Kimberly Ross, MPH¹, Barbara W. Sugland, MPH, ScD¹, and Loral Patchen, CNM². (1) Center for Applied Research & Technical Assistance, Inc., 1800 N. Charles Street, Suite 902, Baltimore, MD 21201, 410-625-6250, kross@cartainc.org, (2) TAPP, Division of Women's Services, Washington Hospital Center, 100 Irving Street, NW, East Building G105, Washington, DC 20010

Research shows youth development approaches can be effective at preventing unintended pregnancy among teens. Using this evidence to shape program strategies, especially for high-risk youth, is critical for improving the capacity of local teen pregnancy prevention efforts.

The Teen Alliance for Prepared Parenting (TAPP) is a community-based subsequent pregnancy prevention program serving low-income, African-American and Latino adolescent females in Washington, D.C. The program model incorporates a positive youth development, competency-based approach with comprehensive prenatal, post-partum clinical care and intensive case management. The TAPP program, through this combined clinical and social support model, aims to build social and developmental competencies and thus prevent subsequent pregnancy among pregnant and parenting teens. Participants, including fathers/partners, are involved from pregnancy through and after delivery for up to 24 months.

To measure the influence of TAPP participation on the acquisition of competencies and delay in subsequent pregnancy, the Center for Applied Research and Technical Assistance, Inc. (CARTA) developed an evaluation that measures process and behavior outcomes through baseline and follow-up in-person client surveys, regular tracking of program activities, case manager reports and clinical data. Data collection tools are designed to appropriately measure selected youth competencies, pregnancy and clinical outcomes, and exposure to specific program activities as a means of summarizing client-staff interactions and identifying a pathway between TAPP activities and desired outcomes.

The presentation will describe the study, give an overview of preliminary findings, and discuss lessons learned and implications for replicating this clinic-based approach.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to

• Describe elements of a youth development, competency-building approach to teen pregnancy prevention.
• Identify a pathway between program participation and competency acquisition based on preliminary findings.
• Discuss challenges for program replication.

Keywords: Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Competency

Related Web page: www.cartainc.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.