Initiatives

The Office of Population Affairs (OPA) presently has three initiatives. As part of OPA's role within the US Department of Health and Human Services, the office implements various initiatives related to reproductive health topics and population related issues. Currently, the Office is implementing the 1) Parents Speak up National Campaign, 2) HIV Prevention Integration Initiative and 3) Male Involvement Initiative.

In June 2007, OPA assisted The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in unveiling a new campaign encouraging parents to talk to their pre-teen and teenage children about waiting to have sex. The Parents Speak Up National Campaign public service advertising features kids who invite their parents to talk to them about sex, their values, and how waiting can contribute to future success. This campaign is funded through a collaboration with the Administration for Children and Families.

Since September 2001, the Office of Family Planning (OFP), with funds from the Minority AIDS Fund and Title X appropriations, has funded HIV/AIDS Prevention Integration grants to a select number of Title X service projects. The HIV/AIDS prevention integration supplemental grant funds are made available to existing Title X service grantees through a competitive process. The purpose of these supplemental grants is to expand the availability of on-site HIV counseling, testing and HIV- related referral services in family planning clinics. The resources provided by the Minority AIDS Fund support projects in communities where racial and ethnic minorities are under-served or disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS. While the resources provided by the Title X appropriation may also support projects in these communities, there is flexibility to support projects that serve other individuals, areas, or populations that are at risk for HIV/AIDS.

In 1997, the OPA/Office of Family Planning (OFP) began an initiative to involve community-based health and social service organizations in developing, implementing and testing approaches for delivering family planning/reproductive health education and services to men. The OPA/OFP projects are intended to integrate family planning service and education into programs where young males are already receiving other health, education, and social services.