ABSTINENCE NEWS UPDATE:

American College of Pediatricians - Abstinence Education The American College of Pediatricians strongly endorses abstinence-until-marriage sex education and recommends adoption by all school systems in lieu of “comprehensive sex education". This position is based on “the public health principle of primary prevention – risk avoidance in lieu of risk reduction,” upholding the “human right to the highest attainable standard of health.”1 By every measure, adolescent sexual activity is detrimental to the well-being of all involved, especially young women, and society at large. Children and adolescents from 10 to 19 years of age are more at risk for contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI) than adults.2 This is due to the general practice of having multiple and higher risk sexual partners, and to the immaturity of the cervical tissue of girls and young women. The CDC recently stated that of the 19 million new cases of STIs annually reported in the United States, 50 percent occur in teens and young adults under 25 years of age.3 Twenty-five percent of newly diagnosed cases of HIV occur in those under 22 years of age.4 This translates into one in four sexually active female adolescents being infected with at least one STI.5 Bacterial STIs may cause life-threatening cases of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility. Viral STIs which include herpes, the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and HIV are generally incurable. Herpes afflicts its victims with life-long painful recurrences, may be passed on to sexual partners even when asymptomatic, and may be life threatening to infants if passed on at birth during vaginal delivery. HPV is found among 90 percent of sexually active young adults and teens.6 While often self-limited, HPV has high-risk strains that may persist for life and cause cancer of the cervix. HIV not only causes premature demise, but also significant suffering with life-long dependence on multiple toxic and costly medications. The CDC estimates that STIs cost the U.S. health care system as much as $15.3 billion dollars annually.7 Adolescent pregnancy is similarly associated with adverse socioeconomics that have an impact on the family, community, and society at large. One in thirteen high school girls becomes pregnant each year.8 Adolescent pregnancy results in decreased educational and vocational opportunities for the mothers, an increased likelihood of the family living in poverty, and significant risk for negative long-term outcomes for the children. For example, children of adolescent mothers are more likely to be born prematurely and at a low birth weight; suffer from poor health; perform poorly in school; run away from home; be abused or neglected; and grow up without a father.9 Even if sexually active teens escape acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and becoming pregnant, few remain emotionally unscathed. Overall, one in eight teens suffers from depression,10 and suicide has risen to become the third leading cause of death for adolescents, paralleling the rise in STIs within this population.11 Infection with an STI has long been recognized as a cause for depression among teens. More recently, however, adolescent sexual activity alone has been acknowledged as an independent risk factor for developing low self-esteem, major depression, and attempting suicide.12 In studies that controlled for confounding factors, sexually active girls were found to be three times as likely to report being depressed and three times as likely to have attempted suicide when compared to sexually abstinent girls.13 Sexually active boys were more than twice as likely to suffer from depression and seven times as likely to have attempted suicide when compared to sexually abstinent boys.14 This is not mere coincidence. Scientists now know that sexual activity releases chemicals in the brain that create emotional bonds between partners. Breaking these bonds can cause depression, and make it harder to bond with someone else in the future.15 Sexual activity is defined as genital contact. This includes mutual masturbation, as well as oral, vaginal, and anal intercourse. While only vaginal intercourse may result in pregnancy, all of these practices may spread STIs, and lead to emotional trauma. Abstaining from all sexual activity is the only 100 percent safe and effective way to avoid teen pregnancies, STIs, and the emotional fallout of adolescent sexual activity. Almost 40 years of emphasis on “safer sex” with “values-neutral sex education,” condoms and contraception has clearly failed our young people. Abstinence education does not occur in a vacuum, making it especially difficult to separate its influence from the opposing influence of the media and cultural milieu. Nevertheless, effectiveness of abstinence sex education in delaying the onset of sexual debut has been demonstrated in rigorous scientific studies. For example, five out of seven programs recently reviewed showed a significant reduction in sexual initiation rates (two programs showed rates decreased by half).16 Evaluation of community-based abstinence programs in peer-reviewed journals showed that they are effective in significantly reducing pregnancy. According to an April 2008 report by the Heritage Foundation “fifteen studies examined abstinence programs and eleven reported positive findings of delayed sexual initiation.”17 Reviews by The Institute for Research and Evaluation state that “several well designed evaluations of abstinence programs have found significant long- term reductions in adolescent sexual activity.”18 These do not begin to thoroughly evaluate the hundreds of ongoing programs. In its endorsement of abstinence-based sex education, the College calls attention to the scientific controversies surrounding alternative educational platforms. Most sex education curricula fall into two categories, abstinence-until-marriage or comprehensive sex education programs (occasionally also referred to as “abstinence plus” programs). Recently, abstinence