advertisement

$1 million teen pregnancy prevention grant makes for new partnership

JOLIET - The Will County Health Department and Valley View School District 365U are preparing to launch a five-year health-education partnership targeting teen pregnancy prevention.

Made possible by federal funding secured through a more than $1 million Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) grant, Valley View will launch the pilot program in health classes at Bolingbrook High School, Humphrey Middle School and Phoenix Experience with expansion to Jane Addams and Brooks middle schools shortly afterward. Once funding sources are determined, Romeoville schools, including Lukancic and Martinez middle schools and Romeoville High School, may be added.

Bolingbrook, known for its outstanding community spirit and support for health-related initiatives, was one of 10 Illinois communities chosen to receive the IDHS grants. Grant objectives include: reducing teen pregnancy in multiple community settings, establishing a teen pregnancy community advisory group, and reducing the local incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

"We know teen pregnancy is a pressing issue statewide and across the nation," said Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar, who has given his blessing to the collaboration by offering office space to help the grantees manage their new five-year commitment. "We need to provide our young people with the information they need to make responsible decisions. This grant will provide an effective, evidence-based resource to help us educate our youth."

Beginning in the fall of 2016 specially trained Will County Health-Educators and VVSD teachers will roll out a specially designed curriculum endorsed by the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The IDHS grants place a high priority on communities with high rates of teen births in African American and Hispanic populations, as well as high STI rates. There were 394 Will County teen births during 2013, including 64 from Bolingbrook. Across Illinois, nearly 30 of every 1,000 live births were in the 15-to-19 age group.

Other communities receiving grants include: Addison, Aurora, Carpentersville, Dolton, Elmwood Park, Glendale Heights, Hanover Park, and Wheeling. Alton (Madison County), was the only downstate grant recipient.

While grant details are still in the planning stage, the Health Department and VVSD are required to establish a resource guide providing links and referrals to a vast network of organizations that provide high-quality, youth-friendly healthcare services for youth participants and their families. An aggressive social media campaign is planned to help spread the teen pregnancy and STI prevention message.

Grant requirements also call for the establishment of a community youth leadership council and a community advisory group to provide feedback on a wide range of project details.

Funding provided in whole or in part by the Illinois Department of Human Services.

For the latest Will County Health Department news and public health information, please follow us on Twitter @WillCoHealth and become a fan on Facebook.

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.