Nationally Recognized Proven-Effective Program

Peer Reviewed Studies Re-affirming the Success of Heritage Keepers^® Programs

Institutional Review Board Approval

Process for Implementation and Evaluation of the Heritage Program in Schools

FAQ About Program Effectiveness

FAQ About Program Implementation

Nationally Recognized Proven-Effective Program

The US Department of Health and Human Services recognizes the Heritage Keepers^® Abstinence Education program as an effective, evidenced-based intervention that reduces sexual initiation among teens as well as other positive research findings that impact the health and well-being of youth. Heritage Keepers® is the first abstinence until marriage program to be included on the federal list of approved pregnancy prevention programs (as of April 2012).

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services contracted with Mathematica Policy Research and its partner, Child Trends, to conduct an independent systematic review of the evidence base on programs to reduce teen pregnancy, STIs, and associated sexual risk behaviors. The review identified, assessed, and rated the rigor of program impact studies and described the strength of evidence supporting different program models. Findings were used to identify program models meeting the criteria for the HHS List of Evidence-Based Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs.

Findings from the first review of the evidence, completed in spring 2010, were released in conjunction with the Office of Adolescent Health (OAH) Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) program grant announcements. The findings were also highlighted in the 2010 State Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) grant announcement. In December 2010, Mathematica and Child Trends released a public call for studies to update the review with new research findings. Results from this update were released in April 2012, with Heritage Keepers^® Abstinence Education being recognized as one of only 31 proven effective programs. Over 1,000 studies of teen pregnancy programs were reviewed.

To further understand the standards met by the Heritage Keepers^® Abstinence Education study, please visit the Review Protocol used by Mathematica Policy Research and Child Trends.

Also, see how the US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Adolescent Health answers Frequently Asked Questions (including general questions about the review, updates to the initial review, review findings, and plans for updating future reviews).