education has been criticized for not providing critical health information about condom use. Abstinence education curricula, however, do not discourage the use of condoms; rather they note that chastity obviates the need for condoms. Abstinence education programs do not claim that condoms have no place in preventing STIs. Comprehensive programs, on the other hand, are misleading in the emphasis they place on condom use. These programs give teens the impression that condoms make sexual activity safe. In reality, there has been much conflicting medical literature on the effectiveness of condoms in preventing STIs since the 2000 NIH report on the subject and much of the controversy remains unresolved.19 Teens must be informed that condoms do not offer complete protection from either pregnancy or STIs. The College position supporting abstinence-until-marriage education, unlike alternative education platforms, also recognizes the unique neurobiology of adolescent brains. The frontal cortex of the adolescent brain is still in development and unable to make the consistently wise executive decisions necessary to control action based on emotional input. Researcher Jay Giedd and others have found that young people do not have the physical brain capacity to make fully mature decisions until their mid-twenties.20 Consequently, when it comes to sex education, adolescents need to be given clear direction repeatedly, as is done with programs that address smoking, drugs, and alcohol use. Emphasis on contraceptive methods undermines the authority of parents and the strength of the abstinence message. This approach reinforces the ubiquitous (yet erroneous) message presented by the media that engaging in sexual activity is not only expected of teens, but also the norm. Adolescent brains are not equipped to handle these mixed messages. Parents and teachers need to “function as a surrogate set of frontal lobes, an auxiliary problem solver” for their teens, setting firm and immutable expectations.21 Adolescents need repetitive, clear, and consistent guidance. As families address this issue of sex education, the American College of Pediatricians recommends that parents be fully aware of the content of the curriculum to which their children are being exposed. The national “Guidelines for Comprehensive Sex Education” that were drafted by the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) place strong emphasis on “values neutral” sex education beginning in kindergarten. According to these guidelines, children between the ages of 5 to 8 should be taught not only the anatomically correct names of all body parts, but also the definitions of sexual intercourse, and masturbation.22 Overall, these comprehensive programs only emphasize “safer sex.” Many comprehensive programs also provide sexually erotic material to teens with explicit condom demonstrations. Other programs suggest alternative types of sexually stimulating contact (referred to as “outercourse”) that would not result in pregnancy but still could result in STIs. Some of these activities, depending on the ages of those involved and the state in which they occur, could actually be illegal. These education programs can break down the natural barriers of those not yet involved in sexual activity and encourage experimentation. Additionally, many programs emphasize that teens do not need parental consent to obtain birth control and that teens therefore need not even discuss the issue with them.23 Discouraging parental involvement eliminates one of the most powerful deterrents to sexual activity, namely, communication of parental expectations.24 Firm statements from parents that sex should be reserved for marriage have been found to be very effective in delaying sexual debut. Parental example and “religiosity” have also been found to be similarly protective. Adolescents reared by parents who live according to their professed faith25 and are actively involved in their worship community,26 are more likely to abstain from sexual activity as teens. Successful sex education programs involve parents and promote open discussion between parents and their children. The American College of Pediatricians also believes parents should be aware of the current state of funding, and government involvement in sex education choices. Comprehensive programs receive seven to twelve times the funding of abstinence programs.27 However, according to a recent study by the Department of Health and Human Services, comprehensive programs do not give equal time to abstinence. In 2004 Congressman Henry Waxman of California presented a report before Congress critical of the medical accuracy of abstinence education curricula.29 The Mathematica Study was similarly critical of the medical accuracy of abstinence education programs.30 However, in 2007 the U.S .Department of Health and Human Services conducted an extensive review of nine comprehensive sex education curricula using the same methods employed by Congressman Waxman and the Mathematica Study. These comprehensive programs were found to have no better record for medical accuracy. The HHS review also found that the comprehensive programs were hardly comprehensive. The amount of discussion dedicated to “safer sex” exceeded that spent on abstinence by a factor of up to seven. Some of the programs failed to mention abstinence altogether. None of the programs carefully distinguished between reducing and eliminating the risks of sexual activity, and nearly every program failed to mention the emotional consequences of early sexual activity. Although some of the comprehensive programs showed a small effect in reducing “unprotected” sex (7 of 9 programs) and to a lesser extent in delaying sexual debut (2 of 8 programs), the impact did not extend beyond six months.31 According to a 2004 Zogby Poll, 90% of adults and teens agree with The American College of Pediatricians position that teens should be given a strong abstinence message.32 Programs that teach sexual abstinence until marriage are about much more than simply delaying sexual activity. They assist adolescents in establishing positive character traits, formulating long-term goals, and developing emotionally healthy relationships. These programs increase the likelihood of strong marriages and families - the single most essential resource for the strength and survival of our nation. March 13, 2009 Edited January 28, 2010 The American College of Pediatricians is a national medical association of licensed physicians and healthcare professionals who specialize in the care of infants, children, and adolescents. The mission of the College is to enable all children to reach their optimal, physical and emotional health and well being. More information is available at www.BestforChildren.org.   