UT Teen Health Viva Teens - The teen birth rate in the United States has dropped a remarkable 78% since the 1991 high and now sits at 13.9 births per 1,000 females ages 15-19. Despite these gains, disparities persist with health outcomes including birth rates highest in states across the southern part of the country, and rates among Hispanic teens (21.8) and non-Hispanic black teens (21.8) more than twice as high as those of non-Hispanic white teens (9.4). Within the state of Texas, UT Health SA has identified a 38-county region in rural South Texas with a population that is 69% Hispanic. These counties suffer disparately from health burdens, including 33 counties that have teen birth rates above the national rate, 24 of which are well above this number, ranging up to four times the national rate (30.2-56.8 per 1,000 females ages 15-19). UT Teen Health proposes to advance equity in adolescent health through the replication of evidence-based programs and positive youth development in school districts, clinics, community-based organizations, houses of worship, detention centers, and group and residential care programs in the 38-county region of South Texas that demonstrate high levels of adolescent health inequities, including those who have suffered historic socioeconomic disparities. These programs will promote youth-centered, medically accurate, high-quality programming and services that improve health outcomes and promote optimal health for youth ages 10-24, using a sustainable model to train facilitators to reach 20,000 youth annually. UT Teen Health will extend services to these rural counties by leveraging contacts in clinics, houses of worship, detention centers, and other youth-serving systems. In addition, family/caregiver and teen communication will be strengthened through community programs; community members will be engaged through a Community Advisory Group; linkages to community clinics will be enhanced through the Stakeholder Leadership Team; and youth will be provided meaningful leadership opportunities and voice through the Youth Leadership Council.
