Friday, April 26, 2024
4/26/2024
ABSTRACT Project Overview: REACH (Reproductive Education to Achieve Community Health) is an innovative adolescent health improvement initiative focused on middle and high schools in three Oklahoma County metro public school districts with student populations that represent the highest teen birth rates, persistent health disparities, and increased adverse childhood experiences. It addresses systems, equity issues, populations, geographic areas, and programs identified as priorities in the community’s 2019 comprehensive teen pregnancy prevention plan. High Need: Oklahoma has remained among the five states with the highest teen birth rates for the past decade, reporting the fifth highest (worst) rate for ages 15-19 in 2018. Oklahoma County is the state’s most populous and most racially and ethnically diverse county, with the largest number of teen births. The county’s teen birth numbers represent one-fifth of all teen births in the state, with teen birth rates in some zip codes reaching as high as 3-4 times the U.S. average. Geographic Area and Target Populations: 5,500 youth, aged 13-19, will be directly served annually through school, clinic, and community settings in seven zip codes: 73017, 73018, 73109, 73110, 73115, 73119, and 73129. Over 500 adults will be engaged in building protective factors and supports for the youth each project year. Program Strategies: Evidence-based programs (EBPs) will be imbedded in core curricula classes at key grade levels, with EBP saturation during Year 1 ranging from 28 to 58% in each school. Relevant support services for vulnerable youth populations at higher risk for teen pregnancy, STIs, and sexual victimization will be developed using human-centered design principles. Extensive youth engagement activities will give students a prominent role in promoting protective factors and improving health services. Learning opportunities for youth, caring adults, educators, and other partners will blend risk reduction with creative strategies to increase the relationships, inclusive opportunities, and community supports youth need to thrive. Collaboration for Collective Impact: The Oklahoma City-County Health Department (OCCHD) is the grantee; primary program delivery partners are Variety Care Health Centers and Teen emPower! School district partners are Oklahoma City Public Schools, the largest and most racially/ethnically diverse public school district in the state, and two adjacent districts, Mid-Del Public Schools and Crooked Oak Public Schools. Key partners are the Oklahoma County Teen Pregnancy Collaboration (based on a collective impact model), Thrive: Sexual Health Collective for Youth, and 30+ public and private sector organizations. The evaluation will be provided by the Hudson College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma. Contact: Lorri Essary Oklahoma City-County Health Department 2700 N.E. 63rd St., Oklahoma City, OK 73111 Phone: 405.419.4207 Email: Lorri_Essary@Occhd.org Total number reached: 25,000
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