For further information visit the website www.abstinenceworks.org, read the 2009 Minority Report's critique of the Center for Disease Control's Guide to Community Preventative Services, the 2006 U.S. House Committee on Government Reform Staff Report, Abstinence and Its Critics, and the February 2010 Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine "Efficacy of a Theory-Based Abstinence-Only Intervention Over 24 Months."   An Adobe Acrobat (pdf) of this paper is available by clicking here. References 1Freedman, L.P. “Censorship and Manipulation of Reproductive Health Information.” Coliver, S, ed. “The Right to Know: Human Right Access to Reproductive Health Information.” Philadelphia, Penn.: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1995: 1-37. qtd. in Hendricks, Kate et.al. “The Attack on Abstinence Education: Fact or Fallacy?” Medical Institute for Sexual Health, 2006. 2US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Trends in Reportable Sexually Transmitted Diseases in the United States, 2007. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; January 2009; available at: http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats07/trends.htm. 3Ibid. 4Sulak, PJ and Herbelin, S. “Teenagers and Sex: Delaying Sexual Debut.” The Female Patient; Vol. 30, May 2005, p30. 5Oral Abstract D4a – Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections and Bacterial Vaginosis among Female Adolescents in the United States: Data from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2004; presented at the 2008 National STD Prevention Conference; March 11, 2008; available at: http://www.cdc.gov/stdconference/2008/media/summaries-11march2008.htm#tues1 6Sulak, PJ and Herbelin, S. “Teenagers and Sex: Delaying Sexual Debut.” The Female Patient; Vol. 30, May 2005, p31. 7“Annual CDC Report Finds High Burden of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Especially among Women and Racial Minorities.” CDC press release on January 13, 2009. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/Newsroom/PressRelease011309.html 8Sulak, PJ and Herbelin, S. “Teenagers and Sex: Delaying Sexual Debut.” The Female Patient; Vol. 30, May 2005, p31. 9Guttmacher Institute. “U.S. Pregnancy Statistics.” New York: Sept. 2006. qtd. in “’Abstinence’ or ‘Comprehensive’ Sex Education?” Salt Lake City, Utah: The Institute for Research and Evaluation, 2007. 10Meeker, Meg. Your Kids at Risk. Regnery Publishing, Inc., Washington, DC, 2007, p. 68 11Ibid. 12 Hallfors DD, Waller MW, Ford CA, Halpern CT, and Brodish PH, Iritani B. “Adolescent Depression and Suicide Risk: Association with Sex and Drug Behavior. American Journal of Preventative Medicine 27 (2004): 224-230. 13McIlhaney, J and McKissic Bush, F. Hooked: New Science on How Casual Sex is Affecting Our Children. Northfield Publishing, Chicago. 2008, p.78. 14 Ibid. 15Ibid pp. 77-78. 16Weed, Stan E. Ph.D. “Testimony Before the US House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.” 23 April 2008. 17Kim, Christine, and Robert Rector. “Abstinence Education: Assessing the Evidence.” Backgrounder 2126. Washington, DC: The Heritage Foundation, 22 April 2008. 18“‘Abstinence’ or ‘Comprehensive’ Sex Education?” Salt Lake City, Utah: The Institute for Research and Evaluation, 8 June 2007. . 19“Workshop Summary: Scientific Evidence on Condom Effectiveness for Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Prevention.” 2000. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services. Herndon, Virginia. . 20Strauch, Barbara. The Primal Teen - What the New Discoveries About the Teenage Brain Tell Us About Our Kids. Doubleday, 2003, p.16. 21Medical Institute for Sexual Health. “Integrated Sexual Health Today: Maturation of the Teen Brain.” institute.org/includes/downloads/ishspring2005.pdf>. 22“Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education.” 2004. Siecus. Nov. 2008. . 23“Comprehensive Sex Education Curricula Report.” 6-7. 24McNeely et.al. “Mothers Influence on Adolescent Sexual Debut.” Journal of Adolescent Health 31.3 (2002). —Sieving, R.E. et.al. “Maternal Expectations, Mother Child Connection, and Adolescent Sexual Debut.” Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine 154.8 (2000): 809-816. 25Manlove JS; Terry-Humen E; et.al. “The Role of Parent Religiosity in Teens’ Transitions to Sex and Contraception.” Journal of Adolescent Health. 2006; 26 (1):42-28. 26 Sinha JW; Cnaan RA; Gelles RJ. “Adolescent Risk Behaviors and Religion: findings from a national study.” Journal of Adolescent Health. 2007; 30(2): 231-49. 27Pardue, Melissa, Robert Rector, and Shannon Martin. “Abstinence and Its Critics.” The Heritage Foundation. 14 Jan. 2004. p8. 28“Comprehensive Sex Education Curricula Report.” 2007. Department of Health and Human Services. . p6. 29Waxman, Henry A. “The Content of Federally Funded Abstinence-Only Education Programs.” Dec. 2004. United States House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform: Minority Staff Special Investigations Division. . 30“‘Abstinence’ or ‘Comprehensive’ Sex Education?” 31 “Comprehensive Sex Education Curricula Report.” 8. 32With One Voice 2004. “National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.” Dec. 2004. qtd. in “Abstinence and Its Critics.” Oct. 2006. U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform. Washington, DC. .

