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  1. Promising Strategies and Existing Gaps in Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Teens

Promising Strategies and Existing Gaps in Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Teens

In recent years, the federal government has made investments toward building a scientific evidence base of effective programs and models addressing teen pregnancy prevention. In addition, funding was made available to provide services to pregnant and parenting teens, who need strong support networks and a comprehensive array of resources to help them transition to parenthood and adulthood and improve their educational outcomes.

The Pregnancy Assistance Fund (PAF), administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Adolescent Health (OAH), provides competitive grants to state and tribal organizations that support pregnant and parenting teens and their families. PAF funds are also used to improve services for pregnant women who are victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

In January and June 2012, OAH convened a panel of experts in Washington, D.C. to discuss strategies and gaps in the field of support for pregnant and parenting teens. The discussion focused on what works in supporting pregnant and parenting teens. The experts were tasked with summarizing the state of the field, prioritizing gaps and challenges, and identifying opportunities to support pregnant and parenting teens. Included among the experts were physicians, university faculty, medical directors, psychologists, researchers, federal staff, and directors of programs and organizations serving pregnant and parenting teens. After gathering expert insights, the OAH contracted with Child Trends to produce a summary report, Promising Strategies and Existing Gaps in Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Teens (PDF, 27 pages).

The report (PDF, 27 pages) summarizes:

  1. Promising practices in reaching, engaging and retaining pregnant and parenting teens,
  2. Effective program components when working with pregnant and parenting teens, 
  3. Concrete examples for implementing those core components.

Read more about teen pregnancy prevention on youth.gov.

Visit the Office of Adolescent Health’s website.

To learn more about teen reproductive health facts, click here.