Teen Pregnancy and STI Prevention

Teen Pregnancy and STI Prevention

Personal Responsibility Education Program

The purpose of the Teen Pregnancy Prevention-Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) is to reduce teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV/AIDS. It is designed to support the implementation of direct services (complete, medically accurate, and age-appropriate using an evidence-based curriculum work with a coalition, and supplemental activities).

These services target youth ages 11-18 years old/grades 6 through 12, and in a geographic area with a high demonstrated need, and serve a population of at least 50% or more African-American and/or Hispanic youth (inclusive of multi-racial youth) and their parents/guardians. CPRD serves as the evaluation contractor to assist the federal government, Illinois Department of Human Services, and local service providers learn more about program design, implementation, and outcomes.

PREP Surveys

The Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) is a national initiative aimed at preventing teen pregnancy and sexually-transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. The project is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau. The national evaluation contractor, Mathematica, has developed Entry and Exit surveys to be completed with all youth participating in the PREP program. These surveys have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) nationally and the Institutional Review Board at the University of Illinois locally.

OPA Teen Pregnancy Prevention

The Office of Population Affairs (OPA) is part of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and is responsible for reproductive health topics. The purpose of the OPA Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) grants is to fund evidence-based programs proven to reduce teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) received two TPP grants from OPA to support the implementation of direct services (e.g., medically accurate and age-appropriate evidence-based curriculums, community coalitions, referrals for youth services). These services target youth ages 13-19 years old in grades 8 through 12 and in geographic areas with a demonstrated high-need across the state of Illinois.

CPRD serves as the evaluation partner to assist OPA, IDHS, and local service providers in learning more about program design, implementation, and outcomes. The purpose of the program evaluation is to understand youth risk and protective behaviors, the successes of the Illinois TPP projects, and additional strategies needed to keep youth safe and healthy.