Future of Abstinence-Only Programs Unclear Without Federal Funding, Newsweek Reports

October 29, 2009 — Abstinence-only sex education programs that received substantial federal grants under the Bush administration are turning to private donors as an attempt to keep their programs running, Newsweek reports. Since 1997, the abstinence-only industry has received a total of $1.9 billion in government funding, including $1.5 billion from the federal government. However, the "next decade may well be its bust," as President Obama's 2010 budget cut federal funding for abstinence-only programs in favor of programs that have been proven effective, Newsweek reports. Although Congress could restore funding to the programs -- as the Senate Finance Committee voted 12-11 to do last month in its health care reform bill (S 1796) -- the "chances are slim" that the full Congress would approve such a measure, according to Newsweek.

Twenty-five states were already rejecting federal funding for the abstinence-only programs when Obama proposed the budget changes, with 16 of them citing ideological reasons or saying that they weren't seeing results in reducing teen pregnancies and STIs. Alesha Doan, author of "The Politics of Virginity: Abstinence in Sex Education," said that now, the "open question" is whether abstinence-only advocates and their programs "will continue to thrive when federal funding is not longer available." She asked, "What is the underlying support in society for this?"

The shift in funding comes as a growing body of research indicates that abstinence-only messages do not reduce rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. "Everyone was willing to give new ideas a trial period" when the programs were first introduced, according to John Santelli of Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. However, "[e]ach evaluation came along ... and each showed it didn't work," he said. In 2007, a federally funded study of four abstinence-only programs showed that students involved were no more likely to abstain from sex until marriage than students enrolled in a comprehensive sex education program. At the same time, a 2008 review of 48 studies found that two-thirds of comprehensive sex education programs reduced the frequency of sex or number of sexual partners.

Newsweek reports that there are several reasons why abstinence-only programs "proved largely ineffective," citing the incomplete and inaccurate information provided as major reasons. For example, one study, released earlier this year by the Texas Freedom Network Education Fund, found that one curriculum in Texas was teaching that condoms have "little to no benefit," despite recommendations from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention that condoms are highly effective in preventing the sexual transmission of HIV infection and reducing the risk of other STIs. Researcher Doug Kirby said, "The programs that have by far the strongest evidence that they have a positive impact ... are those that give the message that not having sex is safest, but if you have sex always use condom and contraception." Religious influence also contributed to the criticism of some federally funded abstinence-only programs, with the American Civil Liberties Union filing "a number of lawsuits (some successful, some not)" against such programs in public schools and against state-sponsored events that encouraged a specific religious perspective, Newsweek reports.

Experts on both sides of the issues expect the abstinence-only program industry to continue to "shrink significantly," even if Congress restores Title V funding, Newsweek reports. Several states are turning to a comprehensive approach, combining abstinence-based programs with more comprehensive curricula that include basic information about contraception. For instance, the North Carolina Legislature this summer approved a program that teaches abstinence until marriage and offers information about contraceptives. Parents are allowed to opt out of portions of the program. The bill has attracted support from the Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of North Carolina's Christian Action League, as well as from Planned Parenthood.

Abstinence-only advocates argue that programs combining abstinence and comprehensive sex education programs send mixed messages to teens, teaching them to remain abstinent until marriage "while demonstrating how to use condoms," Newsweek reports. Leslee Unruh, director of the Abstinence Clearinghouse, called such programs "very harmful." According to Newsweek, abstinence-only advocates say they "are not quitting," even though the federal funding is gone and a growing body of research indicates that the programs are not effective. Unruh said that the loss of federal funding, "will have a chilling effect on abstinence education across the country," adding, "We're in a race against time to keep these people in business." Private fundraising has been successful for some abstinence programs, such as Oklahoma's KEEP -- Kids Eagerly Endorsing Purity -- which receives about $100,000 in federal funds annually.

The Newsweek article profiled the effect changes in abstinence-only funding have had on Texas' McLennan County Collaborative Abstinence Program. In 2006, it had a $1 million budget comprised entirely of government grants, which it used to educate 6,000 to 7,000 students. However, the group now "struggles to reach half that number" after its $800,000 grant from the Community-Based Abstinence Education program ran out in 2007 and was not renewed. The group also no longer receives Title V grants. MCCAP Executive Director Tracy Cousins said, "It was a definite shock to go from everything we had ... down to the bare minimums," noting that the group used to have seven staff members servicing 19 school districts. They now have two employees and are likely to operate in four or five school districts going forward (Kliff, Newsweek, 10/27).