ProjecTruth is an abstinence until marriage education initiative built on a foundation of character education. By reaching out to adolescents and those that support them in a variety of settings including schools, community organizations, clinical settings, and faith-based organizations, ProjecTruth delivers positive life-affirming facts about the many benefits of saving sex for marriage.

Combining character development with abstinence until marriage education provides adolescents with the tools they need to make the right decisions about other high-risk behaviors such as alcohol, tobacco, and drug use.

It is about providing age appropriate materials and information to adolescents about the many benefits and rewards of waiting to become sexually active until they are married. It also offers candid discussion regarding the consequences of non-marital sex including unwanted pregnancy, STDs, and the emotional consequences of becoming intimate too young or with the "wrong" person.

Why ProjecTruth?

For over two decades the preeminent theory regarding sex education for adolescents was safe sex - the idea that if we provided teens with knowledge and access to contraceptives - primarily condoms - we could significantly curb the number of teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

The idea has simply not worked:

• 3.8 million STDs are contracted by teens each year. That's one every 8 seconds
• 70 million Americans have an incurable STD
• Condom usage has increased significantly among Teens - so have STDs
• Of 8 major STDs, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found that condoms were effective in stopping the spread of only one and effective for males only in one other.
• The unmarried birth rate for sexually-experienced teens increased by 29% between 1988 and 1995 despite a 33% increase in the use of condoms

Emotional Health

Beyond the health and social consequences, "traditional sex education" and the "safe sex" message have failed to address the emotional and psychological effects of premature uncommitted sexual activity among adolescents.

Thomas Lickona, a developmental psychologist at the State University of New York at Cortland and advisor to ProjecTruth has identified ten negative psychological consequences of sex outside of marriage that can have a profoundly damaging impact on an adolescent's future happiness:

• Anxiety over Pregnancy or AIDS
• Regret and Self-Recrimination
• Guilt
• Loss of Self-Respect and Self-Esteem
• Corruption of Character and Debasement of Sex
• Shaken Trust & Fear of Commitment
• Rage Over Betrayal
• Depression & Suicide
• Ruined Relationships
• Stunted Personal Development

Abstinence Only vs "Comprehensive"

Many of today's "comprehensive" sex education programs mix the abstinence message with contraceptive education. ProjecTruth utilizes and advocates an abstinence (only) until marriage message. The abstinence only approach is important because it affirms the belief that adolescents can and will choose to remain abstinent until marriage when they learn and understand the consequences of sex outside of marriage. It also underscores the emotional and psychological consequences, for which there are no contraceptives.

Abstinence Until Marriage

ProjecTruth presents an abstinence until marriage message. It works from the premise that by building on a foundation of character, Our youth will make wise decisions about their sexuality and build healthy relationships. ProjecTruth operates from the premise that:

• Abstinence until marriage offers the ONLY100% effective way to erode social problems such as teen pregnancy and STDs
• Condoms don't make unmarried sex physically safe or emotionally healthy
• Abstinence until marriage is a richly rewarding lifestyle that offers many immediate and long-term benefits for today's youth
• Remaining abstinent amidst social, emotional, and physiological pressures results in the development of strong personal character
• It is the responsibility of adults who love and support young people to help them build their character and make sound decisions regarding their physical and emotional health
• Building character helps adolescents avoid other self-destructive behaviors like drug and alcohol abuse and tobacco use