The U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) cannot implement any further comprehensive changes to grants under its Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, at least until the case against the HHS cancellation of 53 grants under the program is over. The just in the District of Columbia federal court case has blocked any more changes during proceedings. The 53 grants, including a $1 million-a-year grant to Public Health – Seattle & King County for the Stepping Stones program, will remain cancelled for now, unless the administration decides to reinstate the funds.
Grantees like King County’s Stepping Stones program — a healthy-relationship and pregnancy-prevention curriculum aimed at justice-involved and child-welfare-involved youth — were given no advance notice before the June cancellation notice. They were told only that their programs were out of alignment with HHS priorities by normalizing or promoting sexual activity among minors.
King County and two other affected grantees, along with sex education advocacy group SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change, filed a lawsuit to reinstate the funds n the District of Columbia federal court. The judge in that case announced the hold on HHS Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program changes last week.
The Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program was created in 2010 by an act of Congress with the aim of preventing teen pregnancy through the use of diverse and evidence-based methods with a strong history of efficacy. Programs that received the funds focus not only on preventing pregnancy, but also healthcare and community resoucesa and on defining healthy relationships.
Since the federal program’s inception, teen pregnancy rates have fallen about 72%. Researchers attribute much of the overall drop in national birth rates to such education programs. The teen birth rate in Washington state for females ages 15 to 19 has dropped significantly in Washington since 2010. In 2010, that rate was 26.7 births per 1,000 girls. Currently, it stands at about 9.3 births per 1,000.
The administration could appeal the decision in the coming weeks. Stateline has requested comment from HHS officials. Read more on this story from Stateline.
