Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program
The Center for Maternal & Child Health is reducing unintended pregnancies and decreasing teen pregnancies by using a multi-faceted approach. Activities range from clinical services through the State’s Family Planning Program to training and educational opportunities offered through various venues. A Community Health Educator in the Center serves as the State’s Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coordinator.
Maryland Family Planning Health Program
This Program provides family planning, preconception health, teen pregnancy prevention services to the 70,000+ clients served annually in over 80 sites statewide. Teens represent approximately one third of clients served statewide. Grants are awarded to local health departments and Planned Parenthood for the provision of clinical and other services. This Program funds Healthy Teen and Young Adult (HTYA) sites in Baltimore City, Prince George’s County and Anne Arundel County. HTYA is a program designed to reach and serve young people at risk for unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and high risk behaviors. Service sites provide a holistic approach to health care and community-based prevention efforts. Male involvement coordinators design and implement activities to help young men understand their passage through boyhood and manhood as a prelude to fatherhood. The HTYA Program serves young men and women up to age 24.
Maryland Abstinence Education Program
The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has received Federal Title V, Section 510 funding for abstinence education since 1999. The Center views abstinence education as a primary prevention and youth development strategy and uses these funds to support activities that promote positive life planning as well as sexual abstinence.
In FY 2008 abstinence education grants were provided to 14 local health departments. The majority of these programs utilize an after-school program model which educates middle school youth about critical thinking skills, peer pressure, self-esteem, positive decision making and sexual abstinence. Abstinence funds support conferences for young people and their parents/caregivers. In the past, abstinence education funds have also supported the abstinence based teen pregnancy prevention media campaign, Campaign for Our Children.
Other Activities
Training and Education.
The Center for Maternal & Child Health provides a broad range of training and educational opportunities to professionals, parents and teens to promote abstinence and/or prevent teen pregnancy. Workshops and trainings are designed to keep professionals who work with teens abreast of research and programming in the areas of positive youth development, adolescent brain development and teen pregnancy prevention. Educational materials are provided to parents/caregivers to educate them on communicating with youth to foster attitudes to help them avoid becoming teen parents.
Data Analysis and Performance Monitoring
The Center for Maternal & Child Health monitors teen birth rates and related indicators as required by Federal Maternal and Child Health Block Grant guidelines.
Outreach, Advocacy and Technical Assistance
The Center works collaboratively with various federal, state and local government agencies, local health departments and other health providers, advocacy groups, community based organizations and other stakeholders to address teen pregnancy. Technical assistance on teen pregnancy prevention issues including best and promising practices is provided when requested
The key to the success of Healthy Teens and Young Adults is the focus on teenagers and young adults. These programs and all of the activities and services provided are directed at young people and the HTYA environment is designed to be adolescent-friendly.
Links:
The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy
Stay Teen
National Parents Speak Up Campaign
The Search Institute 40 Developmental Assets