Eligible Programs

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Programs must meet the following criteria to be eligible for funding:

  1. Apply innovative strategies to design teen pregnancy prevention programs;
  2. Utilize a systems-based approach for teen pregnancy prevention; and/or
  3. Focus on impacting a high risk, vulnerable population(s) currently underserved by existing evidence-based TPP programs.

Funding is available to support innovative programs at different stages of program development, including transitioning promising ideas into programs, helping programs prototype and test ideas, piloting programs and collecting data, and preparing programs for rigorous evaluation. Throughout the development process, innovators will complete various assessment, planning, development, implementation, and evaluation activities corresponding to their program’s stage of development to ensure proposed outcomes are feasible and that program design is relevant and responsive to the needs of their target population(s). A description of these expected program development activities is provided below.

  • Innovators transitioning promising ideas into innovative TPP programs will recognize potential collaborators, gain insights form target population(s) during assessment and planning, define program outcomes and construct a logic model, create a program development plan, and develop their program.
  • Innovators preparing their innovative program for implementation will conduct formative program assessments with target population(s) and stakeholders to identify what is desirable, feasible, and viable about their program, adapt program materials and resources to implementation format including a program implementation protocol, select appropriate fidelity measures, create a data collection plan, and conduct preliminary cost analyses.
  • Innovators ready to pilot their innovative program will collect pilot data using their TPP program by implementing small scale projects. They will collect preliminary data related to program cost, exposure, implementation, and changes or effects based on the approach.
  • Innovators in the final stages of innovative program development will refine their TPP program based on results of pilot data and develop plans for scaling and sustaining their program. They will identify potential funders and funding opportunities and as well as develop a plan for rigorous evaluation.

Please note the following regarding program development expectations: 1) innovators are not limited to only the described activities, 2) time required to progress through these various stages is program specific, and 3) technical assistance will be provided to assist with innovative design and systems approaches. Innovators, regardless of their stage of development, must describe the strategies that were utilized to arrive at their program.  We recognize that programs might have reached their current stage without conducting all activities described in earlier program development stages. In this case, innovators will be expected to complete such activities prior to advancing the development of their program. For example, a program ready for pilot testing that did not discover and frame ideas from the target population(s) during needs assessment and planning will need to complete this step and make necessary revisions prior to piloting their program. Applicants should determine and propose program development activities that are feasible to accomplish during the 12-month funding period. As described further within the application information pages, applicants have the potential to receive multiple years of funding to continue the development of their program.

Innovations of Interest

Innovations of interest include, but are not limited to, programs that:

  • Increase access to contraceptives;
  • Address access to youth friendly healthcare;
  • Incorporate a social and/or organizational network-based approach;
  • Cultivate shared beliefs and systems changes to reduce unplanned pregnancies;
  • Provide training or continuing education activities to advance a group of professionals’ expertise in issues related to teen pregnancy prevention;
  • Identify strategies for community asset-based interventions;
  • Identify sustainable policy-oriented solutions to preventing unplanned pregnancies;
  • Identify a framework for the social context or systems of teen pregnancy prevention, including family or cultural interactions and the role of community.

Regardless of the specific characteristics, programs should be positive, safe, supportive, and healthy for communities, organizations, families, and youth.