Coalition for Responsible Sex Ed is a coalition of educational, religious, health, social service and advocacy organizations, as well as concerned individuals that promotes lifelong healthy sexuality by advocating for policies on responsible sexuality education and access to confidential health care services.
State Update
Get Out and Vote! Election Day Resources
The Coalition for Responsible Sex Ed operates as a 501 (c)(3). While we do not endorse any candidate or party, we do remind you that your civic participation matters. Elected officials play a critical role in making policy and funding decisions that affect our work and the lives of young people in Minnesota. Find out how the candidates stand on the issues that you care about and then voice your values at the polls.
In Minnesota you can register to vote at the polls on Election Day. Visit www.sos.state.mn.us to learn what qualifies as the proof of residence you will need to provide at your polling place. To find out where you vote and to preview the ballot, visit pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us.
Don't let a lack of transportation keep you from having a voice in this year's election. Minnesota Participation Project is offering free rides to the polls on Election Day. To request a ride, call 1-877-NOV-2008 (1-877-668-2008) or send an email to vote@mncn.org.
Coalition Event Summary
Over 50 Coalition members and advocates attended the Coalition event "Leading the Way: Sex Ed Policy Across Minnesota" on October 21st. Attendees heard from speakers representing new and ongoing projects across the state seeking to make responsible sex ed a reality in the life of every young person in Minnesota. The Coalition has worked for nine years to pass a state statute creating standards for medically accurate, age appropriate, evidence based sex education for public school students in grades 7-12. We will continue to work to make this statute a reality in Minnesota; and new initiatives in the state are working at different levels to implement sex education in public schools.
Nikki Madsen, Associate Director of Pro-Choice Resources highlighted their new project, Reproductive Health Research and Residency Project, funded by the Ford Foundation. This groundbreaking new initiative intends to enhance the knowledge and skills of classroom teachers and build support for implementing responsible sex education. The project includes research, teacher training and grassroots organizing on college campuses. For more information, contact Nikki at nikki@birdsandbees.org.
Coral Garner of the Minneapolis Department of Health & Family Support highlighted their new project, the Minneapolis Urban Initiative, that seeks to bring responsible sex ed to all middle schools in the Minneapolis School District. She discussed the program's goal to bring the expertise and experience of public health, the school district and community based organizations together in this initiative. The key component of this project includes passing school board level policy to guarantee sustainability of this project over the years. For more information, contact Coral at Coral.Garner@ci.minneapolis.mn.us.
Federal Update
Recipients of Federal funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs were recently announced. Sex education programs that promote the use of contraceptives are not eligible for funding under this announcement. Community Based Abstinence Education grantees for fiscal year 2009 can be found at www.acf.hhs.gov. For more information about grant criteria, visit www.acf.hhs.gov.
In the News
Proponents of Abstinence-Only Education Concerned Support Will Wane Under New Administration
In recent Newsweek coverage, supporters of abstinence-only sex education programs expressed concerned about the future of these programs under a new administration that might not "be so dedicated to the cause." Read more at www.nationalpartnership.org.