Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Executive Director of the Office of CelebrateOne, on behalf of the Office of the Mayor, to modify an existing contract with Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, to continue a community based peer-to-peer education program for teens in Franklin County. Funding was awarded by the Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services with Ordinance 1564-2020, and modified with Ordinances 2079-2021 and 0502-2022. To continue the program through the 2022-2023 school year, CelebrateOne will modify the existing contract with Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio for an additional contract amount of $130,000.00.
In addition to having one of the highest infant mortality rates in the nation, Ohio ranks 23rd out of all 50 states for teenage pregnancies. Teen pregnancy is a significant contributor to pre-maturity, a leading cause of infant mortality, because pregnant teens have a higher risk for having a baby born too small or too soon.
A recent examination of the National Survey of Family Growth revealed that teens who received comprehensive sex education were 50% less likely to report a pregnancy than those who received abstinence-only education. Currently, without any state health education standards, many teens in Ohio and Franklin County do not have access to comprehensive, medically-accurate sex education.
The Office of CelebrateOne, in partnership with Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, reinforces peer education by engaging youth in Columbus City Schools from the CelebrateOne neighborhoods. Peer education supports the development of healthy lifestyles and responsible choices by adolescents. Peer educators will receive training and incentives to increase their knowledge of essential, evidence-based sexual health information, establish important leadership skills, and gain the confidence to engage their peers and larger community in vital conversations.?
The original contract was established by Ordinance 1564-202...
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