Wednesday, February 5, 2025
2/5/2025
Title: Puerto Rico Optimal System ChAnge (PROSa) for Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program Puerto Rico has a high need for teen pregnancy prevention interventions. Evidence of this is that the rate of teen pregnancy is more than 50% higher than that of the U.S. (28.9 vs. 18.8 per 1,000 teens). Considering these highly rates, the Third Mission Institute (TMI) of the Carlos Albizu University, the Office of Human Development Program, Sor Isolina Ferre Centers and Urban Strategies propose a community engagement effort to improve the optimal health of adolescents and reduce teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The Puerto Rico Optimal System Change (PROSa) will scale-up experiences following a collective impact, community engagement and system thinking approach to significantly improve the optimal health of youth and their families and to reduce teen pregnancy through the saturation of services to implement a set of 4 evidence based interventions (Project AIM, Friends, Love Notes and Parenting Fundamentals), as well as provide comprehensive supportive services throughout four municipalities in Puerto Rico (Morovis, Orocovis, Loíza and Canóvanas) whose teen birth rates are higher than the local and national averages. Thru PROSa, we aim to improve the optimal health of adolescents and reduce teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and associated risk behaviors through the saturation of communities with the greatest needs and disparities. PROSa’s purpose is to reduce teenage pregnancy and behavioral risk factors underlying teenage pregnancy; and develop knowledge on best practices for broader populations and cultures. PROSa aims to achieve the following goals by the end of the 3-year grant period: 1) Saturate the selected communities through the replication of effective programs and comprehensive supportive services with youths, families and community members to promote the optimal health of youths; 2) Ensure components of PROSa are of the highest quality and best fit for youth, families and community members by following System Thinking and Community Engagement approaches for the improvement of youth health outcomes; 3) Stimulate capacity and dissemination of teen pregnancy updated information, success stories, lessons learned, and youth voices to relevant stakeholders and community at large for long-term sustainability; 4) Provoke a system shift at municipal level through capacity building and community engagement to address youth optimal health. PROSa’s project main elements includes: 1) Implementation of EBIs to prevent teen pregnancy and promote the optimal health of youths and families; 2) Increased access to high-quality sexual/reproductive health; 3) Community immersion and mobilization efforts; 4) Education of key stakeholders on teen pregnancy prevention; and 5) Working with diverse communities. PROSa will reach a total of 1,900 - 3200 youths and 1,200 - 1,500 parents/caregivers, for a total of ~3,000 – 4,700 along the three-year project period. This number represents 25% of the adolescents (12-14 years of age) in the target communities, plus 58 % of their adults. PROSa includes an Integrated Community Activation Component that will have a key role in the process of ensuring that the project incorporates meaningful and authentic engagement of youth, families, and caregivers throughout the development, implementation, and evaluation of PROSa.
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).