BUFFALO, N.Y. (JULY 14, 2020) – HOPE Buffalo, a project of CAI, has been awarded a three-year grant totaling $4,365,000 from The Office of Population Affairs (OPA) through its “Optimally Changing the Map for Teen Pregnancy Prevention (Tier 1)” funding opportunity to support teen pregnancy prevention in the City of Buffalo.
In existence since 2015, HOPE Buffalo will use a systems-thinking approach, improving the health of adolescents by reducing teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections in communities with the highest need. Focusing on three selected zip codes (14206, 14211, 14215) in Buffalo, these efforts will include replicating effective teen pregnancy prevention programs learned from past experiences and providing supportive services to youth, caregivers, faith organizations, healthcare providers and educators.
About
The Grant Was Awarded by The Office of Population Affairs to Enhance Health and Development Resources for Teens
We are excited for the opportunity to continue the important work that we started in 2015,” said Stan Martin, Project Director at CAI. “CAI is committed to providing a platform for the community’s voice and establishing an inclusive, safe and supportive environment. In the next three years, we will continue to provide the youth with resources and services, while also seeking to make a policy change that addresses the social determinants of health that drive inequities in the life outcomes of Buffalo youth.
Stan Martin Project Director, CAI
Within the past five years, HOPE Buffalo has promoted positive youth development and adolescent health by engaging audiences and reducing teen pregnancy in nine selected zip codes in Buffalo. Past accomplishments include:
- As of December 2019, HOPE Buffalo Implementing Partners reached over 6,162 youth and caregivers with evidence-based interventions proven to promote teen health.
- After developing a referral guide, over 3,454 health and social services referrals were made for teens across the Buffalo community.
- Through effective community partnerships, HOPE Buffalo was successful in getting sexual health education guidelines within the Buffalo Public School policy to promote adolescent health and wellbeing.
- The Youth Leadership Team awarded over $70,000 to Innovative Partnerships in Buffalo over the past five years.
- HOPE Buffalo has partnered with over 90 diverse community organizations in Buffalo.
- In 2020, HOPE Buffalo conducted a community-wide assessment, retrieving 700 completed surveys.
As a result, 88% of parents and caregivers in the designated zip codes believed that the community has a responsibility to teach teens about sexual health, protection from unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.
HOPE Buffalo
HOPE Buffalo hosting a community action team meeting. Image taken prior to COVID-19.
HOPE Buffalo is a youth and community-led collaborative that has successfully been able to mobilize and engage youth, parents, adults, schools, community/youth-serving organizations, health care providers, and the faith community in a comprehensive teen pregnancy prevention strategy. Cicatelli Associates Inc. (CAI), in partnership with the Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH), has received a $10 million grant over five years from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Adolescent Health (OAH) to reduce teen pregnancy by 30% in nine zip code areas by the year 2020. The grant is one of 50 community-based teen pregnancy prevention initiatives funded by OAH. To learn more about this amazing collaborative, please visit www.hopebuffalo.org.