August 31, 2007
Employment Opportunities
Youth Policy Associate, Abstinence Education
A Youth Policy Associate for Abstinence Education (part time) is needed to review media stories, funding opportunities, and relevant research and to compile information and produce materials such as the Abstinence Education E-Update for educators, policymakers, and the public. Good writing and research skills, B.A. degree, (M.A. preferred) and experience with abstinence education required. We prefer that the employee work onsite in Silver Spring, but we will consider offsite candidates. Please send resume and salary requirement to HR 1438, JBS, 8630 Fenton St. #1200, Silver Spring, MD 20910; or e-mail to JOBS@JBS.BIZ. EOE.
Abstinence Content Specialist
Assist in the development and implementation of technical assistance modules, conference calls, Web casts, and conferences for Community-Based Abstinence Education (CBAE) grantees. Candidates must possess a bachelor's degree and a minimum of 7 years of general experience and 2 years of professional program-related experience. To apply, please send your resume to Karen Argueta by e-mail, careers@pal-tech.com, or by fax, (703) 522-2471. EOE/AA.
Media Stories
Program Promotes Teen Abstinence
The Tulsa (OK) World, August 26, 2007
Poll: Family Ties Key to Youth Happiness
Associated Press, August 20 2007
Critics Say Teens Need Education on Sex Laws
Associated Press, August 20, 2007
Walk To Raise Funds for Care Center
The Rhea County (IN) Herald-News, August 19, 2007
High Birth Control Costs Add to College Concerns
The Christian Post, August 18, 2007
Miss Virginia Winner Promotes Abstinence in Face of Abortion Controversies
LifeNews.com, August 16, 2007
Tough Consequences Face Young Girls
John Birch Society, August 14, 2007
Teen Pregnancy Declines in South Carolina
South Carolina Now, August 13, 2007
Comprehensive Sex Ed Doesn't Help; It Can Hurt
Treasure Coast Palm, August 12, 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.
Two Should Know – Paso del Norte Health Foundation (El Paso, Texas)
Grant recipients will implement effective and imaginative programs working to both (a) reduce poor health outcomes such as sexually transmitted diseases, unintended pregnancies, and sexual abuse, and (b) promote positive emotional and social health outcomes. The foundation serves people living in El Paso and Hudspeth Counties in West Texas, Doña Ana and Otero Counties in southern New Mexico, and the city of Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico. It has funded abstinence education programs in recent years. Deadline for applications: August 31, 2007
Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro (North Carolina)
Grants will be awarded in various amounts in the areas of arts/humanities, education, housing, building capacity of nonprofits, and building social capital. Grants generally range from a few hundred dollars to $10,000, and most are for single-year programs. Deadline for applications: October 5, 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
Sexual Abstinence Education. What Is the Evidence We Need? (August 2007)
This letter is a response to an article published by Underhill, et. al in British Medical Journal, which argued that abstinence programs are ineffective. The author of this letter, an epidemiologist, systematically reviews the methodology and conclusions, concluding that "(i)t is always best to 'avoid risks' rather than to 'reduce risks,'" and that youth should be empowered with life skills to help them make the healthiest choices.
Racial and Gender Differences in Adolescent Sexual Attitudes and Longitudinal Associations With Coital Debut (July 2007)
Researchers analyzed data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to identify differences in attitudes toward sex by gender and race. The findings, published in the Journal on Adolescent Health [Volume 41(1):19-26], reveal that (a) girls associate fewer positive benefits—and more shame and guilt—with sexual activity than boys; and (b) African American boys perceived less shame and guilt than did white boys. The authors conclude that gender- and race-specific programs may help reinforce protective attitudes and delay sexual debut.
Upcoming Events
Technical Assistance Web Cast
"Accessing the Parents Speak Up National Campaign"
(previously referred to as the National Abstinence Media Campaign)
2:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 11, 2007 and Thursday, September 13, 2007
Deadline for registration for either Web cast is September 10, 2007
For information, contact Frank Bazela at (703) 243-0495 or abstinence@pal-tech.com
Note: These two identical 90-minute Web casts are open to current CBAE grantees only; participation is limited to the first 70 registrants for each Web cast.
National Abstinence Education Grantees Conference
January 28–30, 2008
Baltimore, MD
Registration TBA
Contact: abstinence@pal-tech.com
Abstinence Education Grantees Regional Training
CBAE Grantees and State Title V Coordinators in Regions 5 through 7
April 2–3, 2008
Dallas, TX
Registration TBA
For information, contact abstinence@pal-tech.com
Abstinence Education Grantees Regional Training
CBAE Grantees and State Title V Coordinators in Regions 8 through 10
May 14–15, 2008
Denver, CO
Registration TBA
For information, contact abstinence@pal-tech.com
Abstinence Education Grantees Regional Training
CBAE Grantees and State Title V Coordinators in Regions 1 through 4
June 23–24, 2008
Philadelphia, PA
Registration TBA
For information, contact abstinence@pal-tech.com
Other News/Misc.
Prevalence of HPV Infection Among Sexually Active Females Aged 14–59 Years, by Age Group – National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, United States, 2003–2004 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
This brief article, published in the Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report [MMWR, Volume 56(33):852, August 24, 2007], reports that the prevalence of HPV infection among adolescents (age 14–19 years) and young adults (age 20–24 years) is 40 and 50 percent, respectively.
America's Best School Fund-raisers (FamilyFun.com)
The author of this article highlights innovative fundraising projects for schools and youth-serving organizations.
In the Spotlight
 New Hampshire Abstinence Education Program
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) partners with the Catholic Medical Center to provide abstinence education activities throughout the State. The fruit of this partnership is the Leadership in Abstinence Education Program (LEAP), a center with the mission of increasing sexual abstinence among New Hampshire youth. To accomplish its mission, LEAP delivers standardized evidence- and skill-based programs driven by a Positive Youth Development approach. By implementing a standardized statewide curriculum, DHHS and LEAP have established uniformity among programs and created a good environment for conducting effective outcomes measurement. Over the past year, DHHS and LEAP administered 20 grants throughout New Hampshire; as a result, 812 students received an average of 5 hours of abstinence education instruction each. In addition, the number of New Hampshire schools offering the WAIT Training abstinence education curriculum increased 150 percent over the past year. LEAP also recently sponsored a 16-hour teacher-training event, facilitated by a WAIT Training representative. The event trained and certified 35 people, including 11 public school health teachers. Statewide, programs have reported an 8.5-percent increase in students favoring abstinence until marriage. Of note is the electronic networking system developed by LEAP for certified educators. DHHS hopes to see LEAP become a center for excellence and a resource for other programs throughout New England and the Nation. To learn more about LEAP, contact Nancy A. Malo at (603) 663-8706 or Nmalo@CMC-NH.org.
Quote for the Day
"Being sexually active actually leads to less happiness among 13–17 year olds, according to the survey. If you're 18 to 24, sex might lead to more happiness in the moment, but not in general."
(Jocelyn Noveck and Trevor Tompson, Associated Press, August 20, 2007, on results from a recent national Associate Press/MTV poll) |