The Washington Times

Monday, February 8, 2010

HAGELIN: Obama abstains from what works

Rebecca Hagelin
Culture Challenge of the Week: Abstinence Education

This week, the American Medical Association (AMA) published a report that
shows abstinence education works. Tragically, President Obama and House
Speaker Nancy Pelosi had already pandered to dishonest groups, such as
Planned Parenthood, that profit from teen sexual activity, and took the
unbelievable action of terminating government funding of these successful
abstinence programs.

When adults take the time to tell children what is right and what  is wrong,
and teach them how to avoid sex, the majority of them actually  do. But when
a young person is constantly bombarded with sexual images, taught by those
in authority that he can freely engage in sex if he wants to, and is
presumed to be unable to control himself, it doesn't take a  rocket  scientist
to figure out that he will most likely become sexually active.

In the AMA's Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, a study of
sixth- and seventh-graders reveals a stark contrast between kids who are
taught Mr. Obama's preferred sex education and those who receive  abstinence
education. When students are told that abstinence is best at the same time
that the educator is telling them how to use a condom, nearly half of the
teens end up having sex within two years. But when teachers give a
consistent abstinence-only message, equip children with practical   methods to
say "no," and relay the full expectation that they can control themselves,
only about one-third of those children become sexually active in the next
two years.

How to Protect Your Family from dangerous sex education

Arm yourself with truth and teach it to your children.

While many in the policy and education world are shocked at the revelation
that abstinence education works, Robert Rector and Christine Kim of the
Heritage Foundation have known this truth for years. In 2008, Heritage
analyzed 21 different studies done on abstinence-education programs.
Researchers "found that in 16 of the 21 reports, there were significant
positive results in delaying early sexual activity and initiation."

In addition to eliminating all chances of becoming pregnant or   contracting a
sexually transmitted disease, Mr. Rector also reports that the research
reveals that teens who practice abstinence "will be happier and less
depressed than their permissive peers."

"Abstinent teens also do dramatically better in school. They are half as
likely to drop out as their sexually active peers. And teens who abstain
until at least age 18 are twice as likely to attend and graduate from
college as those who become sexually active while in high school," he
reported.

In most states, parents have the right to opt their children out of the
sex-education classes, but you have to act to make that happen.

Contact your school counselor and find out what the options are, and then
sit down with your children and explain why you are choosing a better way.
Make certain that the teachers do not belittle or punish them for   not taking
the classes. Find other parents in your child's classroom who  dare  to take a
stand, and support each other.

Secondly, be proactive in teaching abstinence to your children. Check out
sites like family.org, abstinence.net, sexrespect.org,  awareprogram.net and
heritage.org for great abstinence-education resources. Do your homework,
take action and be committed enough to your children to teach them the
truth. Since the president abandoned what works and is even   funding programs
that make your job harder and your children more vulnerable, your sons and
daughters are more reliant than ever on you to show them the way.

