The School District of Manatee County, in collaboration with Manatee County Government, Manatee County Health Department, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County, and twelve supporting partners, has received funding to address teen pregnancy and provide prevention education to six middle schools, for the It’s yoUR Choice Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program. This abstinence-based program is designed to reduce teen pregnancy and decrease repeat teen pregnancies among high-risk middle-school-aged students, with an emphasis on both the male and female role in teen pregnancy prevention and building positive self-esteem. This grant will begin its third year at Harllee, Horizon, Lincoln, and Johnson Middle Schools, and its second year at Sugg Middle School and the TAPP program at Central High. Lee Middle School has asked to participate this year, increasing the total participation to approximately 4000 students receiving the program.

The grant application has been approved in the amount of $279,715.00. Included in the grant are positions for a Project Coordinator and Health Educators, the Prevention on Wheels Bus, and the Draw the Line Curriculum. The Draw the Line Curriculum implements the health education standards required by the state. Each participating school hosts a parent night where the curriculum components are reviewed with parents. Parents have the option to “opt-out” their student from part or all of the It’s yoUR Choice Program.

The grant supports EdVantage in that it promotes responsible choices, goal setting, and decision-making by students.

The Grant is a collaboration between Manatee County Government, the School District of Manatee County, and Community Partners as follows: Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County, Bright House Networks, Educational Consultants Consortium, Family Partnership Center, Healthy Start Coalition, Healthy Teens Coalition of Manatee County, Hope Family Services, Inc., Insight Counseling, Inc., Manatee County Health Department, Manatee County Rural Health Services, Inc., Manatee County Substance Abuse Coalition, Manatee Glens, Manatee Youth Commission, and Suncoast Communities Blood Bank.

The contract funding for 2012-2013 is approved in the amount of $279,715.00, which is equal to the funding provided in 2011-12.

The Superintendent recommends the approval to accept and expend funds for It’s yoUR Choice Teen Pregnancy Prevention Grant from October 2012 through September 2013.

Motion and approval to accept and expend funds for It’s yoUR Choice Teen Pregnancy Prevention Grant from October 2012 through September 2013.

There are no district funds required for implementation of this grant. The district will receive grant funding in the amount of $279,715.00 for implementing grant components over the period of the grant. The funding agreement is scheduled to be executed as soon as possible and will be retroactive to October 1, 2012.

Curriculum

Linda Guilfoyle/dg

10/22/12