Trump admin announces abstinence-focused overhaul of teen pregnancy program

The Trump administration will move federal funding to reduce teen pregnancy rates to programs that teach abstinence.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Friday the availability of grants through the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program (TPPP), a grant program created under former President Obama that funds organizations and programs teen pregnancy reduction.

HHS of Trump announced, however, that unlike the Obama administration, grants will focus on organizations that teach teen-abstinence education instead of the overall gender-supported approach of the previous administration.

In a funding announcement released Friday, the administration announced two funding levels for the TPP program.

In the first case, beneficiaries should take one of two abstinence programs to receive funding.

One of the programs uses a "sexual risk reduction model" designed to reduce risky sexual behavior.

The other program uses a "sexual risk avoidance model," which teaches teens to completely avoid sex.

"The projects will clearly communicate that teenage sex is a risky behavior for the physical consequences of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, as well as sociological, economic and other risks," says the funding announcement. "Risk avoidance and harm reduction approaches can and should include skills associated with helping young people delay sex and skills to help youth already engaged in sexual risk return to choices." without risk.

In total, the first tier will provide up to $ 61 million in funding, ranging from $ 200,000 to $ 500,000 per year.

The second level solicits applications to develop and test "new and innovative strategies" to prevent adolescent pregnancy while improving adolescent health and addressing the "sexual risk of youth in a holistic manner with a focus on protective factors ".

The changes represent a major shift in the way the federal government treats teen pregnancy.

The Obama administration has primarily awarded TPP grants to organizations that have taught comprehensive sex education, which may include teaching adolescents about contraception and abstinence.

But the Trump administration has turned to abstinence programs since hiring several HHS employees who support the approach, including Valerie Huber, the chief of staff of the Office of the Deputy Secretary of Health, who oversees the TPP program.

Before coming to HHS, Huber led Ascend, a national advocacy group dedicated to abstinence education.

The administration cut grants to 81 TPP recipients last summer, arguing that programs, focused on comprehensive sexuality education, were ineffective in curbing teen pregnancy rates.

These beneficiaries would be able to receive funding if they shifted the focus of their programs toward abstinence.

Democrats say the changes are ideological and will jeopardize record teenage pregnancy rates in the United States.
"Democrats and Republicans have supported investment in evidence-based approaches to preventing teenage pregnancy, so it is disappointing - and deeply worrying - that the Trump-Pence Administration is doing everything in its power "These changes show once again that the priority of the Trump-Pence administration is to impose its extreme and backward ideology, regardless of the direction taken by the Senate," said Senator Patty Murray (D). -Wash.) What it means for women, families and communities. "