Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Washington Times (12.30.04) - Thursday, December 30, 2004
Cheryl Wetzstein
ACF will now oversee the $50 million Title V and $104 million Special Projects of Regional and National Significance Community-Based Abstinence Education grant programs.
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson moved oversight of the programs to ACF so they could be integrated into "the broader positive youth-development perspective that we have been pursuing here at ACF," said ACF head Wade Horn, who is a child psychologist. Sexual abstinence "is the only 100 percent effective way" for a teen to avoid becoming a parent or getting an STD, said Horn. "The goal is to find the most effective strategies to help young people make that choice."
"Wade Horn's leadership and commitment to abstinence will be a tremendous benefit to abstinence education," said Bruce Cook, founder of Choosing the Best abstinence program. Horn "will do a wonderful job of promoting the [abstinence] message with the passion and commitment it deserves," said Libby Gray, director of the Glenview, Ill., Project Reality abstinence group.
But Marcela Howell, public-policy director at Advocates for Youth, which supports comprehensive sexual education, said, "We're concerned about the politics that may go into the oversight of these programs." Horn, she said, "clearly has an ideology to push.. It's very political."
The oversight changes follow years of grumbling by abstinence advocates that MCHB sometimes gave grants to programs that promoted condom use. Grantees must teach abstinence is "the expected standard" for school-age children and that non- marital sexual activity "is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects."
041230
AD042636
Copyright © 2004 - Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD. The CDC National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention provides the following information as a public service only. Providing synopses of key scientific articles and lay media reports on HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis does not constitute CDC endorsement. This daily update also includes information from CDC and other government agencies, such as background on Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) articles, fact sheets, press releases and announcements. Reproduction of this text is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold, and the CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News Update should be cited as the source of the information. Contact the sources of the articles abstracted below for full texts of the articles.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2004. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2004. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.
.