Funding for abstinence-only programs lacking in US sex education plan

December 29, 2009 by Shawn Douglas
Filed under: News

Funding for programs aimed at teaching abstinence-only approaches to sex education is non-existent in the new federal budget, but proponents hope that funding will be found in the health-care reform legislation.

The days of former President George W. Bush’s generous funding to programs that stress that teens wait to have sex until they’re married may be numbered.

The Washington Post reports that President Barack Obama’s new budget leaves little room, if any, for abstinence-only programs. Congress approved 110 million dollars to be used for “teenage pregnancy prevention” programs that have been “proven effective through rigorous evaluation.” A new Office of Adolescent Health would be opened in the Health and Human Services Department to accommodate the new initiative.

The new budget also sets aside 25 million dollars for research into “additional models and innovative strategies for preventing teen pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections.” While it’s possible that abstinence-only research could be performed with these funds, the budget doesn’t specifically earmark any funds for abstinence education.

In Monday’s Newsweek column “The Gaggle”, Sarah Kliff recognized that abstinence programs won’t be completely excluded from funding if program directors can show that they actually work.

“Abstinence-only, abstinence-plus, abstinence-centered or comprehensive: any of these programs would be able to compete for funds as long as they can prove that they work,” said Kliff. “Which, at the end of the day, gets sex education focused on what most Americans want: reducing pregnancies and reducing sexually transmitted infections.”

“This not only marks the return of science and evidence back to health policy but also provides a critical infusion of funding to implement comprehensive sex education and teen-pregnancy-prevention programs,” said James Wagoner, president of Advocates for Youth, to The Washington Post.

Yet more vigorous funding for abstinence education could return through the controversial health-care reform legislation working its way through U.S. government. Senator Orrin G. Hatch fought for and won an amendment to the legislation that would add 50 million dollars in funding for abstinence programs.

Valerie Huber, of the National Abstinence Education Association, told The Washington Post: “We’re optimistic. Nothing is certain, but we’re hopeful.”

But opponents weren’t so pleased. Cecille Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said: “It’s appalling that Republicans are using health-care reform to continue their campaign to fund abstinence-only programs that don’t work. Congress should strip the Hatch amendment providing funding for failed abstinence-only programs from the health-care reform bill.”

It’s not clear what the end result of the health-care reform legislation will be. The House and Senate versions differ, and it’s unknown whether the Hatch amendment will remain as is. Lawmakers will continue to merge the two versions after the holidays.