JOVEN NOBLE

 Joven Noble is a youth development, support, and leadership enhancement curriculum designed to strengthen protective factors among male Latino youth ages 10-24. The curriculum aims to promote the character development of young men and facilitate continued "rites of passage" development with the goals of reducing and preventing unwanted or unplanned pregnancies, substance abuse, community violence, and relationship violence. The curriculum also promotes responsible and respectful behavior in relationships with significant others.

Joven Noble is based on the philosophy that male youth need other men and women, their family, and community to care for, assist, heal, and guide them, and successfully prepare them for true manhood. The intervention is informed by positive youth development theory, the risk and protective factors model, acculturation, and Latino cultural values. Delivered by facilitators in 10 weekly sessions, the curriculum focuses on four core teachings: conocimiento (acknowledgment), which addresses social and cultural attachment; entendimiento (understanding), which addresses social and behavioral factors such as violence and aggression as well as the ability of youth to focus on goals; integración (integration), which addresses factors in the broader culture that may lead to feelings of isolation and sadness; and movimiento (movement), which addresses how the physical and emotional aspects of teenagers' lives intersect. Sessions involve a mixture of activities and teaching methods (e.g., testimony by role models, skits) relating to a young person's self, family, and community while focusing on the four core teachings. After completing the program, youth are encouraged to join an extended kinship group for ongoing support and development.

The intervention has been implemented with low-income high school students as well as youth in probation and community alternative justice programs. Joven Noble facilitators are required to participate in training before implementing the program and are encouraged to join a network for the ongoing sharing of resources and implementation techniques.