Abt Associates to Study the Effectiveness of Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs

BETHESDA, Md., Nov. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Abt Associates, a global research and program implementation company, today announced it has been awarded an $11.1 million contract by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to evaluate the effectiveness of replications of three teen pregnancy prevention program models.  

The three models, designed to prevent or reduce teenage pregnancy, births to teens, and sexually transmitted infections, will be examined for program effectiveness and ability to be implemented and replicated. Models include: a long-standing sex education curriculum offered in schools, a clinic-based intervention for young women, and a culturally relevant curriculum for Latino youth.

"This is an important project, and we are very pleased to be working with HHS in building the evidence base for teen pregnancy prevention programs that can be replicated nationwide," said Katie Heintz, vice president, division vice president for Social and Economic Policy at Abt Associates. Heintz added that this study will provide critically important evidence about program replication and scale-up- questions that have been unanswered to date.

Under the five-year study, Abt will conduct research at nine sites to examine the effectiveness of the three program models that are implemented with fidelity in different settings and for different populations, according to Heintz.

The impetus to examine the impact of current teen pregnancy prevention programs -- offered in schools and community organizations across the country -- is part of the new federal Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative. The program, created in 2010 to reduce teenage pregnancy and address disparities in teen pregnancy and birth rates, places a heavy emphasis on evidence-based programs. This commitment to funding evidence-based programs and at the same time informing the research base will help to answer important questions about the best ways to address youth risk behaviors and promote healthy behaviors among youth.

About Abt Associates

Abt Associates is a mission-driven, global leader in research and program implementation in the fields of health, social and environmental policy, and international development. Known for its rigorous approach to solving complex challenges, Abt Associates was ranked as one of the top 20 global research firms in 2011 and also named one of the top 40 international development innovators.  The company has multiple offices in the U.S. and program offices in nearly 40 countries. www.abtassociates.com

SOURCE Abt Associates

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