109 HR 5806 IH: Communities of Color Teen Pregnancy U.S. House of Representatives 2006-07-13 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 109th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5806 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 13, 2006 Ms. Solis (for herself, Mrs. Capps, Mrs. Napolitano, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Waxman, Mr. Brown of Ohio, Ms. Slaughter, Mrs. Lowey, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, Mrs. Jones of Ohio, Ms. Kilpatrick of Michigan, Ms. Corrine Brown of Florida, Ms. Norton, Mrs. Christensen, Ms. Lee, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Bordallo, Ms. Watson, and Ms. Schakowsky) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To make grants to carry out activities to prevent teen pregnancy in racial or ethnic minority or immigrant communities, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Communities of Color Teen Pregnancy Prevention Act of 2006.

2.

Community-based intervention programs

(a)

In general

The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this Act as the Secretary) shall make grants to public and nonprofit private entities for the purpose of carrying out projects to prevent teen pregnancies in racial or ethnic minority or immigrant communities with a substantial incidence or prevalence of cases of teen pregnancy as compared to the average number of such cases in communities in the State involved (referred to in this Act as eligible communities). (b)

Requirements regarding purpose of grants

A grant may be made under subsection (a) only if, with respect to the expenditure of the grant to carry out the purpose described in such subsection, the applicant involved agrees to use one or more of the following strategies: (1)Promote effective communication among families about preventing teen pregnancy, particularly communication among parents or guardians and their children. (2)Educate community members about the consequences of teen pregnancy. (3)Encourage young people to postpone sexual activity and prepare for a healthy, successful adulthood. (4)Provide educational information, including medically accurate contraceptive information, for young people in such communities who are already sexually active or are at risk of becoming sexually active and inform young people in such communities about the responsibilities and consequences of being a parent, and how early pregnancy and parenthood can interfere with educational and other goals. (c)

Utilizing effective strategies

A grant may be made under subsection (a) only if the applicant involved agrees that, in carrying out the purpose described in such subsection, the applicant will, whenever possible, use strategies that have been demonstrated to be effective, or that incorporate characteristics of effective programs. (d)

Report

A grant may be made under subsection (a) only if the applicant involved agrees to submit to the Secretary, in accordance with the criteria of the Secretary, a report that provides information on the project under such subsection, including outcomes. The Secretary shall make such reports available to the public. (e)

Evaluations

Not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall, directly or through contract, provide for evaluations of six projects under subsection (a), which evaluations— (1)describe the activities carried out with the grant; and (2)how such activities increased education and awareness services relating to the prevention of teen pregnancy. (f)

Authorization of appropriations

For the purpose of carrying out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $40,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2007 through 2011.

3.

School-based projects

(a)

In general

The Secretary may make grants to public and nonprofit private entities for the purpose of establishing and operating for eligible communities, in association with public secondary schools for such communities, projects for one or more of the following: (1)To carry out activities, including counseling, to prevent teen pregnancy. (2)To provide necessary social and cultural support services regarding teen pregnancy. (3)To provide health and educational services related to the prevention of teen pregnancy. (4)To promote better health and educational outcomes among pregnant teens. (5)To provide training for individuals who plan to work in school-based support programs regarding the prevention of teen pregnancy. (b)

Priority

In making grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to providing for projects under such subsection in eligible communities. (c)

Required coalition

A grant may be made under subsection (a) only if the applicant involved has formed an appropriate coalition of entities for purposes of carrying out a project under such subsection, including— (1)one or more public secondary schools for the eligible community involved; and (2)entities to provide the services of the project. (d)

Training

A grant under subsection (a) may be expended to train individuals to provide the services described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of such subsection for the project involved. (e)

Authorization of appropriations

For the purpose of carrying out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2007 through 2011.

4.

Multimedia campaigns

(a)

In general

The Secretary shall make grants to public and nonprofit private entities for the purpose of carrying out multimedia campaigns to provide public education and increase awareness with respect to the issue of teen pregnancy and related social and emotional issues. (b)

Priority

In making grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to campaigns described in such subsection that are directed toward eligible communities. (c)

Requirements

A grant may be made under subsection (a) only if the applicant involved agrees that the multimedia campaign under such subsection will— (1)provide information on the prevention of teen pregnancy; (2)provide information that identifies organizations in the communities involved that— (A)provide health and educational services related to the prevention of teen pregnancy; and (B)provide necessary social and cultural support services; and (3)coincide with efforts of the National Clearinghouse for Teen Pregnancy Prevention that are made under section 5(b)(1). (d)

Authorization of appropriations

For the purpose of carrying out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $6,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2007 through 2011.

