New Federal Investment in Preventing Teen Pregnancy Applauded
WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced $155 million in grants to prevent teen pregnancy. The grants to states, non-profit organizations, school districts, and others have been awarded in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Federated States of Micronesia.
The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based in Washington, DC released the following statement regarding the awards:
"Given that the nation's extraordinary progress in preventing teen pregnancy and childbearing over the past two decades has come to a virtual standstill, the investment of federal funds could not be more timely," said Sarah Brown, CEO of The National Campaign. "We applaud the Obama Administration and Congress for making teen pregnancy prevention a priority issue and for providing states, communities, and others with a much-needed boost in their efforts to help young people.
We also applaud the Administration and Congress for investing federal dollars in efforts with evidence of success and for making a concerted effort to test out new and innovative approaches to preventing teen pregnancy. In short, the grants to prevent teen pregnancy are good news for teens, good news for children, and good news for the nation."
HHS also announced more than $33 million in formula grants to 29 states and Puerto Rico to support programs promoting abstinence for teens. Yesterday, HHS announced $27 million in grants to support pregnant and parenting teens.
Below are some additional details on the grant awards for programs that address teen pregnancy made by HHS on September 30, 2010:
Teenage Pregnancy Prevention: Replication of Evidence-Based Programs (Tier 1 Projects)—The Office of Adolescent Health (OAH) awarded 75 competitive grants to a broad range of organizations and agencies to replicate teen pregnancy prevention programs that have shown to be effective through rigorous evaluation. These grants are funded with $75 million from the FY 2010 appropriations bill.
Teenage Pregnancy Prevention: Research and Demonstration Programs (Tier 2/Innovative Strategies)—OAH awarded 19 grants to a broad range of organizations to develop and test innovative strategies to reduce teen pregnancy. Each grantee will closely monitor its results and measure program effectiveness through rigorous evaluation. These grants were funded from within the $25 million from the FY 2010 appropriations bill.
Community-Wide Teenage Pregnancy Prevention: Integrating Services, Programs, and Strategies through Community-wide Initiatives—In partnership with OAH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded competitive grants to eight state and local organizations for a project to advance community-wide strategies to reduce teen pregnancy. These grants were funded with a portion of the $25 million in Tier 2 funding above. In addition, five national organizations, including The National Campaign, received grants funded by CDC. These national, state, and local organizations will work together to promote the use of evidence-based programs, educate community leaders about the importance of preventing teen pregnancy, and connect youth to clinical services.
Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP)—A total of $45 million in formula grants was awarded to 46 states (including D.C.) from the Administration on Children, Youth, and Families (ACYF) for evidence-based programs that reduce teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and address other adulthood preparation topics such as healthy relationships, communication with parents, and financial literacy. Each state expressed its intent to accept these funds by submitting an initial application; states have until February 1, 2011 to submit a full plan.
An additional $10 million in PREP funds was awarded to 13 grantees for innovative strategies to reduce teen pregnancy and repeat pregnancies among youth up to age 21. PREP is funded through the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Title V State Abstinence Education Grant Program—ACYF awarded formula grants to 29 states and Puerto Rico totaling $33 million for abstinence education and mentoring, counseling, and adult supervision programs that promote abstinence. Each state submitted an initial application to ACYF expressing its intent to accept the funds; they have until December 10, 2010 to submit a full plan. These grants are funded through the ACA.
Pregnancy Assistance Fund—OAH awarded $24 million in competitive grants to 17 states and tribes for programs to support pregnant and parenting teens and women. Projects will provide a range of services to teenagers in high schools and community service centers, young adults in institutions of higher education, and victims of domestic abuse. These funds were included in the ACA. (Announced September 28, 2010)
About The National Campaign: The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy seeks to improve the lives and future prospects of children and families. Our specific strategy is to prevent teen pregnancy and unplanned pregnancy among single, young adults. We support a combination of responsible values and behavior by both men and women and responsible policies in both the public and private sectors. If we are successful, child and family well-being will improve.
Please visit www.TheNationalCampaign.org for more information.
SOURCE National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy
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