July 17, 2007

Media Stories

House Votes to Extend Title V Abstinence Education Program Until September
Kaiser Network, July 16, 2007

American Teens: Less Sex, More Condoms
Associated Press, July 13, 2007

Teen Sexual Activity and Birthrates Decline
The Washington Post, July 13, 2007

Congress Debates Role of Abstinence in Sex-Ed Programs
The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy, July 10, 2007

Mainstream Portrayals of Sex Seduce Teens, Researcher Finds
The Orlando (FL) Sentinel, July 10, 2007

The New Lone Rangers
The New York Times, July 10, 2007 (subscription required)

Sex Appeal: What Kids Are Learning in School
The Jupiter (FL) Treasure Coast Palm, July 8, 2007

Maryland State Board Approves County's Sex-Ed Curriculum
The Washington Post, July 4, 2007

Hollins University Student Wins Miss Virginia Pageant
Associated Press, July 1, 2007

Abstinence Still the Right Choice for One Woman
Fergus Falls (MN) Daily Journal, June 29, 2007

Abstinence-Only Education
Justice Talking, June 25, 2007

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.

Head Start Healthy Marriage Initiative Project Grants – Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-2007-ACF-OHS-YD-0040)
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will award grants, ranging from $10,000 to $500,000, to existing Head Start grantees. Awardees will partner with other community organizations to offer a full range of practical skill-building sessions on communication, joint decisionmaking, parenting, managing of family budgets, conflict resolution, and other elements to enhance family stabilization for fragile families (low-income families, single-parent families, teenage parents, and unwed, new, and expectant parents). Eligible applicants include Head Start grantees in partnership with organizations that have demonstrated success delivering skills-based marriage education services. Deadline for applications: July 24, 2007

National Center for Marriage Research – Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (HS-07-030)
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation will fund university-based institutions to facilitate a National Center for Marriage Research. The center will conduct and disseminate policy-relevant research, build research capacity and networks, increase awareness of issues related to marriage and family structure, and provide support and mentoring to students in careers related to marriage and family research and policy. Deadline for applications: August 2, 2007

Parenting Capacities and Health Outcomes in Youths and Adolescents (R21) – National Institutes of Health (Cycle III)
Grant recipients will increase the skills and capacities of parents and caregivers to improve the health outcomes of their young and adolescent children. This includes interventions that help parents to decrease risk behaviors, including sexual behaviors, in their children and to build protective factors. Deadlines for applications: October 16, 2007, and November 5, 2007

Recent Research

America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2007
This annual publication is the tenth anniversary edition, presenting a compendium of 38 key indicators of child well-being. The report is structured around seven domains that influence child well-being: family and social environment, economic circumstances, health care, physical environment and safety, behavior, education, and health. Among the new indicators added to this year’s edition is sexual activity among youth.

Upcoming Events

Technical Assistance Web Cast
"Reaching At-Risk Youth"
2:00 p.m., July 25, 2007
Contact: Frank Bazela, (703) 243-0495 or abstinence@pal-tech.com
Free registration is required.

Conference Call on New Nonprofit Staffing Technical Assistance Module
Module’s release and conference call’s date and time to be announced

Other News/Misc.

Report Shows Gains, Setbacks for Nation's Children
Forum on Child and Family Statistics, July 13, 2007

Statement by Mike Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services, on the Nomination of Diane D. Rath as Assistant Secretary for Children and Families
Department of Health and Human Services, July 9, 2007

HHS Unveils “Parents Speak Up” National Campaign
Department of Health and Human Services, June 21, 2007

A.U.M. or C.S.E.: Which Approach is Most Effective at Protecting Teen Health?
This article, published in the North Carolina Family Policy Council’s Family North Carolina magazine (May/June 2007), examines the effectiveness of abstinence education and comprehensive sex education. The author describes the ideology, messages, and tools of both approaches and then contrasts the consequences of comprehensive sex education with the benefits of abstinence education. She also highlights research supporting abstinence education.

National Healthy Marriage Resource Center
This new resource provides current research relating to healthy marriage, information on starting new healthy marriage programs, and guidelines on policies and laws pertaining to marriage. The online resource has areas dedicated to individuals and couples, programs and grantees, State and community stakeholders, researchers and evaluators, policymakers, and members of the media.

In the Spotlight

Michigan Abstinence Program (MAP)
The Michigan Abstinence Program (MAP) began in 1993 as a broad-based group of members across the State committed to the goal of increasing the number of youth who abstain from sexual activity and other related risky behaviors. Community members – including parents, teens, and schools – determine their own needs and programming within MAP program guidelines. MAP-funded programs must incorporate four programming components: youth programming, parent education, coalition development and maintenance, and community awareness. Specific abstinence education activities must be research based, build resistance skills, and focus on knowledge, attitude, and behavior changes. Overall, programs must emphasize intense intervention strategies for the entire target population, with at least 14 hours of direct contact per youth each year. During fiscal year 2006, MAP coalitions served a total of 14,436 youth, with 12,502 completing at least 14 hours of programming. Additionally, 2,232 parents and other adults participated in MAP programming, a 131-percent increase over fiscal year 2005. MAP conducts onsite program reviews at each funded agency at least twice during the 5-year funding cycle, to assure quality programming and adherence to Federal, State, and program requirements. Additionally, MAP program consultants provide ongoing technical assistance, consultation, and monitoring throughout the project period.

Quote for the Day

"As long as people are truly concerned about sexual health, abstinence education will exist."

(Leslee Unruh, National Abstinence Clearinghouse, July 3, 2007)