Personal Responsibility Education Innovative Strategies (PREIS)

The Personal Responsibility Education Program Innovative Strategies program is administered by the Administration for Children and Families within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, specifically through the Family and Youth Services Bureau in the Division of Positive Youth Development. This federal funding opportunity is designed to support organizations in developing, implementing, and rigorously evaluating innovative strategies aimed at preventing adolescent pregnancy among high risk and vulnerable youth populations. The program emphasizes evidence-based and outcome-focused practices aligned with federal priorities to improve youth health, well-being, and long-term success. The primary purpose of the program is to fund cooperative agreements that test new or adapted interventions that address sexual risk behaviors among youth ages 10 to 19, including populations such as youth in foster care, those experiencing homelessness, victims of trafficking, and pregnant or parenting youth under 21. Funded projects must demonstrate prior implementation experience and promising preliminary evidence, but must not have been previously evaluated using rigorous research designs such as randomized controlled trials or quasi-experimental designs. Each project must include both abstinence and contraception education, integrate at least three adulthood preparation subjects, and incorporate culturally appropriate, medically accurate, and age-appropriate content. Funding under this program supports a five-year project period divided into three phases: planning and pilot testing, full implementation and evaluation, and final analysis and dissemination. Awardees are required to allocate at least twenty percent of their annual funding to an independent third party evaluator to conduct rigorous impact evaluations. The program requires comprehensive data collection at multiple time points and mandates participation in federal evaluation support and technical assistance activities. Allowable uses of funds include program implementation, evaluation activities, staff training, and participant engagement, while restrictions prohibit construction, real property acquisition, healthcare service payments, and certain policy related activities. Eligibility for this funding opportunity is broad, allowing nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, state and local governments, educational institutions, and other organizations to apply, provided they are not individuals, federal entities, or foreign organizations. Faith-based and community organizations are eligible if they meet the criteria. Applicants may submit multiple applications as long as each proposes a distinct project. There is no cost sharing requirement, although voluntary contributions must be documented if included. Applications must identify a primary applicant when submitted by collaborations or consortiums. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes two main files: a narrative document and supporting attachments, along with standard federal forms. Applicants must provide a detailed project narrative addressing need, intervention design, evaluation methodology, organizational capacity, and budget justification. Required components include a logic model, staffing plan, third party agreements, and documentation of organizational eligibility. Applications are evaluated through a merit review process based on criteria such as purpose and need, response strategy, impact, organizational capacity, budget justification, and alignment with federal priorities. Applications are due by August 18, 2026, with an expected project start date of September 30, 2026. Awards are contingent on federal funding availability, and approximately twelve awards are expected. Each award ranges from seven hundred fifty thousand to nine hundred thousand dollars for the first budget period, with continuation funding dependent on performance and appropriations. Applicants must maintain active registrations with SAM.gov and Grants.gov prior to submission. The program is not explicitly stated as recurring, but it aligns with ongoing federal initiatives in adolescent pregnancy prevention, suggesting potential future funding cycles.

Ensure strong evidence of prior implementation and clearly define rigorous evaluation design with measurable outcomes