Clinic-based programs for pregnant and parenting teens
Local governments can invest in this strategy using State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
- This strategy can help residents access health services, promote healthy childhood environments, and navigate public benefits. The U.S. Department of Treasury has indicated that strategies that help achieve these outcomes are eligible for the use of Fiscal Recovery Funds.
Investments in this strategy are SLFRF-eligible as long as they are made in qualified census tracts or are designed to assist populations or communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
Program basics
- Comprehensive programming that includes family planning and other nonclinical needs such as case management and counseling
- Clinical services provided by medical teams and social workers
- Often aimed at preventing rapid repeat pregnancy (within 12–14 months) among adolescents
- Education on the economic, social, and medical risks of repeated teenage childbearing
Strength of evidence
Evidence level: Proven (highest tier)
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Proven (highest tier)
Ranked as having the highest level of evidence by County Health Rankings and Roadmaps
Target population
Parents with children under the age of 5
Program cost
$113 per participant (estimate)
Implementation locations
- Nationwide
Dates active
Not available
Outcomes and impact
- Reduced incidence of rapid repeat pregnancies
- Promoted clinic attendance and increased immunization completion for infants
- Increased use of contraceptives among adolescents
- Increased use of family planning services
- Reduced public expenditures associated with teenage childbearing
Keys to successful implementation
- Teen pregnancy prevention programs tend to be more effective when implemented at a community-wide level.
- Providing pregnant adolescents with unbiased information about their pregnancy better equips them to make informed decisions about their health and that of their baby.
- Staffing programs with culturally competent providers encourages effective communication and reduces bias, improving delivery fidelity and program retention.
- Comprehensive programs that use both clinical and non-clinical approaches show larger impacts.
