Current Announcements
Plain Talk National Replication Center is now on Facebook! Search "Plain Talk National Replication Center" to become a fan!
The Annie E. Casey Foundation, which has been supporting Plain Talk/Hablando Claro for the past 15 years, is in the process of changing both how it invests its time and money in programs and strategies as well as how the foundation is structured. One of the many tasks being undertaken is determining ways to transition Plain Talk from its current focus on the prevention of teen pregnancy and STIs to a broader focus on adolescent health and development. Therefore, during this transition process, which will continue through 2010, no new Plain Talk site applications are being accepted.
The foundation’s mission will remain the same – to build better futures for vulnerable children and families. However, the philanthropic organization’s efforts will be broadened to focus on improving child outcomes in measurable ways in addition improving public systems. This will include promoting family economic success, helping communities become supportive environments for raising children, and working with public and nonprofit systems and agencies to improve services and supports for children.
Since 1983, the Annie E. Casey Foundation has been supporting Plain Talk/Hablando Claro, a neighborhood-based initiative aimed at helping parents, other adults, and community leaders develop the skills and tools they need to communicate effectively with young people about reducing adolescent sexual risk-taking. This support began with the funding of a four-year, $5 million pilot project, and has continued since then, with replication of Plain Talk/Hablando Claro in communities across the country.
All current Plain Talk/Hablando Claro sites will continue to receive support from the Plain Talk National Replication Center until they have completed their three-year program cycle. The foundation encourages sites to continue the important work they are doing after their cycle has ended if they have the resources to do so. For those sites, continued access to the Plain Talk website and database will be available and should assist in enable sites to satisfy reporting requirements. Unfortunately, beyond that, the Plain Talk National Replication Center will be unable to provide support. The serious economic problems many individuals and organizations have been confronting are also being experienced by the foundation. Significant decreases in the value of the foundation’s endowment have resulted in reductions in grantmaking, and plans for future work will reflect this new reality.
The Annie E. Casey Foundation is proud of the contributions Plain Talk/Hablando Claro has made in communities nationwide, reaching out to parents and other adults and helping them understand and address the needs of sexually active youth. With the support of local, state, and national funders, they have made a difference in the lives of young people and adults in these communities.
Renée Wilson-Simmons, DrPH
Senior Associate, Adolescent Health & Development
The Annie E. Casey Foundation