5.

National clearinghouse

(a)

In general

The Secretary shall make grants to a nonprofit private entity to establish and operate a National Clearinghouse for Teen Pregnancy Prevention (referred to in this section as the Clearinghouse) for the purposes described in subsection (b). (b)

Purposes of clearinghouse

The purposes referred to in subsection (a) regarding the Clearinghouse are as follows: (1)To provide information and technical assistance to States, Indian tribes, local communities, and other public or private entities to develop content and messages for teens and adults that address and seek to reduce the rate of teen pregnancy. (2)To support parents in their essential role in preventing teen pregnancy by equipping parents with information and resources to promote and strengthen communication with their children about sex, values, and positive relationships, including healthy relationships. (c)

Requirements for grantee

A grant may be made under subsection (a) only if the applicant involved is an organization that meets the following conditions: (1)The organization is a nationally recognized, nonpartisan organization that focuses exclusively on preventing teen pregnancy and has at least 10 years of experience in working with diverse groups to reduce the rate of teen pregnancy. (2)The organization has a demonstrated ability to work with and provide assistance to a broad range of individuals and entities, including teens; parents; the entertainment and news media; State, tribal, and local organizations; networks of teen pregnancy prevention practitioners; businesses; faith and community leaders; and researchers. (3)The organization has experience in the use of culturally competent and linguistically appropriate methods to address teen pregnancy in eligible communities. (4)The organization conducts or supports research and has experience with scientific analyses and evaluations. (5)The organization has comprehensive knowledge and data about strategies for the prevention of teen pregnancy. (6)The organization has experience in carrying out functions similar to the functions described in subsection (b). (d)

Authorization of appropriations

For the purpose of carrying out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $1,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 2007 through 2011.

6.

Research

(a)

In general

The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall make grants to public or nonprofit private entities to conduct, support, and coordinate research on the prevention of teen pregnancy in eligible communities, including research on the factors contributing to the disproportionate rates of teen pregnancy in such communities. (b)

Research

In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall support research that— (1)investigates and determines the incidence and prevalence of teen pregnancy in communities described in such subsection; (2)examines— (A)the extent of the impact of teen pregnancy on— (i)the health and well-being of teenagers in the communities; and (ii)the scholastic achievement of such teenagers; (B)the variance in the rates of teen pregnancy by— (i)location (such as inner cities, inner suburbs, and outer suburbs); (ii)population subgroup (such as Hispanic, Asian-Pacific Islander, African-American, Native American); and (iii)level of acculturation; (C)the importance of the physical and social environment as a factor in placing communities at risk of increased rates of teen pregnancy; and (D)the importance of aspirations as a factor affecting young women’s risk of teen pregnancy; and (3)is used to develop— (A)measures to address race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, environment, and educational attainment and the relationship to the incidence and prevalence of teen pregnancy; and (B)efforts to link the measures to relevant databases, including health databases. (c)

Priority

In making grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to research that incorporates— (1)interdisciplinary approaches; or (2)a strong emphasis on community-based participatory research. (d)

Authorization of appropriations

For the purpose of carrying out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $7,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 2007 through 2011.

7.

General requirements

(a)

Medically accurate information

A grant may be made under this Act only if the applicant involved agrees that all information provided pursuant to the grant will be age-appropriate, factually and medically accurate and complete, and scientifically based. (b)

Cultural context of services

A grant may be made under this Act only if the applicant involved agrees that information, activities, and services under the grant that are directed toward a particular population group will be provided in the language and cultural context that is most appropriate for individuals in such group. (c)

Application for grant

A grant may be made under this Act only if an application for the grant is submitted to the Secretary and the application is in such form, is made in such manner, and contains such agreements, assurances, and information as the Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out the program involved.

8.

Definitions

For purposes of this Act: (1)The term eligible community has the meaning indicated for such term in section 2(a). (2)The term racial or ethnic minority or immigrant communities means communities with a substantial number of residents who are members of racial or ethnic minority groups or who are immigrants. (3)The term Secretary has the meaning indicated for such term in section 2(a).