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Who's who in teen pregnancy prevention?
People throughout the the Department of Human Services are sharing resources and working together to reduce teen pregnancy.
Here are some highlights:
Prevention programs
- In offices in larger communities, workers are assigned to teen parent caseloads. Multnomah County efforts include weekly visits with first-time moms, part of a national research project.
- Contact: Belit Stockfleth, 503-947-5389, email: belit.stockfleth@state.or.us
- Abstinence programs, including STARS and a new legislative initiative to support abstinence-only until marriage.
Contact: Sandra Harms (503) 945-6134, email: sharms@state.or.us
- Provides statewide support for Reduce Adolescent Pregnancy Partnership (RAPP), a network of local coalitions dedicated to reducing teen pregnancy.
Contact: Lawrence Piper (503) 945-6074, email: lpiper@state.or.us
- Additional support for RAPP comes from a federal AmeriCorps grant. AmeriCorps members, basically full-time volunteers receiving a minimal living allowance, help with activities in communities.
Contact: Tina McCollum (503) 945-6906, email: tina.mccollum@state.or.us
Public health
- A full-time adolescent pregnancy prevention coordinator.
Contact: Jessica Duke (971) 673-0242, e-mail jessica.duke@state.or.us
Mental health
- The Office of Mental Health and Addiction Services provides some service through county mental health systems, contracts with Oregon Health Plan providers, mental health organizations and select other contractors.
Contact: (503) 945-9700.
Alcohol and drug abuse
Office of Medical Assistance Programs
Child welfare
- Foster parents and case workers address family planning, sexuality and contraception as appropriate with teens and parents.
- Curriculum in the office's Independent Living Program, for youth becoming emancipated, includes family planning, sexuality, esteem-building.
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