Pregnancy prevention funding sought

Tuesday, July 15, 1997 | 11:25 a.m.

So far, it has sidestepped the controversy swirling in some other states seeking money from this new program administered by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Congress approved $250 million for exclusive focus on abstinence to stop out-of-wedlock pregnancy. Planned Parenthood and other groups have urged officials in some Eastern states not to apply for this money.

They fear money will be diverted from other prevention programs to the abstinence project. These other programs encourage such things as family planning and safe sex.

Luana Ritch, information officer for the state Health Division, says a public hearing was held on the state's application for $157,534 and there were no protests. In fact, Planned Parenthood supported the move by the division to go after federal funds.

The state will have to come up with $118,150 to match the federal grant. But that won't jeopardize the Health Division's other teen pregnancy programs.

Nevada's ranking as third in the nation comes from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. Using 1992 figures, it said there are 145 teen pregnancies for every 1,000 girls between 15 and 19 years old.

Ritch says 1994 figures show Nevada is still in the top five but has been reducing the birth rate to teen mothers. The rate is computed on births, fetal deaths and reported abortions.

If the grant is approved, the Health Division will hold sessions in junior and middle schools to promote abstinence for students 9-14 years old. It will send money to community-based groups that stress abstinence as the only way to combat the problem.

Nevada doesn't mix this money with other funds used in fighting teen pregnancy, Ritch says. For instance, there's money for family planning. In one project in rural Nevada, girls who are at high risk of becoming pregnant receive family planning instruction and in some cases contraceptives.

"There is no single one solution to teen pregnancy," Ritch said.

For some children at a younger age, abstinence needs to be taught but older, sexually active children need other avenues.