CAS-Carrera Program

Evaluated by Philliber Research Associates, the Children’s Aid Society–Carrera Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program (CAS – Carrera) is one of the few national teenage pregnancy prevention program whose effectiveness has been scientifically proven.In 2009, the Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy identified CAS–Carrera as having “top tier” evidence of effectiveness, one of the few pregnancy prevention programs in the United States to receive this distinction.

Building on the success of its after-school model, CAS – Carrera has developed an integrated school model to provide similar services throughout the school day. This model employs CAS – Carrera’s traditional seven components: daily education; weekly employment; mental health; family life and sexuality education; self-expression; lifetime individual sports; and no-cost, comprehensive medical and dental services. CAS – Carrera begins with an entire 5th or 6th grade and adds a new grade each year until high school graduation, reducing cost per participant through economies of scale. The organization is committed to conducting additional research to ensure that the integrated school model achieves outcomes comparable to those of the original after-school program.

 

Evaluation Status: Proven Effective

An longitudinal evaluation by Philliber Research Associates conducted over three years found the CAS-Carrera program a resulted in 50 percent reduction in birth rates in communities served, and a multitude of other positive outcomes, including statistically significant improvements in high school graduation and college admission rates, increased employment experience, more bank accounts, and increased use of primary care physicians instead of emergency rooms. The program is one of the few fully evaluated teenage pregnancy prevention program in the country with statistically proven effectiveness. More information about the evaluation can be found at the organization’s website.

 

EMCF Investment

Since 2004, the Foundation has invested $10.1 million in the CAS-Carrera Program to help develop and implement its business plan. Over this period, the organization has embarked on significant national expansion, establishing several new program sites in cities outside its home of New York City. During the course of EMCF's latest investment ($5.5 million over three years), CAS-Carrera will implement its latest three-year business plan, addressing additional organizational capacity needs, particularly a more robust financial model, and increase youth served by 15 percent annually. 

In 2011, CAS-Carrera received an EMCF Social Innovation Fund investment, with a first-year award of $1.5 million, to create of a National Accreditation and Training Center to provide technical assistance to local organizations replicating its afterschool program; establish its in-school program at sites in up to four states; and evaluate the in-school model. Awards in years two and three, which are contingent on grantee performance and renewal of federal SIF funding, will provide up to $2 million, for an overall investment of up to $3.5 million over three years. These activities have not been funded by previous EMCF investments. 

For information on what this grant will support, see Details of 2012-2014 Investment.

For more information, visit CAS-Carrera’s website at www.stopteenpregnancy.com.

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CAS-Carrera In the News

After-school program will be offered daily through the YWCA (CAS-Carrera) Toledo Blade, January 21, 2009
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Teaching kids whole life skills The Washington Post, December 06, 2007
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