Illinois Department of Human Services

Project Name: Illinois Teen Pregnancy Prevention - Changing the Map

Project Overview: The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) will implement the Illinois Teen Pregnancy Prevention -Changing the Map project in eleven communities to replicate effective curricula to achieve optimal health for adolescents, reduce teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and increase protective factors. Curricula include Love Notes, Positive Prevention Plus, and REAL Essentials Advantage. IDHS selected and established partnerships with four well-established, community-based organizations with experience in teen pregnancy prevention programming. Each project site will promote Youth Champions, Parent Champions, and Community Coalitions to apply and showcase youth, parent, and community stakeholder voices to ensure that the project is of the highest quality and fit for the communities and populations. The project aims to reach 2,500 youth annually.

Community(ies) Served: Select schools in eight Illinois Counties: Cook, Hardin, Johnson, Madison, Massac, Pope, Union, and Will

Target Population: Grade 9 students in high schools with high pregnancy and STI rates and underserved populations, including Hispanic and African American youth

Geographic Area Served (Urbanicity of Community): Suburban: Cook and Will; Rural: Hardin, Johnson, Madison, Massac, Pope, and Union

Average Anticipated Number of Youth Served Annually: 2,500