GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 534

Short Title:  Adolescent Pregnancy Prev. Funds.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representatives H. Hunter; Berry, Cummings, Hensley, McLawhorn, and Wainwright.
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Referred to:  Appropriations.
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March 25, 1993

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO DEVELOP COMPREHENSIVE, COORDINATED ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY PREVENTION INITIATIVES.
Whereas, a 1992 report from the Southern Regional Project on Infant Mortality indicates that North Carolina has had a 96% increase in the public costs associated with teenage childbearing; and
Whereas, in North Carolina, the public cost for AFDC, Medicaid, and Food Stamps programs associated with teenage childbearing was $457,000,000 in 1991; and for every dollar spent on teenage childbearing only 1¢ is spent on primary prevention; and 
Whereas, the North Carolina Coalition on Adolescent Pregnancy has been conducting research on pregnancy prevention initiatives, providing training to professionals and volunteers involved in prevention efforts, and providing technical assistance to communities throughout North Carolina, and is the only organization engaged in statewide initiatives to prevent teenage pregnancies; and 
Whereas, current research emphasizes the necessity for prevention action targeted at adolescent males, yet only three of the 34 Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention projects funded by the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources are designed primarily for male involvement in the prevention of teenage pregnancy; and 
Whereas, the Adolescent Parenting Program administered by the Department of Human Resources is designed to assist first-time adolescent parents 17 years of age or younger and funds have not been increased since the inception of the program in 1984 and counties are having to channel much more than the 25% required match to keep the projects viable; and
Whereas, two national studies indicate that over 60% of teen mothers have been sexually abused when they were children; and
Whereas, the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program in the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources is the only State-funded program directed toward primary prevention of adolescent pregnancy and intervention; and
Whereas, there is a need for a more comprehensive, coordinated statewide approach to the prevention of adolescent pregnancy; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the North Carolina Coalition on Adolescent Pregnancy the sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) for the 1993-94 fiscal year and two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) for the 1994-95 fiscal year, to:
(1)	Expand the statewide services the North Carolina Coalition on Adolescent Pregnancy is now providing by extending the Coalition's capability to provide assistance, resources, prevention strategies, and local pregnancy prevention council development to counties that do not currently have this assistance and to agencies and organizations involved in prevention;
(2)	Conduct research and data collection that provide information on effective pregnancy prevention initiatives and the impact of prevention efforts, and disseminate pertinent facts and research to public officials, other decision makers, and to professionals and volunteers working with pregnancy prevention programs or with, or on behalf of, pregnant and parenting teens;
(3)	Provide services, training programs, and resources to school systems in developing effective pregnancy prevention curricula and develop a teacher training institute to train teachers on how to effectively implement the pregnancy prevention curricula for the greatest impact, and provide measures by which parents can effectively and appropriately be involved;
(4)	Initiate a statewide media campaign to promote abstinence, reduce pregnancy, and promote healthy behavior in North Carolina's children ages 10 to 14, including Medicaid-eligible children; and
(5)	Expand training and resources for communities to address sexual abuse and its relationship to adolescent pregnancy.
Sec. 2.  (a)	There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Human Resources the sum of six hundred thirty-three thousand seven hundred nine dollars ($633,709) for the 1993-94 fiscal year and the sum of six hundred thirty-three thousand seven hundred nine dollars ($633,709) for the 1994-95 fiscal year to be used to expand the Adolescent Parenting Program in the Division of Social Services.  The funds shall be used to provide the following:
(1)	Expansion funds of $10,000 each to existing adolescent parenting programs in Caldwell, Cleveland, Craven, Cumberland, Durham, Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Onslow, Orange, Pasquotank, Pender, Rutherford, Stanly, Union, and Vance;
(2)	Eleven additional grants for local adolescent parenting programs;
(3)	Support services such as day care, transportation, and family planning to participants in the program who are not eligible for AFDC;
(4)	In-home parenting services designed to reduce child abuse and neglect;
(5)	Purchase of resource materials and curricula that are used in the training session with the teenage parents; and
(6)	Expanded State-level oversight, including an interdepartmental advisory group.
(b)	The Department of Human Resources shall:
(1)	Require applicants to conduct an analysis of current programs within a county to avoid duplication of efforts;
(2)	Direct local programs to undertake an annual evaluation of the outcome and impact of the program;
(3)	Assure that the county matches State funds;
(4)	Allow nonprofit organizations within a county to be eligible to apply for an Adolescent Parenting Program;
(5)	Expand State-level oversight by establishing an interdepartmental advisory group; and
(6)	Provide opportunities for male involvement in adolescent pregnancy prevention and promote teen parenting responsibilities for young, single fathers ages 15-23.  These opportunities shall include the following:  vocational training, job placement, assistance in completing a high school education or its equivalent, individual counseling, and parenting skills classes.
Sec. 3. (a) Of the funds appropriated to the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources for the 1993-94 fiscal year and the 1994-95 fiscal year, the sum of eighty thousand dollars ($80,000) each fiscal year shall be used to fund the overall evaluation of the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program as mandated by the General Assembly.  The Department shall develop appropriate outcome and impact measures and may require the return of funds from any programs that do not meet their performance standards.
(b)	Of the funds appropriated to the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources for the 1993-94 fiscal year and the 1994-95 fiscal year for continuation of the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program, at least seventy-five percent (75%) each fiscal year shall be used to fund primary pregnancy prevention projects.  As of July 1, 1993, any project selected for funding shall include a line item in the proposed budget for the evaluation of the individual project.
(c)	The Department shall issue a special request during the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program preapplication process in 1993 for proposals that contain relevant and realistic strategies for male involvement in the prevention of adolescent pregnancies.
Sec. 4.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources the sum of seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($750,000) for the 1993-94 fiscal year and the sum of one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) for the 1994-95 fiscal year, to expand the Comprehensive Adolescent Health Projects.  Ten additional grants shall be available to be awarded each year of the biennium for the purpose of providing preventive, primary care, and mental health services, including preventive services to delay early sexual involvement, treatment of minor problems and injuries, referrals and follow-up of serious illnesses and injuries, and referrals for alcohol and other drug abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, and immunizations.  The Comprehensive Adolescent Health Projects shall be developed in cooperation with public schools, health departments, area mental health programs, rural health centers, private physicians, and other appropriate community programs.
Sec. 5.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1993.