PREP is a federally funded teen pregnancy prevention program mandated by the 2010 Affordable Care Act. Through this grant, states implement evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention programs in an effort to decrease disproportionate teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections among high risk youth populations. In Washington State, organizations implementing PREP include institutional education facilities, local detention centers, juvenile rehabilitation facilities, local community organizations serving specific youth populations, local health departments, middle school & high schools, and a youth chemical dependency treatment facility. Implementation sites receive a one-time stipend for implementation start-up.
In Washington State, the Department of Health (DOH) is the PREP grantee. DOH contracts with Cardea Services, an organization that provides curriculum training, technical assistance, and data collection. DOH also contracts with the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to incorporate PREP within social and health service programs and the school system.
For more information visit www.waprepforhealthyyouth.org or contact Sarah.Mariani@dshs.wa.gov.