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Battle likely on sex-ed policy but not without a fight
Advocates say Ohio's abstinence-only programs are successful, but the governor believes they don't work. in the long run.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
COLUMBUS — In a major shift in state policy, Gov. Ted Strickland wants to eliminate state funding for promoting abstinence from sex until marriage — a move that will likely provoke a fight with conservative lawmakers.
Strickland's two-year budget eliminates the usual $500,000 a year in state money for such programs and there are no plans to apply for more federal funds when current abstinence grants run out Sept. 30, his spokesman said.
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"Quite frankly, I don't believe abstinence-only education programs work in the long run," Strickland said. "There is some evidence that they may delay the onset of sexual activity, but over the long term there's not data there that show they prevent, in a statistical sense, sexual activity outside of marriage."
Over the last three years, Ohio abstinence groups have received $23.7 million in federal money — about $5 million of that routed through the Ohio Department of Health, according to the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States. The state has been chipping in another $500,000 a year in general revenue funds and the Governor's Office on Faith-based and Community Initiatives also spent state and federal money on abstinence programs.
Even if state money is cut off, some federal money likely will continue flowing directly to abstinence-only education groups.
Ohio law mandates that local school districts adopt health curriculum that stresses abstinence is the only 100 percent effective protection against pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV.
Abstinence education programs have come under fire on both state and national levels. A report last fall from the General Accounting Office said federally-funded abstinence programs receive little oversight to see if they are effective.
And Dr. Scott Frank, director of public health at Case Western Reserve University medical school, said in a June 2005 report that Ohio abstinence-only-until-marriage curricula contains false information about contraceptives and abortion, misrepresents religious convictions as scientific fact, and may be taught by instructors who are not trained as health educators.
Sacksteder and Hethcock both defended the curricula their organizations use. "We really do try to be accurate and not just throw things out there without sources to back it up," Hethcock said.
Statewide, teen pregnancy rates have been in steady decline, dropping from 42.3 pregnancies for every 1,000 females ages 10 to 19 in 1997 to 33.1 in 2005.
Sexually transmitted disease rates among teens statewide have fluctuated in the last five years, according to the Ohio Department of Health.
"I believe in a comprehensive approach," Strickland said. "I think, obviously, abstinence should be a part of any education curriculum, but I think young people need to be educated in ways that can protect their health and their safety."
Contact this reporter at (614) 224-1624 or lbischoff@DaytonDailyNews.com
