Outreach Strategies to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2009

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Services in collaboration with the Montgomery County Interagency Coalition for Prevention of Teen Pregnancy and the Collaboration Council, the local management board developed and implemented a set of training and outreach initiatives to reduce teen pregnancy, especially among Latino teens. The initiative included training County nurses and community providers to conduct Parent and Children Talking (PACT), a research-based program to help parents effectively communicate with their children and influence them to avoid risky behaviors. Parents were trained and reported success in communicating with their children and requested additional training. Additionally, outreach was made and a broad range of stakeholders responded resulting in an expansion of active participation in teen prevention efforts. A survey to determine gaps and recommendations for serving unmet needs was conducted among stakeholders. A County Summit on Teen Pregnancy Prevention was conducted at which local and national teen pregnancy data and information about research based strategies and programs were shared and the report of the stakeholder’s survey recommendations was presented. Finally, the Open Door, a model drop-in center at the Northwood High School Wellness Center, was initiated to provide students with easy access to pregnancy prevention information and resources.