July 31, 2008Media Stories

Teens and Abstinence
ArkLaTex.com, July 22, 2008

Dozens Gather To Take Vow of Abstinence Before Marriage
The Virginian-Pilot, July 21, 2008

Iowa Schools Weigh Changes in Sex Education
The Des Moines (IA) Register, July 20, 2008

Texas Keeps a Tight Lid on Sex Ed
Austin (TX) American-Statesmen, July 14, 2008

Workshop Helps Parents, Kids Talk about Sex
HealthDay News, July 11, 2008

Report: Teen Pregnancies Up for First Time in 15 Years
CNN.com, July 11, 2008

Teenagers and Marijuana
The (KY) Courier Journal, July 10, 2008

”Horrors" Found In Tween, Teen Dating
CBS News, July 9, 2008

Teen Pregnancy: Nine-Times-Greater-Chance for Parents To Live in Poverty
The Vicksburg (MS) Post, July 8, 2008

Funding Opportunities

The National Clearinghouse on Families & Youth maintains a listing of organizations identified as potential funding sources for abstinence education programs. The listing includes grant descriptions and contact information.

BJ’s Charitable Foundation
The Foundation supports projects for children and families in the areas of safety, security and well-being, education, health, community service, hunger/homelessness and disaster relief in the 16 States where BJ’s Clubs are located.
Deadlines: August 8, 2008 and October 6, 2008

Recent Research

Content Analysis of Tobacco, Alcohol, and Other Drugs in Popular Music (2008) (entire article for a fee) – The article, published in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine [Volume 162 (2):169-175], found that the average adolescent is exposed to 84 references of substance use, primarily involving alcohol and marijuana, every day through popular music. Researchers said that health educators need to address the positive portrayals of substance abuse in popular music to counterbalance them. For instance, they could use rap artists to promote antidrug stances, or help young people learn to evaluate media messages.

Efficacy of a Parent-Based Sexual-Risk Prevention Program for African American Preadolescents (2007)  (entire article for a fee) - This article, published in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine [Volume 161 (12): 1123-1129], studied 1,115 African American parents who participated in a parenting program designed to teach communication skills to prevent preadolescent sexual activity. The study found that parents who participated in all five intervention sessions exhibited better parent-preadolescent communication about sex and were comfortable with sex-related questions. A year later, preadolescents whose parents attended all  sessions were at a lower risk of having sexual intercourse or anticipating engaging in such behavior, compared to children of parents who attended only a single session.

 Acculturation as a Predictor of the Onset of Sexual Intercourse Among Hispanic and White Teens (2005)  (entire article for a fee) -The article, published in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine [Volume 159 (3): 261-265], found whether youth spoke Spanish or English played a role in whether they were likely to initiate sexual intercourse. Hispanic youth who were Spanish speaking were least likely to initiate intercourse while those who spoke English were most likely to do so. Researchers suggest that language differences might indicate broader cultural variations, even within a single ethnic group. They said public health and education professionals should evaluate the language differences when establishing culturally sensitive programs. Currently, there is a lack of culturally sensitive sexuality education materials appropriate to Spanish-speaking adolescents in the United States. Additional research on Hispanic Spanish speakers may be critical to promote healthy sexual development in this population.

Other News/Misc.

Song of Songs
This Emmy-nominated documentary film series explores romantic relationships, love, and the future of marriage. The film features some of the most notable personalities in the world of relationship research.

Benefits of Delaying Sexual Debut for Youth (2008)
This Institute for Youth Development study shows that delaying sexual debut has a significant impact on the physical, psychological, financial, and social health of young people. The report contains information on adolescent brain development and its consequences for decisionmaking. The study also points out society’s inconsistent messages on sexuality, self-control, and the importance of healthy relationships for successful marriage and well-being. The executive summary provides the study’s synopsis.

Backgrounder: Character-based Sex Education (2007)
Developmental psychologist Thomas Lickona emphasizes good character and suggests that sexuality education must have a foundation in character education. The paper discusses educating young people about character development and the abstinence lifestyle and how building abstinent support systems help to offset negative influences in society.

Reducing Unwed Childbearing: The Missing Link in Efforts To Promote Marriage
The Brookings Institution’s Center on Children and Families Brief emphasizes to policymakers, educators, and health professionals that out-of-wedlock childbearing—among both single persons and cohabiting couples—is a primary reason for the lack of family stability in children's lives.

Youth Exposure to Alcohol Advertising on Television, 2001 to 2007 (2008)
The prevalence of underage drinking in the United States remains high, and increasing evidence shows that alcohol advertising plays a strong role. In a recent report, the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth at Georgetown University found about one of every five alcohol advertisements was in programming that youth ages 12 to 20 were more likely to see than adults.

New Science on How Casual Sex is Affecting Our Children
Drs. Joe McIlhaney and Freda Bush share new research about how American teenagers and young adults are finding that the psychological baggage of “hooking up” is having a real and lasting impact on their lives. The book is expected to be released in August, 2008.

Upcoming Events

Free To Be Teen Panels: A Peer-to-Peer Approach
August 5, 2008
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM  ET 

Spotlight

The Abstinence Education E-Update Spotlight has highlighted various topics, from new Federal staff to effective State programs. Now, NCFY will highlight two States a month, looking at each State’s legislation, policy, and specific State features related to abstinence education.

