or take part in for a program
created by AFAHO for young people like you?
● What are some extracurricular/afterschool activities that you would enjoy
taking part in?
● ​For young people who might be engaging in negative behaviors, what
programs do you think could help them change?