NCJ Number
150826
Date Published
1989
Length
27 pages
Annotation
Addressing the teenage pregnancy problem and the broader issue of better serving high-risk youth depends in part on the development of successful, replicable program models, and several multisite initiatives targeting teenage pregnancy, youth unemployment, and welfare dependency are described.
Abstract
A wide range of program options is needed to serve high-risk youth, including pregnant teenagers and low-income and minority youth. The challenge is to ensure that programs are replicated and made a permanent part of community services. Model demonstration and community assistance projects are discussed, including 26 multisite initiatives for high-risk youth. The following advantages of multisite initiatives are identified: enhance the national visibility of issues and strategies, generate new approaches, evaluate program models in terms of effectiveness and replicability, and increase services for high-risk children and youth. The presence of multisite initiatives in cities with high percentages of births to teenagers is examined, and procedures for building and promoting replicable program models are noted. The importance of improving outcomes for high-risk youth through innovative programs and services is emphasized.