National research has identified a significant link between education and health. High school graduates live longer, healthier lives than dropouts. College graduates have even longer life spans, better access to health care, better dietary and health practices, and overall better health. Unfortunately, one in four California high school students – and one in three Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) students – dropped out of school during the 2006-07 year, a figure that continues to grow with no signs of a reverse trend. While there are numerous factors contributing to this escalating dropout rate, one third of female dropouts say that pregnancy or becoming a parent played a role in their decision to leave school. Consequences faced include higher rates of unemployment, low earnings, poorer health and more reliance on public support. The social and economic costs of teen pregnancy and childbearing are both significant and far-reaching. In Los Angeles County, the estimated taxpayer costs were $320 million and the estimated societal costs were $1.24 billion in 2008. In 2008, there were 14,111 births to teen mothers, or 34 per 1,000 births, in Los Angeles County. Girls most at risk for teen pregnancy are Latinas from low income communities. Additional risk factors include: low maternal education level; lack of effective contraceptive use/family planning practices; lack of education/counseling regarding contraceptive use/family planning; previous teen pregnancy; and initiation of sexual activity at a young age. One of the most efficient and effective ways to reach this at-risk population is through high school-based programs. NHF’s existing Pregnant and Parenting Teen Program has worked with pregnant teens and teen parents for more than five years; however there is a critical need for education and support services to reach adolescent girls at the greatest risk for pregnancy and subsequent dropout before they get pregnant, ultimately breaking the cycle of teenage pregnancy. To this end, NHF designed and now implements a pregnancy prevention program, Go Harold’s Way: Be a STAR (Successful Teen Acting Responsibly) at two high schools within LAUSD (Jefferson High and Santee Education Complex).