Through the State Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP), FYSB awards grants to State agencies to educate young people on both abstinence and contraception to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. The program targets youth ages 10—19 who are homeless, in foster care, live in rural areas or in geographic areas with high teen birth rates, or come from racial or ethnic minority groups. The program also supports pregnant and parenting youth.

FYSB Mission

To support the organizations and communities that work every day to reduce the risk of youth homelessness, adolescent pregnancy and domestic violence.

FYSB Vision

A future in which all our nation’s youth, individuals and families—no matter what challenges they may face—can live healthy, productive, violence-free lives.

Purpose

Through the State Personal Responsibility Education Program (State PREP), the Family & Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) awards grants to state agencies to educate young people on both abstinence and contraception to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS. State PREP projects replicate effective, evidence-based program models or substantially incorporate elements of effective programs that have been proven to delay sexual activity, increase condom or contraceptive use for sexually active youth, and/or reduce pregnancy and STIs among youth.

Services

State PREP programs must target services to youth, ages 10—19, who are at high-risk for pregnancies. This group includes youth in or aging out of foster care, homeless youth, youth with HIV/AIDS, victims of human trafficking, pregnant and/or parenting youth who are under age 21, and youth who live in areas with high teen birth rates. Programs must place substantial emphasis on both abstinence and contraception education for the prevention of pregnancy and STIs. State PREP projects must educate young people in at least three of the six congressionally mandated subject areas below:

• Healthy relationships, including marriage and family interactions
• Adolescent development, such as the development of healthy attitudes and values about adolescent growth and development, body image, racial and ethnic diversity, and other related subjects
• Financial literacy
• Parent-child communication
• Educational and career success, such as developing skills for employment preparation,job seeking, independent living, financial self-sufficiency, and workplace productivity
• Healthy life skills, such as goal-setting, decision making, negotiation, communication and interpersonal skills, and stress management

History

Section 2953 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (Public Law (Pub. L.) No. 111-148) established PREP. PREP is authorized and funded by Section 513 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 713), as amended by Section 50503 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (Pub. L. No. 115-123) extended by Section 3822 of the CARES Act, 2020 (Pub. L. No. 116-136).

Measuring Progress & Performance

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) oversees the effectiveness of each State PREP project. The Administration for Children & Families (ACF) collects the following broad categories of performance measures to facilitate this oversight:

• Measures of structure, cost, and support for implementation
• Measures of attendance, reach, and dosage
• Participant characteristics
• Measures of participants’ behavioral intentions and perceptions of the program and its intended effects

Grantees use these performance measures to: track their progress in achieving program goals; monitor program providers and implementation sites; plan for training and technical assistance needs; share progress with funders and other stakeholders; identify opportunities for coordination, collaboration, and referrals; and enhance planning for sustainability.

Grant Award Process

FYSB provides State PREP funding as formula grants to eligible states and U.S. territories. Eligible jurisdictions could apply for a minimum of $250,000 per year for fiscal years (FY) 2015 through 2020. Allotments were calculated based on the number of young people between the ages of 10 and 19 in each state or territory according to Census Bureau data. States administer the project directly or through sub-awards to public or private entities. In FY2019, more than 109,714 youth received State PREP services. In FY2020, over $43.6 million was awarded to 51 State PREP grantees.

In the case that a state did not apply for State PREP allocations, the funding was made available for 36-month discretionary Competitive PREP grants in subsequent years. Eligible entities in those jurisdictions included faith-based and community-based organizations and consortia. Additional information on the State PREP projects can be found in the State PREP Grantee Profiles.

Contact Us

Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program
Training and Technical Assistance Center
FYSB Website
APP Website
Email