The purpose of this FOA is to demonstrate the effectiveness of innovative, multi-component, community-wide initiatives in preventing teen pregnancy and reducing rates of teen births in communities with the highest rates, with a focus on reaching African American and Latino youth aged 15-1 9. All adolescents
shall be eligible to participate in program services without regard to race, ethnicity or sexual identity.
Nationally, African American and Latino youth are a significant portion of the youth population (16 and 17 percent (2007, NCHS), respectively) and represented the majority of teen births in 2006, NCHS (African Americans:
24 percent and Latinas:
33 percent).