FY15 Announcement of Availability of Funds for Replicating Evidence-Based Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs to Scale in Communities with the Greatest Need (Tier 1B)

• Ensure that program materials are medically accurate, age appropriate, culturally and linguistically appropriate, and inclusive of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) youth• Ensure that programs are implemented in a safe and supportive environment for youth and their families • Establish and maintain linkages and referrals to youth-friendly health care services • Engage in strategic dissemination and communication activities to raise awareness of the program with youth, their families, and key stakeholders• Develop and implement a plan for sustainability to ensure continuation of program efforts beyond the grant• Collect and use performance measure data to make continuous quality improvements• Evaluate the implementation and outcomes of program activities.Supporting HHS Strategic Goals, Healthy People 2020, and the National Prevention StrategyThis FOA supports the HHS Strategic Goal to “Put Children and Youth on the Path for Successful Futures.” Under this goal, 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 such as child maltreatment, school readiness, teen pregnancy, youth violence, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), mental illness, substance abuse, and delinquency. HHS is investing in strategies that give children and youth a positive start in life and help ensure their future health and development. http://www.hhs.gov/strategic-plan/youth_futures.htmlThis 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 LGBT 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.