New Hampshire Delegation Urges HHS to Support Sexual Education Providers

The New Hampshire delegation sent a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra, expressing concern about the future of State Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) funding in the state. For nearly a decade, New Hampshire has received federal PREP funding for two education programs operating in counties with higher-than-average teen pregnancy rates. The results have been outstanding, with a significant decrease in teen birth rates and sexually transmitted diseases. However, the New Hampshire Executive Council, which approves the receipt and expenditure of all federal funds in New Hampshire, has repeatedly denied PREP funding for the programs, forcing them to cancel classes and depriving hundreds of New Hampshire youth of access to critical sex education and pregnancy prevention programs.

Key Takeaways:

• The New Hampshire delegation, consisting of Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Senator Margaret Wood Hassan, Representative Ann McLane Kuster, and Representative Chris Pappas, sent a letter to Secretary Xavier Becerra, urging the Department of Health and Human Services to support sexual education providers in the state.
• For nearly a decade, New Hampshire has received federal PREP funding for TLC Family Resource Center and Amoskeag Health, which have dramatically reduced teen pregnancy rates and provided comprehensive sex education to at-risk adolescents.
• The New Hampshire Executive Council has repeatedly denied PREP funding, depriving the state of $682,074 over the next three years and forcing the cancellation of classes for over 1,000 adolescents.
• Absent direct funding from HHS, Amoskeag Health and TLC Family Resource Center will be forced to end classes until an accessible federal funding source becomes available or in perpetuity.
• The delegation is working with the State and PREP providers to find means to directly fund these vital programs as soon as possible.
• Amoskeag Health reported a nearly 50 percent decrease in teen pregnancy rates in Manchester during the time they offered the PREP program.
• TLC Family Resource Center reported a significant decrease in teen birth rates in Sullivan County, from 20.27 per 1,000 teens to 11.86 in 2021.

Statistics:

• Over 1,000 adolescents will be affected by the cancellation of classes due to the lack of funding.
• The state will lose $682,074 over the next three years if PREP funding is not restored.
• Teen birth rates in Sullivan County dropped from 20.27 per 1,000 teens to 11.86 in 2021.
• Amoskeag Health reported a nearly 50 percent decrease in teen pregnancy rates in Manchester during the time they offered the PREP program.

Sources:

• Press Release from the Office of Representative Chris Pappas
• Letter to Secretary Xavier Becerra from Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Senator Margaret Wood Hassan, Representative Ann McLane Kuster, and Representative Chris Pappas
• Original text here: https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/nh-delegation-urges-hhs-to-direct-federal-funding-to-support-sexual-education-providers