Increase Funds for Abstinence Programs

[editor]

President Bush's Proposed 2008 Budget Increases Funds for Abstinence Programs
"The funds are part of the Health and Human Services budget and would support community-based programs that teach and encourage sexual abstinence among adolescents ages 12-18."

Jennifer Morehouse/TN (Feb. 24th, 2007)

In President Bush's proposed 2008 budget is a $28 million increase in federal funding for abstinence programs, but not an increase in the funding for "safe sex" education, according to a write-up in The Church Report. If the measure succeeds, notes reporter Jennifer Morehouse, the government's commitment to abstinence programs would reach an unprecedented $191 million.

Family Research Council's Action Update said: "If the new Congressional majority wishes to make good on its promise to reach out to the faith and family community, we urge it to take the first step by affirming the President's plan."

Source: The Church Report

[editor]

Abstinence Education Programs Proven Effective among Students
So why is Ohio's Governor Strickland pulling funding for abstinence in the schools?

News Staff/AH (Mar 22nd, 2007)

No one can argue with the fact that the best way for a young person to protect themselves from STDs and unplanned pregnancies, is to abstain from sexual relations altogether.

An article written in 2005 by Melissa G. Pardue, for The Heritage Foundation, confirmed the effectiveness of Abstinence teaching among students.

According to the report, a study done by Dr. Robert Lerner, and published in the Adolescent & Family Health Journal, revealed that: junior-high and middle school-aged girls who participated in the Best Friends [abstinence] program, when compared to their peers who did not participate, were:

• Six-and-a-half times more likely to remain sexually abstinent

• Nearly two times more likely to abstain from drinking alcohol

• Eight times more likely to abstain from drug use

• Over two times more likely to refrain from smoking

Despite the proven effectiveness of the Best Friends abstinence education, Governor Strickland, of Ohio, recently decided "NOT to pursue federal funds for abstinence-until-marriage education, and this funding has been removed from the state budget that the General Assembly will be considering in the next few months."

If you are concerned about this valuable teaching being cancelled in Ohio, below is contact information to make your voice heard.

Senate President, Bill Harris, 614/466-8086, SD19@mailr.sen.state.oh.us

Speaker of the House, John Husted, 614/644-6008, district37@ohr.state.oh.us

Source: Ohio RTL, Heritage Foundation