General SRAE Program Requirements
SRAE Program Priorities
SRAE Curriculum Requirements
Success Sequence for Poverty Prevention
REAL Essentials Advance provides direct and explicit alignment with the NOFO’s Success Sequence priority. Unit Six: Order Up! teaches all three milestones exactly as described in the NOFO and presents them as an intentional sequence associated with greater financial stability. Additional supporting lessons reinforce the individual steps by helping students complete education, prepare for full-time employment, plan for healthy marriage and family formation, and overcome financial or family barriers. Together, these lessons connect present behavior and sexual-risk-avoidance decisions with poverty prevention, economic independence, emotional maturity, and long-term adult well-being.
Evidence-Based Strategies
1. Published Literature
2. Systematic core curriculum alignment for effective programs
Positive Youth Development Approach
According to FYSB, a Positive Youth Development, or PYD, is based on a body of research suggesting that certain “protective factors,” or positive influences, can help young people succeed and keep them from having problems.
A positive youth development approach fosters and promotes:
✔ Resilience
✔ Social, emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and moral competence
✔ Self-determination
✔ Self-efficacy
✔ Clear and positive identity
✔ Belief in the future
✔ Recognition for positive behavior and opportunities for prosocial involvement
✔ Prosocial norms (healthy standards for behavior)
Human Trafficking Universal Education
REAL Essentials aligns with the program's human trafficking prevention education priorities through the addition of a new lesson, Traffick Stop, which provides universal, prevention-focused instruction for youth. The lesson strengthens participant knowledge by increasing awareness of trafficking risks, common recruitment tactics, and warning signs while building practical skills in personal safety, healthy decision-making, help-seeking, and accessing trusted resources. Through interactive activities, guided discussions, and realistic scenarios, participants have meaningful opportunities to practice identifying potential trafficking situations, apply protective decision-making strategies, and build confidence in responding safely and seeking support when needed.
A Home for Every Child
REAL Essentials has multiple lessons that addresses key drivers of risk and emphasizes the benefits of avoiding nonmarital sexual activity and building skills related to healthy relationships, goal setting, and future orientation. REAL Essentials certification training will address how teaching youth in foster care these trajectory-changing skills can further safeguard their legacy and future family. Partnership with specific agencies who serve youth in foster care will ensure access to this information in the program delivery. Read more about ACF’s initiative, A Home for Every Child.