2017-2022
The Savings from Sexual Avoidance and Empowerment over Risks (SSAvER) project consists of two studies focused on economic savings. Both studies engage key stakeholders to identify targeted research questions, operationalize core variables, and identify best practices in economic analysis.
The purpose of the first study is to identify the economic savings associated with teens’ delay of sex. The study considers prior work that assessed costs associated with teen pregnancy and births, including the identification of outcomes associated with delayed sexual initiation, calculation of causal effects of sexual delay on outcomes, and assignment of dollar values to causal effects. This study also examines costs and benefits beyond the physical consequences of teen childbearing and acquisition of STDs. The primary activities for this first study include: (1) a targeted literature review, (2) discussions with experts, and (3) limited analyses of existing data sets.
The purpose of the second study is to identify the economic savings associated with adhering to the success sequence. The success sequence refers to a series of life milestones as a means to adult self-sufficiency and well-being. While definitions of the milestones differ, they typically include achieving at least a high school education, finding and maintaining a job, and getting married before having children. There are two components to this study. The first is to examine existing research, including definitions of and outcomes associated with each milestone, calculate causal effects of each milestone on outcomes, and assign dollar values to causal effects. Building on the first study component, a supplementary analysis will assess (1) what factors are associated with youth taking different pathways in their transition to adulthood and (2) within each pathway, what additional factors are associated with economic self-sufficiency in adulthood. These supplementary analyses will enhance researchers’ and policymakers’ understanding of how a range of pathways can lead to economic success, how the findings on the success sequence model can be applied in the field, and how to support youth in achieving self-sufficiency in adulthood.
This project is being conducted under contract to Mathematica Policy Research and is overseen by the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, in collaboration with other partners at the Administration for Children and Families and HHS’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health.
Point(s) of contact: Caryn Blitz and Kathleen McCoy.