(Washington, DC) DC Department of Human Services (DHS) announced today that major teen pregnancy prevention efforts conducted by its Income Maintenance Administration (IMA) and Family Services Administration (FSA) substantially helped to reduce the teen birth rate for girls aged 15 to 19 by 37 percent between 1991 and 2002, and in 2002 resulted in a 10 percent improvement in the poverty rate for children under six and a 10 percent improvement in the proportion of children under age six living with a single mother.

“Our teen pregnancy prevention programs, grantees, and public information campaigns have been strong in raising awareness among teenagers and their parents about teens making responsible choices,” said DHS Director Yvonne Gilchrist. “The federal government recognized our success by awarding us a $25 million bonus in FY 2004 for reducing out-of-wedlock births. IMA’s “Be On The Safe Side” Teen Pregnancy Prevention Outreach and Information Campaign and FSA’s Teen Parent Assessment Program target neighborhoods and schools in Wards 7 and 8, which have the highest concentration of low-income teenagers in the city.”

The US Department of Health and Human Services has awarded the District, via the DHS IMA, a total of six multi-million dollar bonus awards for reducing out-of-wedlock births since Fiscal Year 1999. The DHS IMA has received a total of $125 million in federal bonus awards over six years (1999 to 2004), more than any other jurisdiction. The funds are used to assist low-income District residents.

Mayor Anthony A. Williams signed and issued a proclamation to establish May 2005 as “Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month in Washington, DC” and encouraged young people to practice responsible behavior. “…teen pregnancy is less likely when young people have safe places to spend their time, are involved in supervised activities, and have close connections with dependable adults,” said Mayor Williams in his proclamation. “Teen pregnancy impacts the well-being of our communities.”

According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, years of research have closely linked teen pregnancy and early childbearing to a host of other critical social issues, especially child poverty. Young children born to unwed, teenage mothers who did not finish high school are nine times more likely to be poor than children born to mothers without these three risk factors.

For more information about DHS Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs, call the DHS Office of Communications and Public Affairs at (202) 671-4420. To receive a free “Cause ‘N Effect” Audio CD for youth, which explores choices, decisions, consequences and responsibilities related to sexual activity, call 1 (866) DCYOUTH.