A program evaluation of the Innovative Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs (iTP(3)) Project

BACKGROUND: Teen pregnancy prevention in the United States has traditionally focused on the development, testing, and subsequent implementation of a set of evidence-based programs (EBPs), recommended nationally. However, these existing EBPs often do not prioritize the most at-risk or vulnerable populations. METHODS: The Innovative Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs (iTP(3)) project was funded to facilitate the development of new, innovative programs to reach disparate populations. Through a mixed methods design, iTP(3) evaluated the process and resulting innovative programs from five iterative cohorts of funded organizations, referred to as Innovators. iTP(3) utilized both a traditional funding model with more traditional methods of capacity building assistance, but transitioned over time to a design-focused funding model in which organizations and individuals developed innovative programs through an intensive human centered design process. RESULTS: Evaluation results showed that the resulting portfolio of programs had differences in the types of programs resulting from the differing funding models. Notable differences among programs from the two funding models include program length, along with personnel, time, and resources needed to develop and manage. CONCLUSION: Both traditional and design funding models led to innovative programs, with notable differences in the development process and resulting programs.