[Federal Register: July 7, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 129)]
[Notices]               
[Page 36691-36692]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07jy99-81]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

 
The Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation; Cooperative 
Agreement With the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

    The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation 
(ASPE) announces that it will award a sole source cooperative agreement 
to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy (the National 
Campaign).
    The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to assist, 
collaboratively with the National Campaign in the development of a teen 
pregnancy prevention technical assistance guide for states and local 
communities. This agreement will also assist in supporting a series of 
technical assistance meetings aimed at teaching state and community 
representatives how best to use the guide.

Authorizing Legislation

    This cooperative agreement is authorized under Section 241 of the 
Public Health Service Act.

Background

    Assistance will be provided to the National Campaign to Prevent 
Teen Pregnancy. No other applications are solicited. ASPE is 
responsible for coordinating the Department's National Strategy to 
Prevent Teen Pregnancy. In this role, ASPE convenes and chairs an 
interdepartmental workgroup on teen pregnancy prevention and completes 
a yearly Report to Congress on the progress of the National Strategy. 
ASPE believes that the Campaign is uniquely qualified to work with ASPE 
to develop teen pregnancy prevention technical assistance for the 
following reasons:
    1. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy is a nonpartisan 
organization dedicated to integrating a broad spectrum of perspectives 
in addressing the issue of teen pregnancy prevention. The National 
Campaign was initiated in 1996 as a result of President Clinton's 
challenge that ``parents and leaders across the country join together 
in a national campaign against teen pregnancy to make a difference.'' 
In response to the President's call, a group of private citizens 
created the National Campaign, a nonprofit effort led by a 
distinguished board. The National Campaign's work is conducted through 
four task forces and a small staff. The task forces are comprised of 
experts in a wide variety of fields related to teen pregnancy 
prevention. The mission of the National Campaign is to prevent teen 
pregnancy by supporting values and stimulating actions that are 
consistent with a pregnancy-free adolescence. Its chief goal is to 
reduce the teenage pregnancy rate by one-third by the year 2005.
    2. The National Campaign staff has been working with states and 
local communities over the last three years. In the course of their 
work in states, and during daily phone calls they receive in their 
Washington office. Staff has fielded hundreds of requests for technical 
assistance. This has led the National Campaign to identify the need for 
a ``tool kit'' to support the implementation of successful teen 
pregnancy prevention programs. Staff used the questions most often 
asked by

[[Page 36692]]

grass-roots leaders to guide the choice of topics for this tool kit.
    3. The Campaign's Research and Evaluation Task Force is uniquely 
positioned to provide the best research-based information available on 
teen pregnancy prevention strategies. The Campaign's State and Local 
Action Task Force has a unique ability to test the materials for the 
user-friendliness and applicability at the grassroots level. The State 
and Local Action Task force will also be highly instrumental in the 
dissemination of the tool kit.
    Approximately $115,000 is available fiscal year 1999 for this 
cooperative agreement.

Where to Obtain Additional Information

    If you are interested in obtaining additional information regarding 
this project, contact Mrs. Sonia Chessen, ASPE, U.S. DHHS, 200 
Independence Avenue, SW. Room 450-G. Washington, DC 20201 or telephone 
(202) 690-8471.

    Dated: June 25, 1999.
Margaret A. Hamburg,
Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.
[FR Doc. 99-17099 Filed 7-6-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4151-04-P