. Rebecca Hagelin is the author of "30 Ways in 30 Days to Save   Your Family."
For more family tips, visit HowToSaveYourFamily.com or e-mail
rebecca@howtosaveyourfamily.com

You can read the article online here:
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2010/feb/08/hagelin-obama-abstains-from-what
-works//print/
<http://washingtontimes.com/news/2010/feb/08/hagelin-obama-abstains-from-wha
t-works/print/>


Jenay Hallickson
Affiliate Coordinator
Abstinence Clearinghouse
801 E. 41st St.
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
605-335-3643
jenayh@abstinence.net
www.abstinence.net

ProjecTruth's 7th Annual Creativity Contest

Who is Eligible

Western New York students in grades 7- 12.  Entries will be divided into two categories:

Category 1:  7th and 8th Grade Students             

Category 2: 9th – 12th Grade Students

Contest Rules

• Students may submit one entry per category.
• Maximum poster size is 18” x 24”.
• All entries must represent the theme of sexual abstinence until marriage.
• No sexually explicit graphics or photos may be used.
• Correct spelling and grammar must be used.
• Text may not contain slang or vulgarities of any kind.
• Chalk drawings will not be accepted.
• Winners will be judged on the best representation of the abstinence until marriage theme and artistic consideration as portrayed in a positive light.
• Maximum words for essays and poems is 100 words or less.
• Song lyrics must be written, along with an accompaniment of music/lyrics recorded on a music cassette or music CD.

Entries & Deadlines

All entries must be received by February 17,2010*. – Please note that your school may have an earlier deadline!! Entries must include the following information printed or typed on an index card affixed to the BACK of their entry: (Failure to do so will result in disqualification.)

Student Name
Parent or Guardian Name
Age / Grade
School
Home Address; and
Phone Number.

Submit your entry at school or directly to ProjecTruth at:

ProjecTruth  ▪ 3982 Main Street   ▪  Buffalo, NY 14226-3411

*Entries may be submitted when completed, prior to the February 10th deadline date.

Student Prizes!

School Prizes!

ProjecTruth’s Creativity Contest Winners Awarded

BUFFALO, NY, April 25, 2008 – ProjecTruth of Catholic Charities unveiled the “best of the best” winners that is, of its fifth annual Abstinence Until Marriage Creativity Contest: “Waiting is Easier because…” at an Awards Reception Friday afternoon in The Fairdale Banquet Center in Williamsville. The contest encourages students in seventh to 12th grades to creatively express their understanding of the benefits of remaining sexually abstinent until marriage and/or the consequences of high-risk behavior through art, essays, poems and/or music.

The winners are:

The honorees were joined at the reception by parents, teachers, school administrators, and the staff of ProjecTruth and Catholic Charities.

Judith Vogtli, PhD, Program Director for ProjecTruth, praised the youth for their work. “This is always an exciting event for ProjecTruth – it is our opportunity to celebrate the youth of Western New York and their amazing creativity, and to encourage young people in their commitment to abstinence and all good life choices.”

She added, “As educators, we are always highly impressed and humbled by the imaginative and inspired entries to the contest. This year was no different. All of the entries were on target with ProjecTruth’s principles, and the ideas and execution of them were inventive.”

A total 254 entries were received.  

Father Joseph Sicari, Diocesan Director of Catholic Charities, also welcomed the youth and congratulated the students.

“Your entries not only displayed creativity but you skillfully combined your talents with the positive message of abstinence. On behalf of everyone at Catholic Charities I extend my congratulations to you, and to all of our entrants,” he said.

First and second prizes were awarded for each category in both divisions: 7th & 8th grades and 9th through 12th grades. First place winners in each grade category and entry format received a $100 gift certificate to the Walden Galleria Mall and second place winners a $50 gift certificate to the mall. The winners also received a ProjecTruth CD/DVD, and the winners’ posters, essays, poems and/or song lyrics have been reproduced for distribution to area schools and organizations and will be published on the ProjecTruth web site, www.projectruth.com.

Mt. St. Mary Academy in Kenmore submitted 85 entries and took the prizes for the school with the greatest number of entries from students, including a $200 gift certificate to Office Max for art/school supplies, a framed reproduction of the winning poster and ProjecTruth’s “LifeSongs: Make the Right Choice” curriculum, including Scoreboard.

ProjecTruth has reached more than 40,000 teens in more than 120 schools and community sites across Western New York with its character-based abstinence-only approach to reducing the social, physical, and emotional problems associated with sexual activity among adolescents.  

Catholic Charities is the most comprehensive direct human service provider in Western New York, serving all eight counties with 53 locations without regard to age, race or religious affiliation. Established in 1923, Catholic Charities also provides comprehensive counseling, services for children and families, anti-domestic violence programming, emergency assistance, and education and job training, among other social services