Not So Fast

Recently we reported that the health care bill made funding available for abstinence education. Well, apparently, the feds are looking for something more “comprehensive” to bankroll.

“Today the Office of Adolescent Health released a funding announcement for the $75 million in competitive grants to be awarded to ‘evidenced based’ programs under the new Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program,” the National Abstinence Education Association reported Friday, April 02, 2010. “NAEA reviewed the announcement and provides a summary here.”

“The announcement makes clear that all grantees must select from a specific list of curricula in order to qualify for this funding. Not a single abstinence-centered curriculum is included in the list, verifying NAEA’s concern over the lack of priority given to risk avoidance in the new funding stream.”

Some of the model programs identified by NAEA that the government recommends include:

• Aban Aya Youth Project
• Adult Identity Mentoring (Project AIM)
• All4You!
• Assisting in Rehabilitating Kids (ARK)
• Be Proud! Be Responsible!
• Be Proud! Be Responsible! Be Protective!
• Becoming a Responsible Teen (BART)
• Children’s Aid Society (CAS)—Carrera Program
• Comprehensive Abstinence and Safer Sex Intervention
• ¡Cuídate!
• Draw the Line/Respect the Line
• FOCUS HIV Risk Reduction Among Detained Adolescents
• Horizons
• It’s Your Game: Keep it Real
• Making a Difference!
• Making Proud Choices!
• Promoting Health Among Teens!
• Project TALC
• Reducing the Risk
• Rikers Health Advocacy Program (RHAP)
• Safer Sex Seattle Social Development Project
• SiHLE
• Sisters Saving Sisters
• Teen Health Project
• Teen Outreach Program
• What Could You Do?

Malcolm A. Kline is the Executive Director of Accuracy in Academia.