Maryland Department of Health
Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB)

​​​​​​​​​​​​MCH HOTLINE
1-800-456-8900

Teen Pregnancy Program

The Maternal and Child Health Bureau is reducing unintended pregnancies and decreasing teen pregnancies by using a multi-faceted approach. Activities range from clinical services through the State's Family Planning Program to training and educational opportunities offered through various venues. A Community Health Educator in the Center serves as the State's Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coordinator.
Maryland Family Planning Health Program

This Program provides family planning, preconception health and teen pregnancy prevention services to the 70,000+ clients served annually in over 80 sites statewide. Teens represent approximately one third of clients served statewide. Grants are awarded to local health departments and Planned Parenthood for the provision of clinical and other services. This Program funds Healthy Teen and Young Adult (HTYA) sites in Baltimore City, Prince George's County and Anne Arundel County. HTYA is a program designed to reach and serve young people at risk for unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and high risk behaviors. Service sites provide a holistic approach to health care and community-based prevention efforts. Male involvement coordinators design and implement activities to help young men understand their passage through boyhood and manhood as a prelude to fatherhood. The HTYA Program serves young men and women up to age 24.​

Sexual Risk Avoidance Education Program
The Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) grant program funding is administered by the Health & Human Services Administration for Children Youth and Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau.  The Maternal and Child Health Bureau Office of Family & Community Health Services (OFCHS) within the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) uses these funds to administer the Maryland SRAE program . The SRAE program uses a multi-dimensional approach to promote sexual risk avoidance based on the promotion of  abstinence as the best risk reduction strategy for adolescents.  The program takes a holistic approach to risk reduction and encourages the avoidance of substance abuse, and the value of forming healthy relationships.  The program specifically targets adolescents and young adults  ages 10-20 and their parents across the state.  Funding is provided to Local Health Departments and Community grantees who implement evidence based curricula in school and community settings.  Parent education is included in the program to reinforce programmatic messages with family members as well as to equip parents with skills to communicate with their youth about risky behavior.

The SRAE grant provides teens and their caregivers with the information and tools to help delay sexual activity and prevent unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases and  is vital to improving outcomes for adolescents.
Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP)

In March, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Act amended Title V of the Social Security Act to include the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP). The Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau oversees the program.
The purpose of the federally funded Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP), is to educate adolescents on abstinence, contraception, and other adult preparation topics. The goal is to prevent unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS. States are encouraged to serve youth ages 10-19 who meet the following criteria:
  • Live in geographic areas with high teen birth rates
  • Youth in out of home placement
  • Homeless/ runaway/out of school youth
  • Pregnant or parenting youth
  • Youth with HIV/AIDS
  • LBGTQ  youth 

The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) is the administrator of Maryland's PREP funding. The MDH Maternal and Child Health Bureau has awarded mini-grants to Local Health Departments and community partners through a Request for Proposal process. Each site must demonstrate the need for PREP funding in their community and their capacity to implement an approved evidence-based curriculum with the youth in their community.

Other Activities

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