About the Berkshire United Way Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative

In 2009, The Berkshire United Way Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative (TPPI) formed and worked with Berkshire Regional Planning Commission’s Berkshire Benchmarks to develop a report on the successes and challenges in the community. Based on the Department of Public Health’s data on teen births in Berkshire County, especially in the two urban centers of Pittsfield and North Adams, they knew they had a real problem. The teen birth rate was way above the state’s teen birth rate. Together they immediately developed strategies to address the situation. Five years later, this project has grown to become the Face the Facts Coalition, still helmed by Kristine Hazzard, the President and CEO of Berkshire United Way. “WAM’s commitment to organizations that benefit the lives of women and girls in our community is aligned with the mission of the TPPI. Teen pregnancy prevention obviously isn’t only a women’s issue, but our strategies to improve sexual health information, increase access to contraceptives and help our kids see a bright future will help improve the lives of young women throughout Berkshire County,” said Kristine Hazzard.