State Personal Responsibility Education Program Grant

The State Personal Responsibility Education Program Grant is administered by the South Carolina Department of Public Health and is funded through federal support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth and Families. The program is authorized under Section 513 of the Social Security Act and is designed to support initiatives that improve adolescent health outcomes. The funding is contingent upon federal appropriations and state-level allocations, making it part of a broader national effort to reduce teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections among youth populations. The primary purpose of this grant is to fund organizations that deliver evidence-based educational interventions to youth ages 10 through 19 in South Carolina. These interventions must focus on reducing teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections by promoting delayed sexual activity, increasing contraceptive use among sexually active youth, and improving overall reproductive health knowledge. The program emphasizes targeting high-priority and vulnerable populations, including youth in foster care, those experiencing homelessness, individuals living with HIV/AIDS, victims of trafficking, and youth in regions with high teen birth rates. Grantees are expected to work collaboratively with community partners to implement comprehensive strategies that support adolescent health. Funding under this opportunity totals up to $400,000 and may be distributed across multiple awardees based on application quality and availability of funds. The grant operates on a reimbursement basis, requiring recipients to incur costs prior to receiving payment. The performance period is approximately twelve months, beginning October 1, 2025, or upon execution of the subaward agreement, and ending September 30, 2026. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement associated with this funding. However, strict limitations apply to the use of funds, including prohibitions on construction, fundraising, lobbying, and pre-award expenses. Administrative costs are capped at 10 percent of the total budget, and personnel costs may not exceed 75 percent. Eligible applicants include state or local nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status that have demonstrated experience in adolescent health services or teen pregnancy prevention programming. Applicants must also demonstrate financial capacity to operate on a cost reimbursement basis and a history of working with youth under age 21. Additional expectations include the ability to implement evidence-based curricula, participate in community mobilization efforts, establish referral networks, and conduct required training and evaluation activities. Programs must be medically accurate, culturally relevant, trauma-informed, and aligned with federal PREP guidelines. The application process requires submission of a comprehensive proposal package, including a cover letter, organizational documentation, program description, implementation plan, evaluation strategy, and detailed budget with narrative justification. Applications must be submitted either electronically or as a sealed package with one original and four copies. Required components include certifications of curriculum accuracy and evidence base, letters of support, a risk assessment survey, and documentation of organizational qualifications. Applications are evaluated based on eligibility, responsiveness, and a scoring system that considers program design, organizational capacity, implementation strategy, and evaluation plans. Applications are due by November 7, 2025 at 2:30 PM Eastern Time. Questions must be submitted in writing by October 20, 2025. Award decisions are expected to be announced on or before November 20, 2025, with funding contingent on final approvals and execution of subaward agreements. Successful applicants will be required to comply with extensive reporting and monitoring requirements, including monthly invoicing, implementation reports, semi-annual performance reports, and participation in evaluation activities. The program does not explicitly state a recurring cycle but is tied to annual federal funding allocations, suggesting potential future opportunities depending on continued appropriations.

Prioritize evidence-based curricula and clearly align with PREP goals; Focus on high-priority geographic areas (Priority 1-3 counties); Ensure complete and compliant application package including all required certifications; Demonstrate strong evaluation and reporting capacity