FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, October 4, 2002
Contact: ACF Press Office (202) 401-9215

HHS AWARDS $100 MILLION IN BONUSES TO STATES FOR
REDUCTIONS IN OUT-OF-WEDLOCK BIRTHS

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced the awarding of $100 million in bonuses to four states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands for achieving the nation's largest decreases in out-of-wedlock births between 1997 and 2000. This is the fourth award of bonuses for reductions in out-of-wedlock births, as provided for in the welfare reform law of 1996.

Alabama, Colorado, Michigan, Texas and the District of Columbia will each receive a bonus of about $19.9 million, while the Virgin Islands will receive $888,500.

"Reducing out-of-wedlock births can significantly and positively affect the lives of our children and youth," Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said. "We encourage all states to continue to develop programs that will have a positive effect on encouraging marriage and the formation of stable families as a part of the President's healthy marriage initiative."

The out-of-wedlock birth rate fell 3.5 percent in the District of Columbia; 2.6 percent in the Virgin Islands; 1.2 percent in Michigan; 0.7 percent in Colorado; 0.6 percent in Texas; and 0.5 percent in Alabama. This is the fourth year that Michigan, Alabama and the District of Columbia have received this award.

The welfare reform law of 1996 required all states to develop strategies and goals for reducing out-of-wedlock births. Under the law, the annual bonuses are awarded to as many as five states and three territories if eligible, with the largest reduction in the proportion of out-of-wedlock births to total births. HHS' National Center for Health Statistics compiles the birth data based on records submitted by the states and compares the proportion for the most recent two-year period to that for the preceding two-year period.

"President Bush's healthy marriage initiative, which is pending before Congress, will enable our state partners to continue this important work by emphasizing the importance of marriage first," HHS Assistant Secretary for Children and Families Wade Horn said. "In addition, continued funding for abstinence education can also be an important component in promoting healthy marriages."

In order to receive the bonuses, the top states also are required to show a decrease in their abortion rate between the most recent year and 1995. The abortion rate is measured as the number of abortions divided by the number of births.

Table prepared by the National Center for Health Statistics showing the ratios and rankings for the out-of-wedlock birth bonuses awarded by the Administration for Children and Families.

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