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TITLE V ABSTINENCE
EDUCATION PROGRAMS
In 1999, 49.9 percent of high school students reported
having had sexual intercourse, and over one-third reported
having
had sexual intercourse in the previous 3 months. Early
adolescent sexual intercourse may have negative effects
on social and
psychological development and has been linked with alcohol
and drug use, violence, delinquency, and school-drop out.1,2
Abstinence-only education programs create an environment
within communities that supports teen decisions to postpone
sexual activity until marriage.
Since 1998, States and Territories
have utilized Abstinence Education funding under Title
V, Section 510 of the Social
Security Act to promote abstinence education. In 2001,
53 of 59 States and Territories received $43.5 million
in funds
through the Abstinence Education Grant Program administered
by the Health Resources and Services Administration to
provide abstinence education, mentoring, and counseling.
In addition
to abstinence education, most programs offer education
on topics including self-esteem building, avoiding risky
behavior,
and aspiring to marriage.
With this funding, a majority
of States have awarded contracts to local organizations
to promote abstinence
education.
In 2000, States/Territories awarded contracts to 36
community-based, 29 youth-serving, and 21 faith-based organizations.
Using
local partners, States/Territories were able to target
special
populations including parents (46 grantees) and teachers
and other professionals working with youth (29 programs).
Through this program, a total of 1,280,510 clients received
direct services in 1999. Of these, nearly
84 percent
were between the ages of 10 and 17 years. Program
participants included 595,683 males and 684,827 females
(47 and
53 percent,
respectively). Over 60 percent of the program participants
were White compared to 21 percent Black and 11 percent
Hispanic, with the remainder of participants of other
or unknown race/
ethnicity.
Additional Title V funding for abstinence
education is provided through Special Projects of Regional
and National
Significance,
which provide support to public and private entities
for development and implementation of community-based
abstinence
education programs. Between 2001 and 2003 funding
has increased from $20 million to $55 million.
 [d]
1Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Surveillance Summaries,
MMWR 2000;49(SS-5). [Back
to Text]
2Ventura SJ, Marin JA, Matthews
TJ, Hamilton BE. Births to Teenagers in the United States,
1940-2000.
National
Vital Statistics Reports Sept 2001;49(10). http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr49/nvsr49_10.pdf [Back
to Text] |
