Penn. Gov. Rendell Plans To Request Federal Abstinence-Only Funds

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 29 Aug 2008 - 9:00 PST

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Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) plans to apply for federal funding to support abstinence-only sex education programs for organizations and schools in the state, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. According to the Inquirer, the state Health Department is applying for approximately $1.7 million in federal money that will be dispensed by the Rendell administration for abstinence-only programs, which restrict teachers from discussing birth-control methods except in terms of failure rates.

Since Rendell took office in 2003, the health department has not distributed abstinence-only funding. Opponents of abstinence-only programs say that these programs present medically inaccurate information and that studies have shown that abstinence-only programs are ineffective. Abstinence funds have also gone to the state as a result of funding earmarks obtained by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Penn.), according to the Inquirer.

Health department spokesperson Holli Senior said that the department decided to apply for the funding because it does not want to prevent groups or schools from focusing on abstinence-only education. She also acknowledged that the funding conflicts with the department's viewpoint that sex education should be comprehensive and teach students about contraception in addition to abstinence. No state money -- only the federal grant money -- will be used for the programs, Senior said, adding that the health department is "just trying to be fair across the board" and ensure that all groups have access to the funding they need (Couloumbis, Philadelphia Inquirer, 8/27).

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