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Additional programs that contribute to achieving goals for preventing and reducing out-of-wedlock pregnancy include: • The Washington College Grant and College Bound Scholarship programs for low-income students wishing to pursue higher education. • The Early Childhood Education Assistance Program serving low-income 3- and 4-year-old children. • The Promoting Academic Success and Learning Assistance Programs for low-income and high- risk public-school students. • The full-day kindergarten for all schools and reduced class size programs in high-poverty elementary schools.
All of these programs affect long-term outcomes including reduced likelihood of contact with the criminal justice system, higher earnings as adults, less reliance on social services as adults and fewer out- of-wedlock pregnancies.
(f) Conduct a program designed to reach State and local law enforcement officials, the education system, and relevant counseling services, that provides education and training on the problem of statutory rape so that teenage pregnancy prevention programs may be expanded to include men (section 402(a)(1)(A)(vi) of the Social Security Act).
Washington State conducts a program reaching a variety of stakeholders and partners to educate and train on the problem of statutory rape. Specific examples are highlighted below.
Please note, crimes that may be considered statutory rape in other states, are considered ‘rape of a child’ under Washington statute. This distinction was deliberate to underscore that adolescents and teens under particular ages are not able to consent to sexual acts.
In conjunction with the Washington State Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (WAPA), through the WAPA/State Judicial Case Processing Task Force, Washington State has developed mandatory reporting protocol for child support cases meeting the criteria for rape of a child. TANF and other public assistance program staff receive detailed direction on how to report suspected rape of a child to law enforcement. In addition, pursuant to the Social Security Act, minor parents’ or pregnant minors’ living situation cannot include an adult parent of the qualifying child if that parent is convicted of rape of a child (RCW 9A.44.079).
Washington State also has a robust sexual and domestic violence prevention approach, with the Washington Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WSCADV) & Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs (WCSAP) being national leaders in prevention. DSHS contracts with WSCADV to provide resources and training efforts dedicated to the “Healthy Relationships” approach, which focuses on identifying and promoting protective factors and establishing appropriate and healthy relationships.
Local sexual assault and domestic violence programs in Washington also have a significant focus on community education and prevention. It seeks to increase awareness and build the skills of community members to reduce risk factors and build protective factors against rape of a child and other forms of sexual abuse. Emergency shelter contractors funded through the state’s Family Violence Prevention Services Act and Victims of Crime Act grants are required to conduct prevention and community