This document calls for increased funding for comprehensive sexuality education programs and opposes further funding for abstinence-only education. It provides details on current federal funding streams for abstinence and comprehensive programs. Abstinence-only programs have received over $1.6 billion since 1996 but have shown no evidence of effectiveness, while comprehensive programs have been shown to delay sexual activity and increase contraceptive use. The document advocates passing the Responsible Education About Life Act to provide funding for comprehensive sexuality education.

1. Invest in Comprehensive Sexuality Education
Stop Funding Abstinence-only Programs
NASTAD supports increased funding for comprehensive HIV prevention programs targeted at
youth and opposes continued investment in unproven abstinence-only education programs.
SUPPORT EVIDENCE BASED PROGRAMS FOR CDC DIVISION OF ADOLESCENT AND SCHOOL
YOUTH HEALTH
• The only federal funding for comprehensive sexual
Increased federal funding for domestic HIV
education is from CDC’s DASH program which
prevention through the Centers for Disease
provides funding to state and local education
Control and Prevention's (CDC) Division of
HIV/AIDS Prevention is needed to boost agencies to support the development and
programs targeted at out of school youth. implementation of effective HIV prevention
programs for school-aged children. The programs
• Increased funding for CDC’s Division of are locally designed to target those most at risk for
Adolescent and School Health (DASH) is sexual–risk taking behaviors and often include an
needed to strengthen HIV prevention evaluation component. In FY2008, DASH’s school
education efforts in schools. health program was funded at $40.2 million.
• Passage of legislation that creates a dedicated RESPONSIBLE EDUCATION ABOUT LIFE (REAL) ACT
funding stream for abstinence-based
comprehensive sexuality education is needed. The Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act, S
972 / HR 1653, sponsored by Representative Barbara
• Funding for youth-targeted HIV prevention Lee (D-CA) and Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)
education continues to be an important provides funding to states to support a
component of state and local health comprehensive approach to sexuality education. The
department HIV/AIDS prevention activities. legislation, endorsed by NASTAD, allows states to
receive federal funds for medically accurate, age-
• Comprehensive sexuality education programs appropriate comprehensive sexuality education in
have been found effective in delaying the onset schools that includes information on both abstinence
of sexual intercourse, reducing the number of and contraception, from both a values and public
sexual partners, and increasing contraception health perspective. REAL authorizes state programs
and condom use.1 to operate under a nine-point definition of quot;family
life education programsquot; that stands in sharp contrast
• There continues to be no scientific evidence to to the eight-point definition of Section 510(b) that
indicate abstinence-only programs have any now governs federal abstinence funding. REAL
efficacy in delaying the sexual debut of youth. defines a program of quot;family life educationquot; as one
that:
• An Institute of Medicine Report recommends 1. is age-appropriate and medically accurate;
that “Congress, as well as other federal, state, 2. does not teach or promote religion;
and local policymakers, eliminate the 3. teaches that abstinence is the only sure way to
requirements that public funds be used for avoid pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases;
abstinence-only education, and that states and 4. stresses the value of abstinence while not
local school districts implement and continue ignoring those young people who have had or are
to support age-appropriate comprehensive sex having sexual intercourse;
education and condom availability.”2 5. provides information about the health benefits

2. Sexuality Education
and side effects of all contraceptives and barrier programs. Of that amount, over $1 billion has been
methods as a means to prevent pregnancy; spent in the last five years. In FY2008, AFL
6. provides information about the health benefits programs were funded at $13 million. Annually,
and side effects of all contraceptives and barrier the Abstinence Education Formula Block Grant
methods as a means to reduce the risk of Program receives $50 million. To date, seventeen
contracting sexually transmitted diseases, states (i.e. Arizona, California, Colorado,
including HIV/AIDS; Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts,
7. encourages family communication about Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico,
sexuality between parent and child; New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Virginia, Wisconsin,
8. teaches young people the skills to make and Wyoming) have rejected this abstinence
responsible decisions about sexuality, including funding. In FY2008, Congress funded CBAE at $113
how to avoid unwanted verbal, physical, and million.
sexual advances and how not to make unwanted
ABSTINENCE FUNDING STREAMS
verbal, physical, and sexual advances; and
9. teaches young people how alcohol and drug use
Adolescent Family Life Demonstration Grants
can affect responsible decision making.
Program
Enacted in 1981, the goal of the Adolescent Family
ABSTINENCE FUNDING HISTORY
Life (AFL) program, administered by the Office of
Population Affairs (OPA) is to prevent premarital
NASTAD is concerned with the significant increase
adolescent pregnancy by promoting the values of
in federal and state resources directed toward
chastity and self-discipline, as well as to promote
abstinence-only education programs for youth.
adoption as the preferred option for pregnant
Currently, three federal programs fund abstinence-
adolescents and to provide care services for
only education - the Adolescent Family Life (AFL)
pregnant and parenting adolescents.
program; the Abstinence Education Formula Block
Grant Program; and the Community-Based
Since 1997, programs funded through AFL for
Abstinence Education (CBAE) Grants.
abstinence-only education have been tied to the
eight-point definition in the Temporary Assistance
Since 1996, the U.S. government has spent over $1.6
for Need Families (TANF) law of 1996 (see below).
billion dollars on abstinence-only-until-marriage
As a result of report language in the FY1997 Labor-
Health and Human Services (HHS) Appropriations
PRESIDENT'S FY2009 BUDGET bill, prevention programs funded under AFL
programs must comply with the eight-point
The President's budget, released on February 4,
definition. The language also waived the two-thirds
2008, increases funding for abstinence education
care/one-third prevention funding formula by
programs to a total of $204 million for FY2009, an
devoting more funding to prevention than to care.
increase of $28 million over FY2008. The entire
These changes have been included in every
increase is intended for the Community-Based
subsequent Labor-HHS Appropriations bill.
Abstinence Education (CBAE) Grants for a total
of $141 million which will allow the program to
Abstinence Education Formula Block Grant
make additional awards. The President’s budget
Program
also cuts funds to DASH’s comprehensive school
The 1996 welfare reform law, Section 510 (b) of Title
heath program. The budget proposal flat funds
V of the Social Security Act, guaranteed $50 million
the Title X Family Planning program at $300
annually over five years for abstinence-only-until-
million. The Title X Family Planning program
marriage education grants to states. In February
provides funding to family planning clinics to
2006, TANF was reauthorized through FY2010.
provide reproductive health care to low-income
Those states that choose to accept Section 510(b)
women.
funds, administered through the Administration for

