Baltimore City’s U Choose program, a initiative aimed at reducing teen birth and STI rates, has come under scrutiny for its approach to sex education and youth health services. The program partners with various city agencies and organizations, including Baltimore City Public Schools and Planned Parenthood, to provide sex education and referrals to reproductive health services for young people.

Launched in 2014, U Choose has received significant federal funding. Since 2015, the Baltimore City Health Department has been granted over $15 million for the program through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program. An additional $7.3 million is allocated for 2025 to 2028. The program targets youth aged 15-24, with a stated goal of reaching 10,000 children annually through schools and clinics.

The U Choose website provides referrals to various health services. These include abortion clinics (through Maryland Planned Parenthood), LGBTQ-focused healthcare including clinics that offer puberty blockers and transgender hormones for minors, STI testing and treatment, birth control, pregnancy testing, and substance abuse treatment. The program advertises that minors can access certain services without parental consent, such as birth control, STI testing, and “pregnancy options counseling.”

U Choose guidelines address privacy concerns for LGBTQ students. The 2018 recommendations advised teachers to protect the privacy of transgender students, potentially including not informing parents about a student’s gender identity without the student’s consent. Maryland law requires parental notification, but not consent, for minors seeking abortions. However, parental consent is required for minors to obtain transgender hormones.

When asked for comment, various program partners provided clarifications. A Baltimore City Public Schools spokeswoman stated that the education system does not directly refer students to abortion or transgender clinics, emphasizing that education and clinic aspects of U Choose operate separately. The Baltimore City Health Department noted that while they do not provide abortion services, their clinics offer counseling “regardless of gender identity.” The Mayor’s Office of Employment Development highlighted U Choose’s focus on employment opportunities and confidential STI testing.

The U Choose program’s approach has sparked discussion about the appropriate scope of school-based sex education and health services for minors. Supporters argue that comprehensive sex education and accessible health services are crucial for reducing teen pregnancy and STI rates. Critics express concerns about parental rights and the appropriateness of certain services for minors.