Department of Health and Human Services
	Research, Demonstration, and Evaluation Activities FY 2003 Plan and Budget February 2002

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RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATIONS

(by HHS Strategic Plan Objective)

REDUCE UNSAFE SEXUAL BEHAVIORS (OBJECTIVE 1.6)

FY 2003 Priorities

CHRONIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISEASE (CDC)

Demonstrations: Community Coalition Partnership for Prevention of Teen Pregnancy priorities will include:

• continued development of innovative approaches for disseminating best practices to other communities.
• disseminating lessons learned concerning science-based approaches linking youth development to teen pregnancy prevention to communities and community-based organizations.

Evaluations: School Health Programs: CDC will conduct the program evaluations to determine the effectiveness of:

• “Be Proud!,” “Be Responsible,” and/or “Making a Difference” (abstinence-based curriculum for middle school students).
• “Making Proud Choices” (safer sex curriculum).

INFECTIOUS DISEASE - SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES (CDC)

Research: CDC will support research to reduce unsafe sexual behaviors. FY 2003 priorities include:

• syphilis elimination research.
• research on Adolescents that takes a developmental approach to delivering multi-level interventions that change over time to be age appropriate. The goal of the first 3-year phase of this research program will support the development of pilot tests and evaluation of interventions to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, and pregnancy among adolescents.
• Genital Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Research for formative research of women with an HPV-related diagnosis research for message development.

HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH (NIH)

Research: In FY 2003, NIH funds will be used to support a variety of projects, ranging from improving the knowledge base of drug abuse and sexual transmission of HIV and other infectious diseases, to developing suitable interventions targeted to the lifestyle, environment, and culture of specific populations. FY 2003 priorities include:

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) will focus on: 1) finding effective behavioral interventions to decrease sexual transmission of HIV among drug users, particularly among intravenous drug users and crack-using women; 2) conducting cost studies of interventions; and 3) expanding research that examines the effectiveness of substance abuse treatment programs in reducing HIV and other infections.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) will continue to support research to: 1) identify, develop, and assess behavioral strategies suitable for diverse populations, including inner city youth, homeless persons, and others with severe mental disorders, women who are subject to physical/sexual abuse by their partners, and men who engage in high risk sexual behaviors; 2) refine and develop new strategies sensitive to cultural and environmental influences that are effective in achieving lasting behavioral change within populations; and 3) identify psychological, behavioral, and environmental barriers to the acceptance (within specific populations) of risk reduction interventions, such as HIV screening.

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) will develop, test, and determine the cost-effectiveness of a behavior change program, Practicing Safer Sex Today in Women, in an effort to: improve STD treatment, improve safe sexual practices to prevent further STD infection, including HIV, lessen the emotional burden of STD illnesses on patients, and lower utilization and cost of health care services.

ADOLESCENT FAMILY LIFE DEMONSTRATIONS (OPHS)

Demonstrations: The Adolescent Family Life demonstration program will support three types of projects focused on adolescent pregnancy. Care projects provide comprehensive health, education, and social services for pregnant and parenting adolescents (including a male component), their children and families in order to bring about improved pregnancy outcomes, competent parenting, and self-sufficiency skills. Prevention and abstinence education projects (authorized by Title XX of the PHS Act and Title V, P.L. 104-193) are aimed at promoting abstinence as the most effective method of avoiding adolescent pregnancies among pre- adolescents and adolescents, and reducing pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, and HIV/AIDS through medically accurate prevention curricula and educational materials. The demonstration will study the effects of these projects.

ADOLESCENT FAMILY LIFE RESEARCH (OPHS)

Research: The Adolescent Family Life (AFL) Research program will support research to improve understanding of the issues surrounding adolescent sexuality, pregnancy, and parenting. AFL research examines the societal causes and consequences of adolescent premarital sexual relations and adolescent pregnancy, as well as identify effective services and approaches to alleviate and resolve the negative consequences of adolescent premarital sexual relations and adolescent childbearing for the parents, the child, and their families. Research projects examine issues such as the factors that influence adolescent sexual behavior, the consequences of adolescent pregnancy, parenting by adolescents, and why adoption is a little used alternative among pregnant adolescents.

FAMILY PLANNING RESEARCH (OPHS)

Research: The Family Planning Service Delivery and Improvement Program supports efforts to improve the effectiveness of the family planning program authorized under Title X of the Public Health Service Act. The program will strengthen its research efforts and data collection in behavioral and program implementation fields related to family planning (i.e., male involvement). It focuses on improving the delivery of family planning services in the United States through research on a wide range of applicable topics, including: client behavior, adolescents, males, targeting of family planning services, clinic personnel behavior, organization and management of family planning services, the role of private physicians, natural family planning, infertility services, and counseling services.