TP1AH000326

Be You: Border Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program - Project Vida Health Center, Inc. (PVHC), a federally qualified health center (FQHC) serving the low-income, uninsured, and marginalized residents in El Paso County, Texas, is proposing a project that will implement evidenced-based programs in three settings: 1) school districts, 2) community, and 3) health care setting.

The service area is El Paso County, which includes the school districts targeted as well as colonias on and near the U.S/Mexican border. The colonias, and the border region as a whole, are among the poorest areas in the U.S. In El Paso County, El Paso has exceptionally high rates of sexually transmitted infections (STI), and in particular syphilis, and a teen birth rate that is significantly higher than the state or national rates demonstrating the need for increased evidence-based programs, particularly serving high-risk groups and communities.

PVHC has nearly 30 years' experience in serving the El Paso community in various fashions - community health, teen pregnancy prevention, population health, colonias environmental issues, housing access, economic development, health and fitness, well-being, and social justice - allowing for a seamless opportunity to leverage an existing network of relationships/partnerships with students, parents, teachers, ISDs, and local organizations with a shared focus.

This project will address barriers that hinder El Paso adolescents from obtaining optimal health, with a specific focus on teen pregnancy prevention and the reduction of STIs and HIV, by equipping and thereby improving their social system supports using a systems thinking methodology. The project's primary goals will be to 1) ensure that areas with the greatest need are targeted to promote equity in reaching optimal health and preventing teen pregnancy and STIs; 2) incorporate youth, caregiver, and youth-serving professional voices into the design, implementation, and monitoring of the project; and 3) replicate with fidelity effective programs and supportive services that are culturally appropriate, age-appropriate, medically accurate, and trauma-informed.

PVHC has identified five strategies to affect system change in the targeted area: 1) evidenced-based practices; 2) student assistance services; 3) capacity development; 4) communications; 5) navigation services. On an annual basis, PVHC expects to reach 5000 students and 500 caregivers with evidenced-based programs.

Project Vida Health Center

NOT APPLICABLE

93.297 - Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Program

HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) [HHS]

Office of Adolescent Health [HHS - OASH]

City Of El Paso, Texas United States

City-Wide

Advancing Equity in Adolescent Health through Evidence-Based Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs and Services (AH-TP1-23-001)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 200% from $1,972,000 to $5,916,000.