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Programs Offer More Than A Single Message Of Abstinence, Evaluation Finds
Abstinence education programs have been implemented in communities
nationwide, and federal abstinence funding is "changing the local landscape
of approaches to teenage pregnancy and youth risk avoidance," according to
an independent evaluation report released today.
Contrary to common perception, most of the programs offer more than a single
message of abstinence until marriage, the report finds. Programs address "a
broad range of issues, from building self-esteem, to understanding and
aspiring to healthy marriages and parenthood, to teaching skills that will
help youth make and follow through on good decisions," the report said.
The report released today was prepared by Mathematica Policy Research under
contract to the Department of Health and Human Services. Mathematica began
its review in 1999 to conduct a five-year longitudinal study. This report
presents early implementation findings. Future reports will assess the
impact of the programs on reducing early sexual activity, with a short-term
impact report expected next year when sufficient data have become available,
Mathematica says in the report.
"These abstinence programs are helping to create strong, well-rounded
individuals," HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said. "These programs offer a
more comprehensive message than just saying no to early sexual activity.
They are helping young people with larger issues such as healthy
relationships, self-esteem, life planning, good decision-making and
effective communications. These are some of the real skills that underlie
successful development and growth in every area of a young person's life."
These abstinence education programs were authorized as part of welfare
reform enacted in 1996 under Title V, Section 510, of the Social Security
Act. They have been funded by the federal government and states since 1998,
with up to $50 million per year available from the federal government and up
to another $37.5 million available from states. The programs teach that
abstinence from sexual activity as an unmarried person is "the only certain
way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and
other associated health problems," and they teach that abstinence outside
marriage is "the expected standard for all school age children."
Findings of today's report include:
--"Section 510 abstinence funds are changing the local landscape of
approaches to preventing teen pregnancy." The funding supports more than
700 programs nationwide and has "resulted in a tremendous range of new
programmatic approaches." All states ultimately applied for these funds,
and all but a few states and territories have reapplied in each of the
successive funding years. "In many communities, abstinence education
programs have become an important component of the network of programs
serving teens and their families." The report says these programs have
"gained support because they are more than a single message of abstinence."
In addition, many of the programs focus on middle school students, "where
there is general agreement about the appropriateness of a strong abstinence
approach."
--"Abstinence education programs offer more than a single message of
abstinence." In addition to promoting abstinence until marriage, programs
also included components on building self esteem, developing values,
formulating goals, making decisions, avoiding risky behavior, maximizing
communication, strengthening relationships, understanding development and
anatomy, understanding sexually transmitted diseases, withstanding social
and peer pressure, addressing consequences/self-control, resolving sexual
conflicts, learning etiquette and manners, aspiring to marriage and
understanding parenthood. The report cites several innovative examples.
--"Most participants report favorable feelings about their program
experience." Youth respond "especially positively to staff who show strong
and unambiguous commitment to the program message. They also like programs
that deliver an intensive set of youth development services to enhance and
support the abstinence message."
--"Abstinence programs face real challenges addressing peer pressure
and the communications gulf between parents and children." Many programs
attempt to address peer pressure through parents, yet engaging parents has
proven to be extremely challenging.
--"Local schools are valuable program partners, but establishing these
partnerships is sometimes difficult." Sometimes schools resist
collaboration because of competing priorities; at other times resistance
stems from debate about health and sex education policies.
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