DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS TO PROVIDE COUNSELING AND SERVICES TO HIGH-RISK TEENAGERS.

SEC. 506. DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS TO PROVIDE COUNSELING AND SERVICES TO HIGH-RISK TEENAGERS. (a) Findings and Purpose.— (1) The Congress finds that— (A) the incidences of teenage pregnancy, suicide, substance abuse, and school dropout are increasing; (B) research to date has established a link between low self-esteem, perceived limited life options and the risk of teenage pregnancy, suicide, substance abuse, and school dropout; (C) little data currently exists on how to improve the self-image of and expand the life options available to high-risk teenagers; and (D) there currently is no Federal program in place to address the unique and significant problems faced by today’s teenagers. (2) It is the purpose of the demonstration projects conducted under this section to provide programs in which a range of non-academic services (sports, recreation, the arts) and self-image counseling are provided to high-risk teenagers in order to reduce the rates of pregnancy, suicide, substance abuse, and school dropout among such teenagers. (b) In General.— The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the “Secretary”) shall enter into an agreement with each of 4 States submitting applications under this section for the purpose of conducting demonstration projects in accordance with this section to provide counseling and services to certain high-risk teenagers. (c) Nature of Project.— Under each demonstration project conducted under this section— (1) The State shall establish a “Teen Care Plan” that shall consist of the following: (A) A clearing house where high-risk teenagers will be referred to and encouraged to participate in non-academic activities (arts, recreation, sports) which are already in place in the community. (B) A survey of the area to be targeted by the project to determine the need to fund and create new non-academic activities in the area. (C) Counseling services utilizing qualified, locally licensed psychologists, social psychologists, or other mental health102 STAT. 2406 professionals or related experts to provide individual and group counseling to participating high-risk teenagers. (D) A program to provide participants in the project (to the extent practicable) with such transportation, child care, and equipment as is necessary to carry out the purposes of the project. (2) The State shall designate two geographical areas within the State to be targeted by the project. One area will serve as the “home base” for the project, where services will be concentrated and in which a local school system will be selected to receive services and provide facilities for resource referral and counseling. The second geographical area will serve as a “peripheral” participant, receiving assistance and services from the home base. (3) A high-risk teenager is any male or female who has reached the age of 10 years and whose age does not exceed 20 years, and who— (A) has a history of academic problems; (B) has a history of behavioral problems both in and out of school; (C) comes from a one-parent household; or (D) is pregnant or is a mother of a child. (d) Applications; Selection Criteria.— (1) In selecting States to conduct demonstration projects under this section, the Secretary— (A) shall consult with the Consortium on Adolescent Pregnancy; (B) shall consider— (i) the rate of teenage pregnancy in each State, (ii) the teenage school dropout rate in each State, (iii) the incidence of teenage substance abuse in each State, and (iv) the incidence of teenage suicide in each State; and (C) shall give priority to States whose applications— (i) demonstrate a current strong State commitment aimed at reducing teenage pregnancy, suicide, drug abuse, and school dropout; (ii) contain a “State support agreement” signed by the Governor, the State School Commissioner, the State Department of Human Services, and the State Department of Education, pledging their commitment to the project; (iii) describe facilities and services to be made available by the State to assist in carrying out the project; and (iv) indicate a demonstrably high rate of alcoholism among its residents. (2) Of the States selected to participate in the demonstration projects conducted under this section— (A) one shall be a geographically small State with a population of less than 1,250,000; (B) one shall be a State with a population of over 20,000,000; and (C) two shall be States with populations of more than 1,000,000 but less than 20,000,000. (e) Evaluation and Report.— (1) Each State conducting a demonstration project under this section shall submit to the Secretary for his approval an evaluation plan that provides for examining the effectiveness of the project in both the home base and peripheral area of the State. 102 STAT. 2407 (2) Not later than October 1, 1992, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report containing a summary of the evaluations conducted by States pursuant to the plans described in paragraph (1). (f) Funding.— (1) Three-fifths of the total amount appropriated pursuant to this section for any fiscal year for each State conducting a demonstration project shall be expended by such State for the provision of services and facilities within the State’s designated project home base, and 5 percent of such three-fifths shall be set aside for the conduct of the State’s evaluation as provided for in subsection (e). (2) Two-fifths of the total amounts appropriated pursuant to this section for any fiscal year for each State conducting a demonstration project shall be expended by such State for the provision of services and facilities within the State’s designated peripheral area, and 5 percent of such two-fifths shall be set aside for the conduct of the tate’s evaluation as provided for in subsection (e). (g) Duration.— A demonstration project conducted under this section shall be commenced not later than September 30, 1989, and shall be conducted for a 3-year period; except that the Secretary may terminate a project before the end of such period if he determines that the State conducting the project is not in substantial compliance with the terms of the agreement entered into with the Secretary under this section. (h) Authorization of Appropriations.— For the purpose of funding in equal amounts each State demonstration project conducted under tins section, there is authorized to be appropriated not to exceed $1,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 1990, 1991, and 1992.