Since September 2010, the South Dakota Department of Health, Office of Child & Family Services has received State Personal Responsibility Education federal funding. State Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) aims to educate young people on abstinence and contraception to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. The program targets youth ages 10-19 who are homeless, in foster care, live in rural areas or in geographic areas with high teen birth rates, or come from racial or ethnic minority groups. The program also supports pregnant and parenting youth.
In addition to education on abstinence and contraceptive use, PREP projects also offer services to prepare young people for adulthood by implementing activities that address three or more of the subject areas below:
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Healthy relationships, including the development of positive self-esteem and relationship dynamics, friendships, dating, romantic involvement, marriage, and family interactions;
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Positive adolescent development, to include promotion of healthy attitudes and values about adolescent growth and development, body image, racial and ethnic diversity, and other related subjects;
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Financial literacy, to support the development of self-sufficiency and independent living skills;
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Parent-child communication skills; Education and employment preparation skills; and Healthy life skills, such as goal-setting, decision-making, negotiation, communication and interpersonal skills, and stress management.
Through a request for proposal (RFP) process, a contract was awarded to Lutheran Social Services to implement an evidence-based program.
For additional information, please contact our Healthy Relationships Coordinator, Sarah Barclay at 605-367-5212 or email Sarah.Barclay@state.sd.us.