ACF Messenger
October 4, 2004

HHS AWARDS $100M FOR REDUCTION IN OUT-OF-WEDLOCK BIRTHS
New York, New Hampshire, Maryland and District of Columbia receive awards

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced the awarding of $25 million bonuses to New York, New Hampshire, Maryland and the District of Columbia for achieving the nation’s largest decreases in out-of-wedlock births without a corresponding increase in the abortion rate.

“Reducing out-of-wedlock births is an achievement that deserves reward, and I congratulate these states and the District of Columbia for setting a good example for other states to follow,” Secretary Thompson said. “The Bush Administration encourages all states to continue to develop programs, especially those that stress abstinence, that will have a positive effect on encouraging marriage and the formation of stable families.”

The award is part of the sixth round of bonuses to states for reductions in out-of-wedlock births, as provided in the welfare reform law of 1996. Under the law, the annual bonuses are awarded to as many as five states and three territories that have the largest reduction in the ratio of out-of-wedlock births to total births without a corresponding increase in the abortion rate. 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.

“Children, families and communities benefit when kids are born to a mother and father in a healthy marriage,” said Dr. Wade F. Horn, HHS assistant secretary for children and families. “I would encourage these states and Washington, D.C. to use their bonuses to invest in programs and policies that continue this positive trend.”

Inorder to receive the bonuses, states are required to show a decrease in their abortion rate, which is measured as the number of abortions divided by the number of births. New York’s abortion rate declined from 49.5 percent in 1995 to 48.9 percent in 2002; New Hampshire’s declined from 23.1 to 22.9 percent; Maryland’s declined from 20.4 to 15.8 percent; and the abortion rate in the District of Columbia declined from 71.2 to 32.1 percent.