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 ncfy@acf.hhs.gov. If you're having trouble viewing this e-mail, please click here to view a version of it on the Web.
November 15, 2006 Money and Morality Speaker: Best Sex Comes After Marriage Science Journal: How To Help a Teen Avoid Dumb Behavior Uganda: Marching for Abstinence U.S. Grant Spurs Abstinence Classes Abstinence for Adults: So Passé Abstinence Education Vindicated and Waxman Report Discredited Students Start 'Revolution' To Promote Abstinence Abstinence-Education for Young Adults is Well Targeted, Affirms Medical Institute for Sexual Health Government Tells Singles No Sex Till You're 30 Teen Abortion Rates and Births Down Subcommittee Blasts Waxman Efforts to Derail 'Success of Abstinence Education' Abstinence Cool for Some, But Definitely Not For All Study: Divorced Women Have More Illness A Case for Strengthening Marriage 'Abstinence a Badge of Pride' Federal Abstinence Funding Can Be Focused on Twentysomethings Teen Births Decrease, Remain Expensive Federal Funding Fuels Faith-Based Push for Chastity Does Our Culture Value Marriage? Motivational Speaker Talks Abstinence to Teens Abstinence Promoter to Speak at NAACP Event Rules for Teaching Abstinence Rejected Increased Access To Contraception Not Linked To Decrease In Numbers Of Unplanned Pregnancies, Abortions, Letter To Editor Says Health and Education Grants Program – Detroit Lions Charities Health, Education and Inner-City Services Grants – Teammates for Kids Foundation The Role of Parent Religiosity in Teens’ Transitions to Sex and Contraception (October 2006) – The authors of this article (published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, Volume 39[4]:578-587), analyzed the responses of youth age 12-14 years in the 1997 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. They assessed the influence of parent religiosity on early adolescents’ sexual activity. The authors found that more frequent parental religious attendance and family religious activities were related to delays in their children’s initiation of sexual activity. U.S. Teenage Pregnancy Statistics: National and State Trends and Trends by Race and Ethnicity (September 2006) – In this 24-page report, published by the Guttmacher Institute, the authors present statistics and trends in teen pregnancy, childbearing, and abortion through 2002 for the Nation and at the State level. They report that teen pregnancy is at its lowest level in 30 years, down 36 percent since peaking in 1990. The authors attribute this drop to both increased abstinence and changes in contraceptive practices. Sex in the Media: Links to Behavior Differ Between White and Black Teenagers (September 2006) – In this research brief (published in Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, Volume 38[3]), the authors examine the influence of media with sexual content on the sexual activity of adolescents. Overall, they found that sexual activity was positively related to exposure to media with sexual content. However, when controlling for psychosocial variables, the authors found that the influence of peers’ sexual norms and the level of daily parental involvement were more influential in the sexual activity of African-American teenagers. When researchers controlled for the same factors for White teenagers, watching media with sexual content remained positively associated with early sexual activity. Sliding Versus Deciding: Inertia and the Premarital Cohabitation Effect (September 2006) – The authors of this article (published in Family Relations, Volume 55:499-509) use quantitative data to examine how the experience of cohabitation may increase the risk of relationship distress and divorce. Overall, they found that cohabitation leads some people to marry out of “inertia,” despite poor relationship quality or fit, leading to divorce and relationship distress. The authors discuss practical implications for those working with couples who are experiencing relationship transitions. Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy 2006 Conference National Abstinence Education Grantees Conference Abstinence Education Evaluation Conference: 'Strengthening Programs Through Scientific Evaluation' 2005 Abstinence Education Evaluation Conference: Manuscripts and Abstracts The Public Costs of Teen Childbearing (November 2006) – In this one-page fact sheet, the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy presents the results of its analysis of the cost to taxpayers of teen childbearing, as well as the cost of caring for children born to teen parents. The authors also include estimates of the cost savings produced by the recent decline in teen pregnancy.
Quote for the Day "A 2004 Zogby poll indicates that only 7 percent of parents surveyed approved of teaching teens that it is okay for them to have sex as long as they use a condom. By contrast, 96 percent of parents said that sex education class should teach that abstinence from sexual activity is best for teens." (U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Government Reform, Abstinence and Its Critics, October 2006, p. 8) |
SCOTT T. RIGGINS is an Abstinence Education Program Specialist with the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB). A veteran of the United States Air Force, Scott received a B.A. from the University of South Carolina and an M.B.A. from American Intercontinental University. Prior to accepting his position with FYSB, Scott served as the Regional Director of Heritage Community Services, a character-based abstinence education program, in Walterboro, South Carolina. During Scott’s six 6 years as Regional Director, the program served over 18,000 students and increased the communities it served by 75 percent. Scott has also served his community as a high school and middle school coach, mentor, motivational speaker, youth minister, and civic leader. Scott and his wife have two children. He enjoys music, sports, reading, traveling, and playing chess.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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