The Districts pregnancy prevention campaign consists of the following programs:
Teen Pregnancy Prevention Grants
Many teen pregnancy prevention efforts target teens of high school age. Research indicates that interventions to prevent teen pregnancy should begin earlier. Therefore, ESA (formerly known as IMA) awarded five Teen Pregnancy Prevention grants to target children ages 11-14. Grantees represent a diverse set of organizations including Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the National Capital Area, Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, Covenant House of Washington, Latin American Youth Center, and Mary’s Center for Maternal and Child Care.
Services are provided throughout the year including in-school, after school and summer programs. Participants are provided peer-to-peer mentoring, education that promotes responsible behavior and provides information about the risks of sexually transmitted diseases, abstinence education, and education on teen sexuality and interpersonal relationships. Youth participate in structured workshops on conflict resolution, health education, and community service activities. All programs also actively engage parents in their services. In FY 2007, these grantees served nearly 1,800 DC school aged children.
DCPS TANF Office/ New Heights Program
In partnership with the DC Public Schools, ESA (formerly known as IMA) funds the DCPS TANF Office - New Heights program. The program provides daycare for all teen parents, transportation stipends to TANF recipients under the age of 20 and in-school services to teen parents. The goal of New Heights is to help participants finish their education, increase their skills, and prepare to enter the workforce. New Heights offers reality-based training that allows participants to develop personally and improve academic and parenting skills. It also offers GED preparation services, a mentoring program, a summer teen enrichment program (STEP), and job placement services. Every spring New Heights hosts an Expo to advertise its services and every autumn it hosts a recognition ceremony for all teen parents who have completed high school or their GED. The New Heights program also developed a clothing store for working youth called the "New Image." The store provides clothing to program participants pursuing employment or involved in activities that expose them to employment opportunities. In FY 2006, the program served more than 550 teen parents in the District and conducted outreach to all DCPS secondary schools, to teen parents in their homes, and community based organizations who serve teen parents in the District of Columbia.
Teen Family Assessment Program
Operated by the Family Service Administration, the Teen Family Assessment program provides services to teens that are not living with their parents or guardians. FSA also conducts "Reality Store" workshops. Reality Store workshops help teens understand the choices they must make in developing a budget and managing a household based on reality-based role-playing. This program received an award from the Schools to Careers Youth Investment Program as an exemplary model of an employer and education partnership.