NEW YORK

What’s Interesting in the State of New York
The State is currently not receiving Title V funding. There are 11 CBAE grantees in the State.

State Law in New York
According to New York Commissioner’s Regulations 135.3, all elementary and secondary schools will provide appropriate instruction concerning AIDS as part of a sequential health education program for pupils, grades K-12. School instruction is designed to provide accurate information to students about the disease, methods of transmission, and  prevention. Instruction stresses that abstinence is the most appropriate and effective premarital protection against AIDS, is age appropriate, and is consistent with community values.

What’s Unique in the State of New York
New York’s Department of Health provides materials to health and education professionals, teens, and parents at their Web site Talking with Young People About HIV/AIDS. Materials include a colorful poster for abstinence educators and teens entitled Everybody’s Not Doin’ It, educational materials about STDs, and strategies for helping teens learn about HIV/AIDS.

NORTH CAROLINA

What’s Interesting in the State of North Carolina
North Carolina Healthy Schools is an initiative supported by the Department of Public Instruction and the Department of Health and Human Services that focuses on improving the health of students and staff through coordination and resources.

North Carolina Healthy Schools, PTA, and Fox 50 sponsored a 2008 regional media campaign called “Not My Kids – Are You Sure?” that targeted counties with high teen pregnancy rates. The media campaign focuses on risky behaviors linked to sexual decisionmaking, alcohol and substance abuse, and self-mutilation. Educational announcements were aired in the Fox 50 viewing area, on a Spanish language television station, and a Virginia station. Several parent and student focus groups assisted in selecting public service announcements that encourage parent-teen communication.

NC Healthy Schools is also launching a Parent Resources Web page in conjunction with the media campaign, including public service announcements, statistics, parent surveys, and useful links. Plans are also underway to provide a session at the District North Carolina PTA in August encouraging parent-teen communication skills.

State Law in North Carolina

In 1995, North Carolina passed the General Statute 115C-81, Basic Education Program
that requires public schools to offer an abstinence-until-marriage program. The legislation contains guidelines for instruction about abstinence until marriage and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS. Federal Title V abstinence funds were available to school systems in North Carolina to enhance abstinence education programs through planning and implementation.

• All programs should present techniques to deal with peer pressure and to offer positive reinforcement and teach reasons, skills, and strategies for remaining or becoming abstinent from sexual activity.
  
  
• All programs should teach that abstinence from sexual activity until marriage is the only certain means of avoiding out‑of‑wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases when transmitted through sexual contact, and other associated health and emotional problems. A mutually monogamous relationship in marriage is the best means of avoiding diseases transmitted by sexual contact, including HIV/AIDS. The program instructs how alcohol and drug use lower inhibitions, which may lead to risky sexual behavior, and teaches positive benefits of abstinence until marriage and the risks of premarital sexual activity.
  
  
• The State Board of Education evaluates abstinence-until-marriage curricula and develops and maintains a recommended reading list of one or more approved abstinence-until-marriage curricula. It also may develop abstinence-until-marriage programs to include on the recommended list.
  
  
• School Health programs must include instruction that:
  
  
  1. Teaches abstinence from sexual activity outside of marriage is the expected standard for all school‑age children;
     
     
  2. Presents techniques and strategies to deal with peer pressure and offers positive reinforcement;
     
     
  3. Presents reasons, skills, and strategies for remaining or becoming abstinent from sexual activity;
     
     
  4. Teaches abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain means of avoiding out‑of‑wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases when transmitted through sexual contact, including HIV/AIDS, and other associated health and emotional problems;
     
     
  5. Teaches a mutually faithful monogamous heterosexual relationship in the context of marriage is the best lifelong means of avoiding sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS;
     
     
  6. Teaches positive benefits of abstinence until marriage and the risks of premarital sexual activity;
     
     
  7. Provides opportunities that allow for interaction between the parent or legal guardian and the student; and
     
     
  8. Provides factually accurate biological or pathological information that is related to the human reproductive system.
     
     
• Students may receive information about where to obtain contraceptives and abortion referral services, complying only with a local board’s policy regarding parental consent. Any instruction concerning the use of contraceptives or prophylactics shall provide accurate statistical information on their effectiveness and failure rates for preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, and shall explain clearly the difference between risk reduction and risk elimination through abstinence. Contraceptives, including condoms and other devices, shall not be made available or distributed on school property.

What’s Unique in the State of North Carolina

After ranking third in teen pregnancy rates in 2005, Northampton County’s public school system received an abstinence grant, formed a Preventing Teen Pregnancy Task Force and a Preventing Teen Pregnancy Plan, and partnered with a neighboring county that also had a high teen pregnancy rate. The two school systems developed an abstinence media campaign, which included posters, pocket cards, radio spots, and billboards. Their goal was to decrease teen pregnancy rates by 25 percent for 2007-08 school year. The campaign successfully reduced rates by 57 percent.

Quote of the Day

“The abstinence message is not only about sex. It also emphasizes self-empowerment, self-respect, and being comfortable with setting physical boundaries. The idea is that choosing to refrain from sex will not only prevent a pregnancy or an STD, but lead to a healthy lifestyle, with fewer distractions from school and a better relationship with parents.”

(Jan Halstead, abstinence executive director, Austin (TX) American-Statesmen, July 14, 2008)