3. Sexuality Education
Children and Families, are required to match every Section 510(b) grant funding are only allowed to
four federal dollars with three state dollars. States discuss contraception in terms of failure rates.
have distributed the 510(b) funds to education
Community-Based Abstinence Education Grants
agencies, community-based organizations, faith-
Established in FY2001, the Community-Based
based organizations, and for statewide programs.
Abstinence Education (CBAE) Grants, administered
The funds can only be used for the exclusive
by the Agency for Children and Families, award
purpose of teaching the benefits of abstinence.
competitive grants directly to community-based
Recipients of these funds may not provide a
organizations. This can include state and local
participating adolescent with any other
health departments. This funding is also tied to the
information regarding sexual conduct in the same
Section 510(b) eight-point definition. In certain
setting as the abstinence programs.
ways the CBAE grants are far more restrictive than
funding granted under Section 510(b). Unlike 510
Programs that use the 510(b) funds are required to
(b)-funded programs, CBAE-funded activities must
adhere to an eight-point definition of abstinence-
teach all eight components of the federal definition
only programs. Abstinence education is defined
of abstinence education, must target adolescents
by Section 510 (b) as an education or motivational
ages 12-18, and are specifically barred from
program that:
providing young people with any other education
1. has as its exclusive purpose teaching the social,
regarding sexual conduct. In 2006 guidance for
psychological, and health gains to be realized
CBAE grantees, ACF introduced a series of
by abstaining from sexual activity;
ideologically based requirements for the programs.
2. teaches abstinence from sexual activity outside
Examples of how to fulfill these requirements
marriage as the expected standard for all
included: “teaching that abstinence reflects
school-age children;
qualities of personal integrity and is honorable,”
3. teaches that abstinence from sexual activity is
“teaching that non-marital sex in teen years may
the only certain way to avoid out-of-wedlock
reduce the probability of a stable, happy marriage
pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and
as an adult,” and “teaching that non-marital teenage
other associated health problems;
sex may harm other.”3
4. teaches that a mutually faithful monogamous
relationship in the context of marriage is the
expected standard of sexual activity;
5. teaches that sexual activity outside of the
context of marriage is likely to have harmful
REFERENCES
psychological and physical effects;
6. teaches that bearing children out-of-wedlock is
D. Kirby, No Easy Answer (Washington, D.C. National
1
likely to have harmful consequences for the
Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 1997); D. Kirby,
child, the child's parents, and society; Emerging Answers: Research Findings on Programs to
7. teaches young people how to reject sexual Reduce Teen Pregnancy (Washington, D.C.: National
advances and how alcohol and drug use Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 2001); and David
increase vulnerability to sexual advances; and Satcher, The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote
8. teaches the importance of attaining self- Sexual Health and Responsible Sexual Behavior, June, 2001.
sufficiency before engaging in sexual activity. 2 No Time to Lose: Getting More from HIV Prevention, M.S.
Ruiz, A.R. Gable, E.H. Kaplan, M.A. Stoto, H. Fineberg,
and J. Trusell, editors (Washington, D.C.: Institute of
In FY2007, several changes were made to Title V
Medicine, 2000), p.6.
programs to make them stricter. States must now 3 Administration for Children and Families, Guidance
“meaningfully represent each” of the eight
Regarding Curriculum Content
principles. Furthermore, ACF clarified that (Required for CBAE grantees as of FY 2006.), can be
programs must focus on individuals ages 12 to 29, found at :
where as historically states had focused on young http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb/content/absti
people ages 9 to 14. In addition, recipients of the nence/cbaeguidance.htm