Striking Breakthrough in Teen Pregnancy Prevention Substantiated by New Scientific Evaluation

May 30, 2001

National Study Shows Approach Reduces Likelihood of Teen Pregnancy and Births by 50%

NEW YORK, May 30, 2001 -- The first rigorous, scientific evaluation of an innovative, comprehensive approach to teen pregnancy prevention designed by The Children's Aid Society reveals that pregnancy and birth rates for teen girls in its program were less than half (49% and 46% respectively) than among girls in the control groups.

A three-year random assignment evaluation of The Children's Aid Society's program at 12 sites in seven urban areas not only showed that the teen girls in the program were much less likely to get pregnant or give birth, but that they were three times more likely than control girls to have used highly effective contraception at last intercourse. The program was tested among 941 largely poor teens, aged 13 to 15 when first enrolled, in disadvantaged neighborhoods in seven urban areas of the United States.

Besides statistically significant reductions in pregnancy and births and improved contraceptive use among female teens in the program, these young women also had significantly better outcomes in: greater sexuality and reproductive knowledge, better health care usage, greater computer use, better preparation for and participation in employment, and making more college visits.

The program was created by Dr. Michael Carrera, who is Thomas Hunter Professor Emeritus of Health Sciences at Hunter College/CUNY and Adjunct Professor of Community Medicine at The Mount Sinai Medical Center. He has led Adolescent Sexuality and Pregnancy Prevention Programs for The Children's Aid Society (CAS) since 1970, and launched the original program at CAS's Dunlevy Milbank Community Center in 1985. The 12-site evaluation study of the CAS-Carrera teen pregnancy prevention program was supported by the Robin Hood Foundation of New York City and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation in Flint, Michigan.

Only program to achieve both results
According to the evaluation, by Philliber Research Associates of Accord, NY, the CAS-Carrera program is the only one working with young people aged 13 to 15 in disadvantaged neighborhoods to achieve reductions in both pregnancies and births. The program is one of only four that has been evaluated using a random assignment design; the other three have achieved only one of these impacts.

"This study takes us from probable knowledge to certain knowledge about how to prevent teen pregnancy in the United States, and now it is up to public officials at all levels to supply the will to do something about this urgent problem," says Dr. Carrera. "The U.S. is still the world leader in teen pregnancy and the impact on our society is haunting."

The program sees children as "at promise" instead of "at risk," and uses a parallel family approach. The CAS-Carrera program includes: academic support, employment preparation and career awareness, comprehensive family life-sex education, self-expression in the arts, and lifetime individual sports. It also provides comprehensive medical care, reproductive health counseling, availability of contraception, and mental health services, including counseling as needed.

Unique program evaluated at 12 sites
"Other studies can't say that they have achieved both of the most important goals and withstood rigorous scientific evaluation," states Philip Coltoff, executive director of The Children's Aid Society. "We have demonstrated that it is possible to deliver strong messages about abstinence and at the same time provide information and access to effective contraception, as well as support the whole child at a critical time of life."

Funding from the Robin Hood Foundation in 1997 enabled The Children's Aid Society to select six sites in New York City for evaluation. Funding from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation allowed the evaluation to expand to six sites outside of New York City. The 12 sites included in the evaluation are:

Citizens Advice Bureau, Bronx, NY
Madison Square Boys & Girls Club, Bronx, NY
Project Reach Youth, Brooklyn, NY
Grand Street Settlement, Inc., NY, NY
Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement House, Queens, NY
New York City Mission Society, NY, NY

Healthy Teens and Young Adults, Baltimore, MD
Hollywood Boys & Girls Club, Broward County, FL
Chicano Family Center, Houston, TX
Boys & Girls Aid Society, Portland, OR
Baden Street Settlement, Rochester, NY
Partners in Action for Teen Health, Seattle, WA

"Our program emphasizes activities that all together help young people envision productive futures and therefore yield a contraceptive effect," says Dr. Carrera.

Please call Ellen Lubell, Director of Public Relations, 212-949-4938, for interviews with Dr. Michael Carrera, Philip Coltoff, contacts at the evaluation sites, and executives at the foundations.