Blagojevich announces grants for teen pregnancy prevention

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http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/28teen.html

Thirty-five community-based agencies throughout Illinois will share about $2 million in grants for teen pregnancy prevention, Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced Tuesday.

The money, which is included in the state's fiscal year 2006 budget, will be distributed by the Illinois Department of Human Services.

The department's teen pregnancy prevention program provides grants to community agencies to reduce teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and the incidence of HIV/AIDS.

In March, the state Department of Public Health said the number of babies born to Illinois teenagers has fallen to a record low. In 2003, 17,670 babies were born to women 19 and younger, down from the previous low of 18,546 babies set a year earlier, according to department statistics.