Court Rules that Healthy Futures can Continue Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs

Healthy Futures of Texas, the lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit, has made it possible to continue 62 evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention projects across the nation.

In 2010, several grantees, including Healthy Futures, received funding from Health and Human Service’s TPPP grants. The funding was initially awarded for a five-year term. However, last summer, all grantees named in the lawsuit were informed that their funding would end two years early. Healthy Futures, represented by Public Citizen, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization, filed a class-action lawsuit as the lead plaintiff. On Friday, the court ordered HHS to reinstate the grants of all 62 class members.

The ruling came last Friday that the termination of dozens of the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program (TPPP) grants was unlawful. This will allow Healthy Futures to continue the Big Decisions curriculum evaluation project in San Antonio and three rural Texas-Mexico border communities, as well as maintain the Alamo Colleges educational program BAE-B-SAFE.

“With this decision, youth who are participating in the Big Decisions curriculum study, and all the youth served by the other projects, now have the chance for better health, educational attainment, and economic opportunities that can improve their lives,” said Evelyn Delgado, president, and CEO. “This decision enables us to continue reducing teen birth rates in Texas and across the country.”

Teen pregnancy and childbearing continue to be a widespread issue that impacts adolescents, families, and communities in San Antonio and Texas. Texas maintains the fourth-highest rate of teen birth in the nation—and the highest rate of repeat teen births. While Texas and the rest of the nation have made tremendous progress in reducing the rate of teen births, much is still left to do in order to ensure that adolescents have access to the education and services they need.

We strive to provide and promote effective and culturally appropriate educational programs and access to preventive healthcare for teens, parents, and young adults.

Big Decisions is a 10-lesson program for teens aged 13-17 that uses an “abstinence-plus” approach. The program is interactive, inclusive, and involves parents through “homework” and workshops.  Used by many school districts in Texas, Big Decisions is popular, and the program’s evaluation is being funded by this HHS grant funding.