Today the HHS Office of Adolescent Health released the awards for a five-year cooperative agreement under a newly funded Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) Program.  Abstinence-centered programs were encouraged to apply for this funding and a number of high profile, effective programs did apply; however few received funding. This program replaces an abstinence-centered program that expires on September 30, 2010.

Valerie Huber, Executive Director of NAEA commented: “Today’s funding announcement demonstrates a disturbing imbalance in a process touted to be open to abstinence education programs. NAEA remains concerned over the defacto defunding of Abstinence Education. Risk avoidance remains the most reliable and scientifically sound approach for youth. The sexual health of America’s youth is too important to be addressed by a public health model that shortchanges primary prevention.”

Details of the TPP Funding
•    $75 million is dedicated to Tier 1 TPP awards. These five-year cooperative agreements must replicate curricula selected from a list deemed eligible for funding at this link. 
•    $25 million is dedicated to Tier 2 TPP awards. These five-year cooperative agreements were given to organizations for "research and demonstration programs. "

 A listing of successful applicants can be found at this link.

The HHS press release can be found at this link.