At Launch, we recognize that innovation is only possible when it is informed by the real world. To address the pressing issue of teen pregnancy prevention and support the creation of effective solutions, we must develop ongoing feedback loops to understand the challenges experienced by those who work in the community. 

This is why Launch recently hosted a listening session with 20 practitioners who are dedicated to teen pregnancy prevention. Many of the attendees were Teen Pregnancy Prevention grantees. 

We advertised the listening session through our Launch social media channels and via listserv invitations in hopes of hearing from a wide range of perspectives. During the listening session, we asked participants to share their insights, challenges, and suggestions regarding current teen pregnancy prevention strategies.  

This feedback identified several critical gaps that hinder the effectiveness of existing programs and initiatives. Areas for future improvement include: 

• Tailoring resources for specific audiences.  
  Discussion in the listening session focused on the importance of creating materials that are specifically designed for young adult populations, taking into consideration their unique perspectives and needs.
  Participants in the learning session also underscored that some specific groups do not have the same access to sexual health education as the general population. They expressed a need for resources for use in special education settings, as well as a need for bilingual resources.  
• Meeting parents and caregivers where they are.  
  The research is clear that parents and caregivers play an important role in helping adolescents navigate issues related to teen pregnancy prevention including healthy relationships, routing healthcare visits, and puberty. At the same time, parents and caregivers consistently say that they need more help supporting the young people in their lives. 
• Addressing current challenges with messaging and access.  
  Many practitioners expressed concerns about the branding of sexual health education. Because programming can often be misunderstood or stigmatized, it can be challenging for practitioners to communicate its importance to teens and their families. 
  In addition, practitioners called for more flexible formats of sexual health programming. For example, single session programs would be able to be seamlessly integrated into many different settings, which would enable wider dissemination and reduce barriers to accessibility. 
• Creating innovations that contribute to fact checking and spreading factual information. 
  Attendees voiced a need for innovations in fact checking, as misinformation—especially on social media—can negatively impact how young people understand their health. 

Launch is committed to taking this feedback in as we move forward in refining our approach to innovation in teen pregnancy prevention. As we look to recruit innovators for Cohort 3, we will support innovators in accelerating solutions that address some of these (and other) critical gaps and resonate with the communities they’re serving.