The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy was founded in 1996. Our initial goal was to reduce the teen pregnancy rate in the United States by one-third over a ten-year period (1996-2005)—a goal we are pleased to report has likely been met. We have now set our sights on the next ten years (2006-2015) and a further one-third reduction in the rates of teen pregnancy.
Although the nation has made extraordinary progress in preventing early pregnancy and childbearing—the adolescent pregnancy rate declined 36 percent between 1990 and 2002 and the teen birth rate is down by one-third—there has been no similar progress in reducing unplanned pregnancies among young adults.
In response to this unfolding trend, the National Campaign has expanded its focus and program. We continue our work on preventing teen pregnancy, and now also focus on reducing the high level of unplanned pregnancy in the United States, especially among single, young adults where the vast majority of such pregnancies occur. In doing so, we hope to increase the chances that children are welcomed into families who are prepared to provide them with the love, care, and nurturing that all children deserve.
We look forward to many successes working with individuals and groups nationwide in helping reduce teen and unwanted pregnancy. Here are a few of our accomplishments to date:
- Between 1999 and 2007, we distributed more than 7.6 million materials and over the same interval, appeared in over 6,000 newspapers.
- We now work with every major television broadcast network and with many of the top cable networks.
- Between 2000 and 2007, we had nearly 14 million visits to our award-winning websites.
- Between 2002 and 2007, approximately 3 million teens have participated in our innovative, online “National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.”
Working with the entertainment media.
Through our Media Advisory Group, the National Campaign has developed partnerships with over 100 major media leaders and now works with every major television broadcast network and with many of the top cable networks most popular with teens and their parents. The National Campaign helps media leaders—including The CW Network, NBC, CBS, and Fox Broadcasting—weave prevention messages into the content of their work.
- National Campaign messages have appeared in television programs and magazines seen by over 300 million people. Our public service announcements have reached millions more and have won several prestigious national awards.
Getting the word out.
Through our materials and popular website, the National Campaign communicates with teens, parents, the press, program leaders, elected officials, funders, and many others about new research and data, effective ways to reduce teen and unplanned pregnancy, key messages that can shape attitudes and behavior, and more. Between 1999 and 2007, the National Campaign distributed over 7.6 million publications and related resources through sales, complimentary copies, and website downloads.
- During the same time period, the National Campaign was cited in over 6,000 newspaper clips, including the New York Times, Washington Post, and USA Today. Campaign representatives have also appeared on such broadcast outlets as NBC, Fox News, ABC, National Public Radio, and the nationally-syndicated Dr. Phil Show.
- Between 2000 and 2007, we had nearly 14 million visits to our websites which have won several national awards for cyberspace excellence.
Getting the facts straight.
In keeping with the National Campaign’s goal to ensure that all prevention efforts are based on the best information available, nearly 30 influential and accessible research publications have been published on a range of topics—from the influence of parents on their teenagers’ sexual behavior, to what we know about effective programs to reduce teen pregnancy, to the best ways to help teen mothers avoid additional childbearing. We have also published dozens of research fact sheets and presentation materials.
- For example, over 150,000 copies of Emerging Answers and Emerging Answers 2007—the definitive guides about what research says works to prevent teen pregnancy—have been sold, distributed, or downloaded.
Supporting state and local action.
Under the leadership of our State and Local Action Advisory Group, the National Campaign works directly with communities nationwide.
- We have provided direct technical assistance in nearly every state and held conferences and teleconferences on such topics as engaging Hispanic parents, the public costs of teen pregnancy, tapping welfare funds to finance teen pregnancy programs, and more.
- We have launched a new initiative focused specifically on helping the Latino community in its efforts to reduce continued high rates of teen and unplanned pregnancy.
Involving youth.
The National Campaign remains committed to involving and listening to youth through our online youth network, our own Youth Leadership Team (YLT), our soon-to-be-formed Young Adult Advisory Group, the annual National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, and through regular focus groups with teens, young adults, and parents.
- For example, over the past six years, over 140 outstanding young people have joined the National Campaign as members of our YLT and have met with policymakers, the press, and with leaders of the entertainment media. They have also helped develop Campaign materials and serve as powerful advocates in their own communities.
Advising public policy leaders.
The Campaign works with bi-partisan Senate and House advisory panels on a range of national public policy issues related to teen pregnancy.
- Campaign leaders have testified numerous times before key Congressional committees. We have hosted numerous briefings for Congressional staff on a range of topics, and have provided technical assistance to Congressional and Administration staff on request.
Making an impact.
From the beginning, the National Campaign has placed a high value on critical self-assessment and evaluation. An independent evaluation of the Campaign’s efforts conducted by McKinsey and Company and released in 2003 indicated that:
- The overwhelming majority of state and local leaders and those who buy our materials say the National Campaign has made them more effective in their work. Entertainment media executives, journalists, and public policy leaders report they have been persuaded that they can have an impact on teen pregnancy and have taken action to help in many ways. The Campaign is widely admired and seen as an objective source of information on a topic that is often both politically and ideologically controversial.
- The McKinsey assessment of the National Campaign also concluded that we are now the nation’s number one resource on preventing teen pregnancy.