Two CSHP faculty members, Drs. Catherine Sherwood-Laughlin and Alison Greene, recently collaborated on Project UNITE (Uncovering New Initiatives for Teen Empowerment), with the IU School of Public Health, IU Center for Rural Engagement, and several community organizations. Project UNITE was aimed at understanding "the culture and context surrounding teen pregnancy and parenthood in rural communities". The project was specifically focused on teen pregnancy in Lawrence County and Orange County, two counties in southern Indiana with higher birth rates than the state average.
The project website states, "Project UNITE is developing and pilot testing a multi-level teen pregnancy intervention targeting youth, parents and caregivers, and the community in order to help lower these rates and support parenting teens". Utilizing a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, Project UNITE resesarchers conducted interviews with teens, parents, teen parents, school administration and staff, law enforcement, healthcare providers, social service providers and religious and community leaders to learn about experiences, knowledge, and attitudes about teen pregnancy and parenthood.
You can learn more about Project UNITE, including the project findings, at their website.