WASHINGTON, DC (PRWEB) April 26, 2017
As Congress faces a deadline to finalize appropriations for fiscal year 2017 and begins work on fiscal year 2018, a diverse group of national, state, and local organizations from around the country sent a letter, coordinated by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, to Congress urging them to continue current funding for the evidence-based Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) Program and Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) teen pregnancy prevention programs.
At a time of growing bi-partisan interest in evidence-based policymaking, TPP and PREP have been lauded as pioneering examples of evidence-based programs that represent an important contribution to building a body of research of what works to prevent teen pregnancy.
“Since the TPP and PREP programs began in 2010, the teen birth rate in the U.S. has declined 35 percent. Why mess with success?” said Ginny Ehrlich, CEO, The National Campaign. “We are proud to have coordinated this effort and join with the nearly 200 groups signed on to this letter asking Congress to support these programs, which give so many young people the information and knowledge needed to delay pregnancy, plan their futures, and achieve their education and career goals. Setting young people up for success strengthens our families, communities, and the nation, and this is why we all are urging Congress to maintain current levels of funding for these programs.”
Together, the $185 million in annual funding for the TPP and PREP programs serve more than 400,000 youth each year—targeting those communities with the greatest need. This funding represents a modest but strategic investment by the federal government to address teen pregnancy. The U.S. teen pregnancy and birth rates have decreased by an impressive 55% and 64% respectively since peaking in the early 1990s. Still, roughly one in four girls will become pregnant before the age of 20, and disparities persist.
“Both the TPP and PREP programs are essential to ensuring that adolescents in Indiana, Wisconsin, and throughout the Midwest have access to evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention education to help them avoid unplanned pregnancy,” said Abby Hunt, Executive Director of Health Care Education and Training Inc. (HCET), which serves the Great Lakes region. “Our rural, urban, and suburban partners are asking for help and these programs allow them to address a key factor in growing robust communities by preparing youth for a healthy future.”
The public understands the value of these evidence-based programs. In fact, 85% of adults (75% of Republicans and 89% of Democrats) favor maintaining federal funding for the TPP Program and PREP.
About The National Campaign: The National Campaign is a private, non-partisan, non-profit organization that seeks to improve the lives and future prospects of children and families by preventing teen and unplanned pregnancy. Please visit us at http://www.TheNationalCampaign.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.