Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
CHAPTER
Planning and Carrying Out
a Teen Pregnancy Prevention
Project
Introduction
The community may feel ready your initial requests for funding
to adopt a wide variety of preg- are not successful. You may also
nancy prevention strategies, but want to explore ways that your
its funds, including in-kind con- community can better use the
tributions, may be too limited to resources it already has to
work on all fronts at the same reduce teen pregnancy. For
54 time. Assessing the costs required example, school-based health
for different interventions may clinics originally began because
help establish what funding local health providers estab-
strategies to pursue first. The lished services in school settings
most financially accessible goal so that they could best reach
is often the right place to start. the population they were man-
dated to serve.
Resource development is key to
the success of your community’s You may also want to invite sev-
efforts. Recognize that it can eral of the potential funders into
the planning process so that their
ideas and suggestions can help
shape your work.
KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Be alert for opportunities to link
• recognize that many funding
options require substantial time
teen pregnancy prevention to
and effort to develop other issues and funding streams.
For example, some government
• be sure to devote adequate atten-
tion to this issue
agencies are beginning to focus
on school-to-work and community
• pursue several funding options
volunteer service opportunities,
simultaneously
many of which can help to reduce
• take advantage of in-kind contri-
teen pregnancy.
butions
• work on lower-cost initiatives
In-kind support can provide a
while you are applying for sup-
bridge as you explore different
port for other program efforts
funding options. It also can These roles also can be relevant
compensate for restrictions that for the work of individual teen
may exist on the use of grant pregnancy prevention programs:
funds. Together with funds, in-
kind contributions can sustain a Advocate for teen pregnancy
comprehensive array of services prevention. This role involves
over a long period of time. For supporting and encouraging pro-
example, expenses for food are grams and strategies that affect
often not covered by a tradition- adolescent sexuality, pregnancy,
al state or federal grant, yet, and parenting. You may work for
without this small incentive, few specific policy changes with
teenagers may attend an after- elected officials, schools, social
school program. Donations of services, medical providers,
snacks that appeal to teens can community groups, religious
help ensure the long-term suc- organizations, corporations, and
cess of a program. the media.
Write a plan
58 Create an organization
FIELD NOTES
Characteristics of a well-organized
teen pregnancy initiative
• adequate funding with diversi- working on youth health
fied revenues issues so that the connec-
• adequate staffing tions among teen pregnancy,
• clear mission and focus alcohol, sexual abuse, and
• long-range (5-10 years) plan in poverty can be recognized
place and addressed
• strong board chair • strong leadership that pro-
• diverse geographic and cultur- vides one voice on teen preg-
al representation on staff and nancy issues and that
board effectively disseminates facts
• strong partnerships with and dispels myths about teen
media, business, elected offi- pregnancy
cials, foundations, state agen- • good public awareness of
cies, voluntary organizations, organization among youth, cit-
religious institutions, and izens, and policy makers
other interested and affected • effective management of con-
groups troversy and opposition
• strong partnerships with
other statewide organizations Donna Fishman, MOAPPP
CHECKLIST
Your goal is to have a sound they know what you are doing
prevention program that helps and how it is progressing.
reduce teen pregnancy rates.
Pay close attention to the quality Develop internal and
of your work. Make sure that external reporting
those to whom you are account- relationships
able are connected to your In conducting your work, you
work, and that you make sure will need to consider to whom
MAKING IT HAPPEN
66
Score each of the following items on the following scale, with (1) = not at all; (2) = as
recipients of information only; (3) = as providers of information and advice; (4) = as
implementers of decisions; and (5) = as full participants in the decision-making.
(not at all) (full participants)
5. How much do each of the following community
representatives (where relevant) participate in the
group’s activities?
a. younger adolescents (ages 10-14) 1 2 3 4 5
b. older adolescents (ages 15-19) 1 2 3 4 5
c. parents 1 2 3 4 5
d. religious leaders 1 2 3 4 5
e. business leaders 1 2 3 4 5
f. representatives of youth-serving organizations 1 2 3 4 5
g. health care providers 1 2 3 4 5
h. school teachers and administrators 1 2 3 4 5
i. representatives of the juvenile justice system 1 2 3 4 5
j. social service providers 1 2 3 4 5
k. representatives of arts and cultural organizations 1 2 3 4 5
l. representatives of the news media 1 2 3 4 5
m. local, county, and state government officials 1 2 3 4 5
Phase II. Middle Stage
Assess your group’s progress on the following milestones, where applicable.
(not at all) (fully)
1. To what extent does your group:
a. serve as a clearinghouse for information and resources? 1 2 3 4 5
b. provide a forum for joint planning and encourage
efforts to use existing and/or new resources to prevent
teen pregnancy? 1 2 3 4 5
c. identify different funding sources that it combines to
allow greater flexibility in meeting goals? 1 2 3 4 5
d. include in-kind contributions from its members, as well
as from other community groups as part of its funding plan? 1 2 3 4 5
2. How would you rate the group’s commitment to the following:
a. assisting parents in their roles as primary providers
to their children 1 2 3 4 5
b. providing adolescents with the education and skills
needed to be sexually responsible 1 2 3 4 5
c. providing an opportunity for different approaches to
be heard and accepted within the same community 1 2 3 4 5
d. providing opportunities to work with adolescents and
their families in shaping prevention strategies 1 2 3 4 5 67
Phase III. Established Stage
The organization and plan you can best reduce teen pregnancy
create will grow and change rates in the community by
over time. Remain flexible and mobilizing a diverse group of
make changes as your needs individuals and organizations
change. The most important committed to improving the
thing to focus on is how you lives of youth.
MAKING IT HAPPEN
References
Brindis, C.D., Card, J.J., Niego, S., & Research, University of California,
Peterson, J.L. (1996). Assessing San Francisco.
68 your community’s needs and assets:
Brindis, C.D., Pittman, K., Reyes, P.,
A collaborative approach to adoles-
& Adams-Taylor, S. (1991).
cent pregnancy prevention. Los
Adolescent pregnancy prevention:
Altos, CA: Sociometrics Corporation.
A guidebook for communities. Palo
Brindis, C.D., & Peterson, J.L. Alto, CA: Health Promotion
(1996). Teen pregnancy prevention Resource Center Distribution
coalitions: A tool for assessing Center, Stanford University.
progress. Unpublished tool. San
Huberman, B. (1994). Unpublished
Francisco, CA: Center for
materials. North Carolina:
Reproductive Health Policy
Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention
Coalition of North Carolina