Monday, May 6, 2024
5/6/2024
In this program, AccessMatters will partner with social service agencies Turning Points for Children and Tabor Community Partners, the national Healthy Teen Network, and pediatric hospital systems Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children to deliver a virtual adaptation of the evidence-based curriculum Power through Choices (PTC) to youth aged 13-19 in selected zip codes who are currently engaged in the Philadelphia foster care system. Teens in foster care are at heightened risk for teen pregnancy and birth compared to their out-of-system peers, and they also face additional social, emotional, and logistical challenges that are unique to system-involved youth. Many youth in foster care have experienced maltreatment or abuse, multiple foster placements, and disruption to schooling -- this atop the baseline trauma of separation from parents, guardians, and/or other important adults and peers, and the stigma of being system-involved. Youth in foster care need accessible, non-stigmatizing sex education and pregnancy prevention resources that are directly relevant to and tailored to their circumstances. The PTC curriculum is designed to provide trauma-informed, medically-accurate, and age-appropriate risk reduction education that is responsive to the specific needs of youth in out-of-home settings. Through the virtual adaptation, PTC becomes accessible to youth in foster care regardless of setting: stable placement, between placements, or otherwise. As part of a multidisciplinary systems approach, we will complement the PTC curriculum with supportive services for Philadelphia youth in foster care, their resource and birth families, and staff working within the child welfare system. These services include linkage to accessible family planning services, training on family communication about sexual health and sexuality for resource parents and families, training on trauma-informed care and youth-centered counseling for child welfare staff, and opportunities for youth to develop their leadership and practice self-advocacy through the Youth Advisory Board. Our teen pregnancy prevention network will annually serve at least 335 youth with the PTC curriculum (25% saturation), and at least 40 staff and 110 resource and/or birth parents in the child welfare system with training, education, and other resources. Together, we will build the capacity of Philadelphia’s child welfare, health care, and family systems to support the health and well-being of youth in foster care.
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).
