- Issues
- News
- Resources
- Awards
- History and Guidelines
- Casey Medalists by Year
- Medal Winners: First Person
- Events
- Community
- About
Sources on Sex Ed and Teen Sexuality
These findings were released from a federally ordered study of four abstinence programs, conducted by Princeton, N.J.-based Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
In brief, youth participating in abstinence education were just as likely to have sex, and with a similar number of partners, than those who didn't attend classes.
Members of the evaluation work group include:
- Christopher Trenholm, senior researcher, Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. (contact Robert Johnston, 703.508.9848, rjohnston@commworksllc.com)
- Sarah Brown, National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 202.478.8500
- Ron Haskins, Brookings Institution, 202.797.6057
- Kristin Moore, Child Trends, 202.362.5580
- Robert Rector, Heritage Foundation, 202.608.6213
- Administration for Children and Families/U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Tara Wall, director, office of public affairs, 202.401.9216
ADDITIONAL RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY SOURCES
Centers for Disease Control
Sexually transmitted diseases data and information
Youth Risk Behavior Survey, including state level data on sexual behaviors and the percentage of students taught in school about AIDS or HIV infection
Abstinence education and state contact list
The Alan Guttmacher Institute
"Facts on Sex Education in the
Rebecca Wind, senior communications associate, 212.248.1111, Ext. 2203, rwind@guttmacher.org
ETR Associates
Douglas Kirby, senior research scientist, 831.438.4060, dougk@etr.org
Kirby has directed nationwide studies of adolescent sexual behavior, sexuality education programs, school-based clinics, school condom availability programs and other programs for youth.
Also see: http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2005/shelbyknox/special_interviews_2.html
http://www.etr.org/recapp/index.htm
Rebecca A. Maynard
Now at the
215.898.3558, rmaynard@gse.upenn.edu
National Abstinence Clearinghouse
The Clearinghouse was founded to provide a central location where character, relationship, and abstinence programs, curricula, speakers, and materials could be accessed. 605.335.3643
National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
Their project, Putting What Works to Work (funded, in part, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) translates research on teen pregnancy prevention and related issues into materials for practitioners, policymakers, and advocates.
Bill Albert, deputy director, 202.478.8510, balbert@teenpregnancy.org
SIECUS/Sexuality Information and Education Council of the
SIECUS promotes sexuality education for people of all ages, works to protect sexual rights, and expand access to sexual health care.
Martha Kempner, vice president for communications, 212.819.9770, Ext. 324, mkempner@siecus.org
STORY IDEAS (contributed by freelance journalist Lori Robertson and the
1. This is a local issue. What’s going on in your community? What type of instruction does the state or local school district require? What’s being taught? What do kids, teachers and parents say they want?
2. The generation of the sexual revolution talks about sex. What do the children of the '60s tell their kids? Where do they get advice on how to broach the subject?
3. Pediatricians advise that parents start the conversation early. Ask local doctors for their advice on leading those discussions and answering a child or teen's questions. (The Society for Adolescent Medicine can help you find a local professional.) What about school nurses? What kind of issues face school nurses?
4. Outsiders pick up the slack. What are programs outside of schools teaching kids? What do the schools have to say about it?
5. The age of first intercourse varies by age and ethnicity. To what extent does the abstinence message resonate with various cultural and ethnic groups? Why?
6. To what extent do abstinence programs incorporate culturally sensitive messages? What are they?
Stay Informed
Receive news summaries by e-mail: