Since September 2010, the South Dakota Department of Health, Office of Lifespan Health, has received federal funding for the State Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP). PREP provides youth ages 10-19 with education on abstinence and contraception to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS.
PREP prioritizes youth who are:
- Youth aging out of foster care
- Youth experiencing homelessness
- Youth involved in the juvenile justice system
- Youth living in under-resourced communities
- Youth in areas with higher teen birth and STI rates
In addition to pregnancy and STIs, South Dakota PREP incorporates Adulthood Preparation Subjects to help youth build the knowledge and skills needed for successful adulthood.
Core Subjects:
- Healthy Relationships: Examples include developing communication skills, building positive relationships, and healthy and safe romantic involvement.
- Healthy Life Skills: Examples include goal setting, decision-making, negotiation skills, and self-care.
- Adolescent Development: Examples include physical development and reproductive anatomy, and identity formation.
Optional Subjects:
- Financial Literacy
- Parent-Child Communication
- Education & Career Success
SD PREP Implementation
Through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process, a contract was awarded to Lutheran Social Services (LSS) of South Dakota's REACH (Resources & Education for Adolescents Choosing Healthy Behaviors) Program to deliver evidence-based programming.
Learn more about the Lutheran Social Services REACH Program
For questions about the SD PREP grant, contact:
Sarah Barclay, Healthy Relationships Program Manager, at sarah.barclay@state.sd.us.
Healthy Relationships Cross-Program Evaluation
The SD PREP grant is part of the Healthy Relationships Evaluation.
Learn More About the Healthy Relationships Cross-Program Evaluation