Teen pregnancy is closely linked to a number of critical social issues such as poverty, educational attainment, and increased health care costs.1 Moreover, teen births affect the entire community (not just the teen parents); therefore, community-wide solutions are needed.
In Oklahoma:
Although Oklahoma is seeing a steady decrease in teen births, the state’s rate of 27.4 births per 1,000 females aged 15-10 is still significantly higher than the national average at 16.7 in 2019.3 Compared to other states in the nation, including the District of Columbia, Oklahoma ranked 4th highest for teen birth rates for teens ages 15-19 year in 2019.3
Teens need to have access to medically accurate, comprehensive information in order to make responsible decisions for their future. The Maternal and Child Health Service (MCH) provides oversight to the following teen pregnancy prevention programs across the state: Oklahoma Healthy Youth, Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP), and Pregnancy Assistance Fund (PAF). With the support of local county health departments, these programs offer evidence-based sexual health curricula to public schools in Oklahoma, Tulsa, and 34 other counties with high teen birth rates.
Making a Difference! is an evidence-based program designed to provide youth with the knowledge, attitudes, and skills to reduce their risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV, and pregnancy. Making a Difference! uses an abstinence-based approach and is intended for youth ages 12-14.
Love Notes is an evidence-based, comprehensive healthy relationship education program that places heavy focus on healthy communication, decision-making, setting and respecting boundaries, planning and pacing relationships, and the impact of family formation on children. The program aims to teach youth how to build healthy relationships, as well as reduce their risk for dating violence, unplanned pregnancy, and STIs. Love Notes is intended for youth and young adults ages 17-24.
Positive Prevention PLUS is an evidence-based, comprehensive sexual health education program designed to build young peoples’ skills for reducing their risk for STIs and unplanned pregnancy, developing healthy relationships, and goal-setting. There is both a middle-school and high-school version of the program.
Brittany Mathenia, MPH CHES® Healthy Youth Consultant Phone: (405) 426-8102
Mailing Address: Oklahoma State Department of Health Child and Adolescent Health 123 Robert S. Kerr Ave., Suite 1702 Oklahoma City, OK 73102-6406
Physical Address: Oklahoma State Department of Health 123 Robert S. Kerr Ave. Oklahoma City, OK
