FY15 Announcement of Availability of Funds for Supporting and Enabling Early Innovation to Advance Adolescent Health and Prevent Teen Pregnancy (Tier 2A)

rates, and associated sexual risk behaviors. One intermediary will focus on supporting innovation of technology interventions and the other will focus on supporting innovation of program interventions. Interventions may be designed to improve knowledge and skills related to TPP, improve the delivery of programs (e.g., increase participant engagement), and/or expand the ability of programs to reach youth who have otherwise been difficult to reach. Examples of technology interventions may include, but are not limited to, mobile applications, video games or other gaming technology, use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, adaptation of a pre-existing technology for new use, etc. Examples of program interventions may include, but are not limited to, infusion of TPP content into settings where youth work, live, and play; systems-level approaches; use of non-traditional delivery approaches; etc. Hybrid approaches that combine both program and technology may be classified as either, and will depend on whether the intervention is primarily (i.e., 50% or more) technology driven. Each intermediary is expected to fund a broad range of interventions to advance adolescent health and prevent teen pregnancy. The successful applicant will determine their focus area (technology or program) and propose a five-year strategy to competitively select, fund, and support a portfolio of innovators across the country (estimate 5-15 per year). The successful applicant must be able to reach a national audience for the selection of innovators. Successful applicants will create an infrastructure to support and foster innovation; monitor and evaluate the outcomes of the TPP Early Innovation Program; and disseminate successes, lessons learned, and knowledge gained. Throughout the five-year grant period, some interventions developed under the intermediary’s portfolio may need further development and testing, others may be deemed impractical or not feasible, and some interventions may be ready for a rigorous impact evaluation. OAH would consider each of these outcomes a valuable contribution to the field. Supporting HHS Strategic Goals, Healthy People 2020, and the National Prevention StrategyThis FOA supports the HHS Strategic Goals to Put Children and Youth on the Path for Successful Futures, Eliminate Health Disparities, and Accelerate the Process of Scientific Discovery to Improve Health. HHS is committed to supporting both evidence-based programs and innovative approaches for children and youth in order to positively impact a range of important social and health outcomes, including, but not limited to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and teen pregnancy (http://www.hhs.gov/strategic-plan/hhs-vision.html). This FOA addresses the Healthy People 2020 (http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/default.aspx) overarching goals to (1) achieve health equity, eliminate disparities, and improve the health of all groups and (2) promote quality of life, healthy development, and healthy behaviors across all life stages. The FOA addresses several Healthy People 2020 goals and objectives, including Family Planning Objectives 7 through 13; STD Objectives 1 and 6; HIV Objective 2; Adolescent Health Objectives 3 and 5; and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Topic Area Goal.This FOA also supports the National Prevention Strategy’s (http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/initiatives/prevention/strategy/#The Goal) overarching strategic direction to help people make healthy choices and eliminate health disparities. This FOA supports the recommendations in the reproductive and sexual health priority area to (1) provide effective sexual health education, especially for adolescents, and (2) enhance early detection of HIV, viral hepatitis, and other STIs and improve linkages to care.