Updated Findings from the HHS Teen Pregnancy Prevention Evidence Review: January 2011 Through April 2013

Since 2009, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has sponsored an ongoing systematic review of the teen pregnancy prevention research literature to help identify programs with evidence of effectiveness in reducing teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and associated sexual risk behaviors. Mathematica Policy Research and Child Trends conduct the Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) Evidence Review, with support from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), Office of Adolescent Health (OAH), and the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF).As of spring 2012, the review team had identified 31 programs meeting the review criteria for evidence of effectiveness. These criteria require programs to show evidence of a favorable, statistically significant program impact on at least one sexual behavior or reproductive health outcome of interest (sexual activity, contraceptive use, STIs, pregnancy, or birth). In addition, the supporting research studies must meet established criteria for the quality and execution of their research designs. To identify the 31 programs meeting these criteria, the review team identified and assessed about 200 studies released from 1989 through January 2011.The review team has updated the findings for this review to cover more recent research published or released from January 2011 to April 2013

Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Associated Sexual Risk Behaviors: A Systematic Review

PurposeThis systematic review provides a comprehensive, updated assessment of programs with evidence of effectiveness in reducing teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), or associated sexual risk behaviors.MethodsThe review was conducted in four steps. First, multiple literature search strategies were used to identify relevant studies released from 1989 through January 2011. Second, identified studies were screened against prespecified eligibility criteria. Third, studies were assessed by teams of two trained reviewers for the quality and execution of their research designs. Fourth, for studies that passed the quality assessment, the review team extracted and analyzed information on the research design, study sample, evaluation setting, and program impacts.ResultsA total of 88 studies met the review criteria for study quality and were included in the data extraction and analysis. The studies examined a range of programs delivered in diverse settings. Most studies had mixed-gender and predominately African-American research samples (70% and 51%, respectively). Randomized controlled trials accounted for the large majority (87%) of included studies. Most studies (76%) included multiple follow-ups, with sample sizes ranging from 62 to 5,244. Analysis of the study impact findings identified 31 programs with evidence of effectiveness.ConclusionsResearch conducted since the late 1980s has identified more than two dozen teen pregnancy and STI prevention programs with evidence of effectiveness. Key strengths of this research are the large number of randomized controlled trials, the common use of multiple follow-up periods, and attention to a broad range of programs delivered in diverse settings. Two main gaps are a lack of replication studies and the need for more research on Latino youth and other high-risk populations. In addressing these gaps, researchers must overcome common limitations in study design, analysis, and reporting that have negatively affected prior research

Teachers' Work: Institutional Isomorphism and Cultural Variation in the U.S., Germany, and Japan

With the growing attention to curricular standardization, especially in math and science, and equitable conditions that promote learning for all students, most research has continued to focus on instructional practice alone. Accountability issues (teacher quality defined as certification) and equity (access to qualified teachers) have been at the fore in many cases. But, scant attention has been paid to teacher working conditions, norms, and roles even though they vary widely, even among highly developed nations. Professor LeTendre will explore transnational trends in teacher working norms and discuss potential factors that contribute to, or inhibit, increasing isomorphism in teachers' work. On the one hand, an increasing network of organizations and international testing regimes have worked to strengthen a trans-national consensus on teachers' work. On the other hand, counter-trends include local adaptation, lack of national norms and expectations, and a continuous stream of reforms sparked by constant comparison and competition, especially among developed nations. LeTendre will also discuss how universities that engage in teacher education need to be aware of these trends and maintain a critical perspective on how their research and training goals affect teachers' work

Updated findings from the HHS Teen Pregnancy Prevention Evidence Review: July 2014 through August 2015

Since 2009, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has sponsored an ongoing systematic review of teen pregnancy prevention research to identify programs with evidence of effectiveness in reducing teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and associated sexual risk behaviors. The HHS Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) Evidence Review was created in response to the 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which indicates that teen pregnancy prevention programs must be "proven effective through rigorous evaluation to reduce teenage pregnancy, behavioral risk factors underlying teenage pregnancy, or other associated risk factors." Mathematica Policy Research conducts the TPP Evidence Review, which is sponsored by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), the Office of Adolescent Health (OAH) within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, and the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF).As of February 2015, Mathematica had identified 37 programs meeting the review criteria for evidence of effectiveness. These criteria require programs to show evidence of at least one favorable, statistically significant impact on at least one sexual risk behavior or reproductive health outcome of interest (sexual activity, number of sexual partners, contraceptive use, STIs, or pregnancy). In addition, the supporting research studies must meet established criteria for the quality and execution of their research designs. The review team follows pre-specified criteria to assess study design, sample attrition, baseline equivalence, reassignment of sample members, and confounding factors. We detail the review procedures later in this brief.Mathematica has recently updated the review findings to cover research released from July 2014 to August 2015. As part of this update, the review team identified and assessed evidence for 16 new programs that prior rounds of the review did not include. Seven of these 16 programs met the review criteria for evidence of effectiveness, bringing the total number of programs meeting this criteria to 44 (37 programs from earlier rounds of the review plus the 7 newly identified programs). The review team also identified and assessed newly available evidence for 7 programs highlighted in previous rounds of the review. We discuss this evidence later in this brief