About the Massachusetts ASE program
ASE funded agencies implement evidence-based or evidence-informed programs that incorporate social determinants of health into program planning to achieve the overall goal of increasing life opportunities for youth. ASE programs are delivered in a variety of settings. These settings include schools, community-based organizations, young parent shelters and others.
The 16 funded community-based organizations serve priority communities that MDPH identified through a statewide needs assessment as having the highest teen birth rates, highest STI rates in youth, and/or the highest number of youth at risk. Within these communities, specific target populations include Hispanic/Latino youth, unaccompanied minors, African-American youth, LGBTQ youth, expectant and parenting teens, male youth, youth experiencing homelessness and sex trafficking, youth in or aging out of systems of care, and youth with physical and/or intellectual disabilities. The OSHYD is deeply committed to increasing youth opportunities.
The goal of the statewide ASE Program is to increase life opportunities for youth by:
- Decreasing the teen birth rate among key target populations in priority Massachusetts communities through increased access to evidence-based education;
- Increasing educational attainment through promoting positive youth development and prevention of unintended pregnancies; and
- Decreasing sexually transmitted infection (STI) incidence among target populations in priority communities through increased access to medically-accurate, age-appropriate programming.
In FY23, more than 3,200 participated in evidence-based/evidence-informed sexuality education programming and more than 470 youth participated in youth development programming.
ASE Funded Organizations
| Community | Served by |
|---|---|
| Boston |
|
| Chelsea | Roca |
| Chicopee |
|
| Everett |
|
| Fall River | Citizens for Citizens |
| Fitchburg, Leominster, Athol | Montachusett Opportunity Council |
| Holyoke |
|
| Lawrence | Family Services of Merrimack Valley |
| Lynn | Girls Inc. of Lynn |
| Lowell | Lowell Community Health Center |
| Pittsfield | Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center, Inc. |
| Springfield |
|
| Taunton | Citizens for Citizens |
| Southbridge | You Inc. |
| Worcester |
|