Planned Parenthood Receives Federal Grant Funding for Teen Pregnancy Prevention, July 13

Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette (PPCW) and Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon (PPSO) received federal grant funding to continue playing a pivotal role in helping teens get the information, education and health care they need to delay parenthood until they’re ready. The grants from the Office of Adolescent Health (OAH) will support capacity-building assistance; deliver inclusive health care to reduce pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer youth; and implement pregnancy prevention programs to those living in rural communities. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) oversees the OAH and coordinates efforts related to adolescent health promotion and disease prevention. “We are thrilled that our programming, expertise and experience were recognized by the OAH,” said Camelia Hison, Vice President of Education at Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette. “Planned Parenthood is proud to provide evidence-based programming and to empower students, parents, teachers, community members and professionals to help teens prevent unintended pregnancies. While we’re gratified that Oregon’s teen pregnancy rate is at a historic 40-year low, we still have work to do. Access to quality health care, resources and information is a fundamental right for all people and shouldn’t depend on who we are or where we live.” PPCW and PPSO will work with the Northwest Coalition for Adolescent Health (NWCAH), a dynamic group of Planned Parenthood affiliates covering a large portion of the western United States. The group also includes Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands (PPGNHI), Planned Parenthood of Montana (PPM), Planned Parenthood of Utah (PPU) and Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood (MBPP). NWCAH received a total of $18.75 million to pursue the following grants over the next five years: Improving the Lives of Teens: Deliver evidence-based programs in at least three implementation settings to impact teen birth rates and disparities, addressing the unique needs in each community. The project will reach 9,100 youth over a four-year period. Inclued: Aims to reduce pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections in the LGBTQ youth population by harnessing the power of youth-led interventions to increase healthcare inclusivity and access. The project will reach 1,800 youth and 150 healthcare professionals in 12 communities over five years. Linking Families and Teens (LiFT): Delivers teen pregnancy prevention education to students in ninth and 10th grades as well as parents and caregivers living in rural communities. The project will reach more than 2,000 people in Oregon, Washington, Utah, Idaho, Alaska and Hawaii over five years. Stronger Together: Provide capacity-building assistance in a tiered approach over a three-year period that helps community-based organizations implement, integrate and sustain evidence-based programming. In addition, Multnomah County Health Department received a $6.25 million grant to implement evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention programs that serve populations at greatest need. In Multnomah County, the most alarming disparities in teen birth rates are among American Indians/Alaskan Natives, Blacks/African Americans and Latinas. The grant will be implemented by community organizations including Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette, Native American Youth and Family Center, Self Enhancement Inc., Latino Network and Boys and Girls Clubs of Portland Metropolitan Area. “For years, we at Planned Parenthood have been providing life-changing sexual education programs that provide information and resources about relationships, sexuality and sexual health,” said Mary Gossart, Vice President of Education at Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon. “We are excited to expand our services in the Rogue Valley to include capacity building for local partner organizations that work with youth experiencing a number of risk factors, including homelessness and difficulty in school.” In 2010, NWCAH was awarded $20 million by the Office of Adolescent Health to replicate the Teen Outreach Program, an evidence-based youth development program aimed at reducing teen pregnancy. Over the past five years, the program was primarily focused on the Northwest and addressed teen pregnancy and health disparities. The results are scheduled to be released in the fall and will show the outcomes of the past five years. For more information about NWCAH or the grant curricula, please contact Jimmy Radosta at jimmy.radosta@ppcw.org or Sarah Moseley at sarah.moseley@ppsworegon.org.