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Stacey
Hoch, Rhonda Chittenden, Vanessa McDole, and Doug Kirby
of ETR Associates. Taken at the State Policy Briefing on February
28, 2008, where Dr. Kirby presented his findings on the effectiveness
of abstinence-only programs and comprehensive sex education.
In late February, 2008,
Governor Chet Culver decided to reject federal funding for the state’s
abstinence-only education program provided under Title V of the
Social Security Act. Iowa became the 17th state to reject
federal funding and this will become effective starting Fiscal Year
2009.
Governor Culver’s decision came shortly after Dr. Doug Kirby
of ETR Associates presented at FutureNet’s State Policy Briefing
at which he discussed both abstinence-only and comprehensive sex
education programs. Kirby’s research, published in Emerging
Answers 2007: Research Findings on Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy
and Sexually Transmitted Disease, concluded that the only programs
with strong evidence to delay sexual initiation were comprehensive
sex education programs. Sex education programs that emphasize
both abstinence and the use of condoms and contraception are realistic
and most effective in achieving positive sexual health outcomes
in adolescents.
Click
Here to view the FutureNet press release regarding Culver's
rejection of abstinence-only funding.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
On April 20, Gov. Chet Culver signed into law
a bill requiring that sex education taught in Iowa schools be based
on research. HF 611 passed both the Iowa House and Senate, requiring
that sex education provided to Iowa students be age-appropriate
and research-based, defined in the bill to mean medically-accurate.
The bill, which was supported by FutureNet and several member organizations,
also requires that all information in sex education classes be free
of racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender biases. The bill
does not take away local control, as critics argued, as local schools
boards will still decide what materials are used as long as the
materials meet the criteria for age-appropriateness, medical accuracy,
and anti-bias. Schools may still elect to teach only abstinence,
without mention of contraception, as long as the information is
medically accurate. To read the full text and see how your legislators
voted, click here and
type HF 611 into the box in the upper right-hand corner.
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:A new analysis from the National Campaign to
Prevent Teen Pregnancy shows that teen childbearing (teens 19 and
younger) in Iowa cost taxpayers (federal, state, and local) at least
$82 million in 2004 in services to these young families.
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Champion
for Children Nomination Form!
Many Iowans are committed to making a better life and a better future
for children in this state. If you would like to nominate someone
with exceptional service to the well-being of Iowa's children, please
consider these guidelines. The nominee should be a leader who demonstrates
caring and commitment to children and adolescents, through advocacy
and service in their behalf. Special consideration is given to nominees
who have worked within or have been advocates for youth in the fields
of teen pregnancy prevention, adolescent sexual health or services
to pregnant and parenting teens. The nominee may, for example, be
a community leader, a legislator, or a social services or health
care professional. The award winner is announced annually at FutureNet's
fall conference. Contact FutureNet for further information.
_________________________________________
• Jeanette Fry
- Community Educator, Great River Medical Center, West Burlington
• Rep. Mary Mascher - (D), Iowa
City
• Ryan Roemerman - Executive
Director, Iowa Pride Network, Des Moines
_________________________________________
Past
Recipients of the
Champion for Children Award
• Miriam "Mim" Fritz
- Advocate & Mentor for Teen Parents, Ames
• Tom Lazio - Adoption &
Foster Care Advocate, Ottumwa
• Jesse Villalobos - Anti-racism
Activist & Organizer, Des Moines
• Linda Carter - Advocate for
LGBT teens, Des Moines
• Carmen Lampe-Zeitler - Visionary
for Peace & Justice, Des Moines
• Jo Lerberg - Teen Pregnancy
Prevention Advocate, Des Moines
• Rep. Ro Foege (D) - State Representative,
Mount Vernon.
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