NAEA Praises Congress For Extending Funds For Abstinence Education - Long-term Federal Funding Still Needed For Continuity Of Programs, USA

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Article Date: 29 Sep 2007 - 2:00 PDT

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The National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA) supports Congress's decision to extend Title V Funding for Abstinence Education through the end of 2007.

"The extension for Abstinence Education reveals the bi-partisan support for this best health message," said Valerie Huber, Executive Director, NAEA, "and while extremely helpful, the short-term extension makes it challenging for states to implement the program. Abstinence Education providers need sustained funding for a minimum of one year in order to assure a dependable and consistent operation of their programs."

An estimated 900 abstinence programs in schools and community centers across the U.S. will benefit from the extension of Title V Funding.

"This extension is a real victory for our message, but comprehensive sex education still receives ten times the amount of federal dollars as compared to Abstinence Education funding, in spite of the fact that when parents understand the difference between the two, parents prefer Abstinence Education two to one," Huber said.

Title V funding will help support abstinence programs that teach youth how to build healthy relationships, increase self-worth and set appropriate boundaries in order to achieve future goals. Abstinence Education shares the realities of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and STD prevention. Accurate information about contraception is provided in an abstinence curriculum, but always within the context of abstinence as the healthiest choice

About NAEA

The National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA) is comprised of 250 member organizations, educators and supporters from across the U.S who serve more than 1.5 million children each year with the important message of abstinence.

http://www.abstinenceassociation.org