County to Seek Grant to Fight Teen Pregnancy

Ventura County health officials are seeking a $175,000 grant to help combat teen pregnancy in Oxnard, which accounted for 50% of the 1,264 teen births in the county in 1995.

The county Department of Health hopes to secure the grant from the California Wellness Foundation to develop teen outreach programs with other community organizations, officials said.

Out of 80 communities that submitted grant proposals to the nonprofit organization, Ventura County was among 30 asked last November to submit a full application. The foundation plans to award seven 18-month grants to pay for developing community action projects.

If its development plans are deemed successful, the county could receive as much as $300,000 a year in additional funding for up to 6 1/2 years, officials said.

Diane Visencio, the county’s maternal child health director, said the county would find out in June if it qualifies for the initial 18-month grant. The Board of Supervisors is expected to authorize the grant application at its Tuesday meeting.

Meanwhile, Visencio said that parents, teens and others who want to get more involved can join the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Committee, which is scheduled to meet at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at El Concilio in Oxnard.

For more information, call 652-5787.