Although teen birth rates have been falling for the last two decades, 20.3 per 1,000 teens, ages 15—19, gave birth in 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adolescent pregnancy and childbearing can carry high health, emotional, social, and financial costs for both adolescent parents and their children. To prevent adolescent pregnancy, the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, and other risky behaviors among adolescents, FYSB takes a holistic approach to support state, Tribal, and community efforts to help youth reduce and avoid risks associated with teen sex and other risk behaviors.
Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Grant Programs
The State Personal Responsibility Education Program and Competitive Personal Responsibility Education Program promote proven methods for reducing adolescent pregnancy, delaying sex among young people, and increasing the use of condoms and other contraceptives among sexually active youth, including American Indian and Alaska Native youth.
Tribal Personal Responsibility Education Programs help Tribes combat the disproportionately high rates of teen pregnancy and birth among American Indian and Alaska Native youth.
Personal Responsibility Education Innovative Strategies Programs support organizations that are using innovative strategies to prevent pregnancy among youth ages 10—19 who are homeless, in or “aging out” of foster care, live in geographic areas with high teen birth rates, or come from vulnerable populations of youth, as well as pregnant and parenting youth under the age of 21.
The Sexual Risk Avoidance Education Program (General Departmental-Funded), Title V State Sexual Risk Avoidance Education Program, and Title V Competitive Sexual Risk Avoidance Education Program support state and community organizations implementing sexual risk avoidance education that teaches youth how to voluntarily refrain from non-marital sexual activity, empower youth to make healthy decisions, and provide tools and resources to prevent youth engagement in other risky behaviors.