RTI to support development and evaluation of new approaches to promote adolescent sexual health

RTI researchers will lead the Launch Accelerator, part of federal initiative to improve adolescent sexual health

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — RTI International, a nonprofit research institute, has been awarded a five-year, $1.8 million grant to implement the Learning, Advancing, Understanding, Nurturing and Collaborating Hub (Launch) Accelerator, which will accelerate the identification and evaluation of new solutions for promoting adolescent sexual health and advancing equity in adolescent sexual health outcomes.

“We are eager to embark on this important work to support efforts to advance new and innovation solutions to current gaps in approaches to promoting adolescent sexual health and health equity,” said Katy Suellentrop, an expert in adolescent health at RTI who is leading the project. “Launch will contribute to the pipeline of evidence-based interventions that are available for families, communities and schools to use to support young people and the adults in young people’s lives.”

Research conducted as part of Launch will support the Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) program, overseen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Population Affairs. The TPP program provides funding to replicate and scale evidence-based programs and develop approaches to prevent unintentional teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections among adolescents, promote positive youth development and advance equity in adolescent health.

Launch will recruit and support at least 25 Innovation Development Teams over the next five years that will set out to identify promising, evidence-based approaches. The recruitment process will prioritize equity in recruitment, selection, support and learning.

RTI’s partners in the effort include the Power to Decide, Healthy Teen Network, SisterLove, and the Youth Collaboratory.

The project is supported by the Office of Population Affairs of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award to RTI through grant number TP2AH000087. The contents of this press release do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, OPA/OASH/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Learn more about Launch

Learn more about the TPP program and recent awards (via HHS)

Learn more about RTI’s health equity research