Prep-2026 - personal responsibility education program

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families awarded the Maryland Department of Health $1,578,524 on October 1, 2025, under the Personal Responsibility Education Program (CFDA 93.092), a formula grant supporting adolescent sexual health education and adulthood preparation services.

The award funds comprehensive sexual health and life skills education for youth ages 10 to 19, including special populations such as youth in foster care, juvenile justice systems, victims of human trafficking, and youth experiencing homelessness or runaway situations. Programming emphasizes both abstinence and contraception for pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection prevention, and incorporates instruction in at least three of six adulthood preparation topics: adolescent development, healthy life skills, healthy relationships, parent-child communication, financial literacy, and career and educational success. All materials must be medically accurate, age appropriate, and culturally contextual.

The Maryland Department of Health's Prevention and Health Promotion Administration serves as prime recipient. Performance occurs in Maryland with the period of performance running through September 30, 2028. As the state's designated PREP formula recipient, Maryland submitted a letter of intent to receive this annual award within the five-year award cycle established under the initial 2010 or 2011 application. The recipient administers PREP funding and disburses sub-awards to local health departments across all 24 Maryland jurisdictions, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland Baltimore, and community-based organizations to deliver evidence-based prevention and health promotion services.