The Abstinence Education E-Update is a free information service of the Division of Abstinence Education of the HHS/ACF Family and Youth Services Bureau, provided by the National Clearinghouse on Families & Youth. Contact NCFY at (301) 608-8098 or info@ncfy.com. If you're having trouble viewing this e-mail, please click here to view a version of it on the Web.
August 28, 2006
Marriage Advocates Eye Federal Funding Welfare Reform a Success, But More Must Be Done Abstinence Works Says New Study – Toronto AIDS Conference Silent Abstinence-Only Programs in Cherokee County: Effective in Preventing Teen Pregnancy? Daughters Face Misunderstandings Before Marriage Celibacy Talk Set At City Hall New Study Confirms: Married People Live Longer Colorado Teacher Fired for Improper Conduct in Sex-Ed Class Younger Blacks Absorb a Wariness of Marriage Expert: Reports Suggest Abstinence as Best for Teens Church Program Preaches Abstinence Among Teens An Interview with Wade Horn of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Health & Human Services Officials Laud Abstinence Programs Depressed People Benefit More from Marriage than Others Med Students Will Receive Abstinence Facts Fatherhood 101: Groups Teach Men to be Fathers In Africa, True Love Waits Expands Abstinence Message The Influence of Religiosity and Spirituality on Health-Risk Behaviors in Children and Adolescents Parenting Capacities and Health Outcomes in Youths and Adolescents – National Institutes of Health Caritas Fund – Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina Exposure to Degrading Versus Nondegrading Music Lyrics and Sexual Behavior Among Youth (August 2006) – The authors of this article, published in Pediatrics (Volume 118[2]:e430-e441), provide strong evidence that teens who listen to music containing sexually explicit and/or degrading lyrics are more likely to initiate intercourse and other sexual activities, and to do so earlier. This finding holds true regardless of gender or race. The RAND Corporation study, funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, involved a survey of 1,461 adolescents ages 12 to 17 from across the Nation in 2001.
Trends in HIV-Related Risk Behaviors Among High School Students—United States, 1991–2005 (August 11, 2006) – In this issue of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR, Volume 15[31]:851-854), researchers present findings on the sexual practices of American high school students. Their research revealed that the prevalence of sexual experience decreased by 13 percent from 1991 to 2005, and that current sexual activity also decreased by 9 percent during that time. The researchers note that this decrease “corresponds to simultaneous decreases in rates of gonorrhea, pregnancy rates, and birth rates among adolescents.”
Predictors of Success and Failure in Marriage (Summer 2006) – In this two-page summary, the author examines key reasons why many Americans find it increasingly difficult to achieve a successful marriage. Issues she examines are the deinstitutionalization of marriage, the delay of marriage, cohabitation, the priority of a “soulmate” marriage, and a culture of divorce. The author presents a social science definition of marriage, pointing out both the great challenges and the great rewards in achieving it. Connecting Marriage Research to Practice Conference Call for Letters of Intent To Submit Manuscripts and Poster Abstracts for the Abstinence Education Evaluation Conference (see below) West Coast Abstinence Education Grantees Regional Workshop National Abstinence Education Grantees Conference "Strengthening Programs Through Scientific Evaluation" Additional Resources Training, Technical Assistance, and Capacity Building for Abstinence Education Grantees – Materials from national and regional abstinence education grantees conferences; conference call transcripts; archived Web casts; handouts; and past Abstinence Education E-Updates
Quote for the Day "...children do best when they grow up in stable families with two continuously married parents. On average, they do better in school. They are less likely to use drugs or alcohol. They are less likely to be physically abused, less likely to suffer physical and emotional neglect. They are seven times less likely to live in poverty." (Michael Leavitt, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, The Salt Lake Tribune, August 21, 2006) |
JON BERG is an Abstinence Content Specialist on the Community-Based Abstinence Education Training, Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Contract at Pal-Tech, Inc. Jon joined the contract in April 2006 and now helps Family and Youth Services Bureau Abstinence Education grantees to maximize their ability to deliver the abstinence-until-marriage message to our Nation's youth. Previously, Jon served as the Montana State Title V Abstinence Education Coordinator for seven years. He also worked with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Abstinence Clearinghouse on the development of a criteria document for reviewing abstinence education curricula. Jon received his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Montana and his graduate degree in Mental Health Counseling from Montana State University. Jon's wife of 23 years, Sandy, works for the U.S. Forest Service; they have four children.The Abstinence Education E-Update comprises links to Web sites with information on current events, research, funding opportunities, and other items related to abstinence-until-marriage education. Inclusion of this information does not imply endorsement by the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), or the National Clearinghouse on Families & Youth (NCFY). Moreover, the points of view or opinions expressed on these Web sites do not necessarily represent the official position, policies, or views of FYSB, HHS, or NCFY.
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