PALSS (PALSS) received funding from the S.C. Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy (year 3) to facilitate Making Proud Choices! intervention with middle school aged youth in the community. The S.C. Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy mission is to improve the health and economic well-being of individuals, communities and the state of South Carolina by preventing teen pregnancy. In order to achieve its mission, the organization works with public and private schools and community based organizations utilizing many programs to assist our youth. S.C. Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy held an orientation event on September 30, 2014 for the new PREP grant sub-awardees. The meeting allowed them to provide an update on South Carolina’s teen pregnancy rates which have decreased 54 percent between 1992-2013. The Making Proud Choices! curriculum is based on educating middle school aged youth in the community to make proud, responsible choices.
The 2013-2014 PREP grant year deliverables of 150 program participants were met and exceeded; the year was closed meeting 112.7%. We had 169 youth successfully complete the Making Proud Choices! curriculum. PALSS has been awarded the PREP grant again for the 2014-2015 grant year and we look forward to working with the community to have another successful year. We appreciate Richland County Parks and Recreation for continuing to partner with us to provide the Making Proud Choices! intervention to youth in our community. Recently Mekeeba McMillian and I completed the Making Proud Choices! facilitators training and look forward to another successful year.