Spartanburg Regional receives federal grant to tackle teen pregnancy

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The Spartanburg Regional Foundation has been awarded a three-year, $4.4 million federal grant to address high teen pregnancy rates and ensuing health issues.

“We’re so excited to bring national funding to Spartanburg to support local needs,” Kristy Caradori, executive director of the Spartanburg Regional Foundation, said in a news release. “We are grateful to our program partners because this award would not have been possible without their commitment and expertise.”

The grant will be used to extend ongoing community efforts in Spartanburg to tamp down on teen pregnancy through organizations like the Spartanburg Regional Foundation Joint Funders, the Spartanburg Community Indicators Project, state and national teen pregnancy prevention experts and namely the Mary Black Foundation, which has spearheaded similar initiatives for the past five years.

In 2007, the Spartanburg Community Indicators Project published data on the link between teen pregnancy and poverty, low education attainment and poor newborn health, the release said. Spartanburg Regional’s previously mentioned partners, as well as the Spartanburg County Foundation and United Way of the Piedmont then joined the Fact Forward, formerly known as the South Carolina Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, through a local Connect initiative funded by other federal grants.

“We are thrilled to see these resources continue to support efforts that improve the lives of young people, and we look forward to being part of this ongoing community-wide partnership,” Molly Talbot-Metz, president and CEO of the Mary Black Foundation, said in the release.

The Connect program links community leaders together in addressing the needs of young people through evidence-based, holistic strategies, the release said.

Since 2008, teen pregnancy has dropped by 66% in Spartanburg County but is still higher than the national level, with many teen mothers also beset with sexually transmitted diseases in the area, according to the release.

“Our trustees recognized how important it was to continue this work in our community, and they were eager for the foundation to provide this support,” Caradori said. “The mission of the foundation includes bolstering community health and wellness initiatives. Teen health is critical to Spartanburg County’s present and future, and we are excited about this opportunity to make a difference moving forward.”