plan recommendations

Success at reducing teen pregnancy depends on unifying the efforts of community based organizations, state agencies, legislators, research communities, business leaders, faith organizations and schools.

Therefore, one of the most significant first steps in our collective efforts to reduce teen pregnancy in Minnesota is building a state plan.

Rather than individual opinions or beliefs, the requirements for a state plan are most appropriately derived from the current research and best practices presented here.

1. Use data and evaluation to inform program planning and continuous improvement.
2. Ground the program in a youth development approach.
3. Eliminate health disparities.
4. Support and coordinate resources and services for teen parented families.
5. Assure community partnerships.
6. Involve parents and other caring adults.
7. Include men and boys.
8. Support comprehensive sexuality education.

1. Use data and evaluation to inform program planning and continuous improvement
   
   • Improve outcomes by focusing programs and adequate resources to youth and families with the greatest needs.
     
   • Mandate and support on-going data collection and evaluation to assure the most effective programming and resources for youth and communities.
     
   • Fund, reward and endorse programs that are based on current research and data.
   
   
   
2. Ground the program in a youth development approach
   
   • Formally embrace youth development strategies that use dual approaches of reducing risks and promoting the strengths of individuals, their families, and the community.
     
   • Recognize and engage youth as resources within their families, schools, and communities.
     
   • Involve youth in the planning and implementation process for effective teen pregnancy prevention and teen parenting programs.
     
   • Make service learning opportunities available to all teens.
   
   
   
3. Eliminate health disparities
   
   • Assure that program planning and implementation involve the targeted populations and acknowledge the diversity of cultures and communities.
     
   • Effectively address issues of safety and employment within communities: hope for the future is a critical component of teen pregnancy prevention.
     
   • Identify both needs and solutions in tailoring services to a diverse population by first including the advice and wisdom from those it will serve.
     
   • Ensure a quality education for all children, regardless of socioeconomic level, racial, ethnic or cultural background, to develop productive life skills and a promising future.
   
   
   
4. Support and coordinate resources and services for teen-parented families
   
   • Aid teen parent families in achieving self-sufficiency and healthy outcomes for their children by coordinating school-based and community-linked education, health care, childcare, social services, and parenting support.
     
   • Support interventions that promote protective factors for children and young parents include home visiting, flexible education programs, and supportive living arrangements.
   
   
   
5. Assure community partnerships
   
   • Join the task force! Assume a leadership role by convening all segments of the community to assure the on-going development and progress of this plan.
     
   • Motivate partnerships by linking community, government, and health care leaders with providers, families and youth.
     
   • Use a health promotion approach that emphasizes changing community norms to support positive, healthy behaviors through community partnerships.
   
   
   
6. Involve parents and other caring adults
   
   • Recognize and support the primary influence parents and families have in their children's attitudes, behaviors and knowledge regarding sexuality.
     
   • Foster collaboration among the whole community, both public and private sector, to help solve the problems of teen pregnancy and teen parenting.
     
   • Build systems and processes that assist families in creating an environment that contributes to the well-being and success of youth.
   
   
   
7. Include men and boys
   
   • Recognize and educate youth on the responsibilities of fatherhood.
     
   • Take advantage of opportunities to re-focus attention on the male role in pregnancy prevention as a major component of any effort to prevent teen parenthood and to promote responsible fatherhood.
   
   
   
8. Support comprehensive sexuality education
   
   • Endorse comprehensive sexuality education that includes information about contraception and abstinence as important components of a complete education.
     
   • Ensure that sex education reflects research-based approaches, is culturally relevant, and assures inclusion of all students.