Sexuality Education for Life - Minnesota Coalition
September 2007 E-Newsletter
Sexuality Education for Life - Minnesota 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 comprehensive sexuality education and access to confidential health care services.
National Update – No More Money Campaign
Sign-On Letter: Tell Congress to Cut Federal Funding for Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs
Earlier this year, Congress provided drastically different funding levels for Community-Based Abstinence Education (CBAE) in the House and Senate versions of the Labor-HHS spending bill. While the Senate thankfully decreased funding for the program by $28 million, the House of Representatives increased funding for the program by $28 million, despite overwhelming scientific evidence that the abstinence-only-until-marriage programs it supports do not work.
While the federal budget process for Fiscal Year 2008 is ongoing, it is imperative that we let Congress know now that they must decrease funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs in the final bill.
While we would all prefer that these programs receive no funding, we are urging Congress to provide the lowest possible Fiscal Year 2008 funding level for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. SIECUS is coordinating a sign-on letter to members of the Appropriations Committee. Please consider adding your organization as a signatory to the letter. For more information and to view the letter, please e-mail Jennifer at intern2@siecus.org. The deadline for collecting signatures is Friday, October 12th. National, state, and local organizations are all encouraged to sign on. The Sex Ed for Life Coalition has signed-on to the letter.
Other Events and Opportunities
Healthy Sexuality, Healthy Youth
October 4 & 11, 2007
9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Merrick East Side Community Center, St. Paul
Fee: $80 for registrations received on or before September 20. All registrations received on September 21 or later are $90.
Sexuality can be one of the most difficult topics for adults to discuss with youth. Yet young people desperately need adults to be comfortable in talking with them openly and honestly about sex and sexuality so that they receive accurate information. Join us as we explore ways in which adults can more effectively partner with youth to help them learn the facts around sexual health. Questions? Contact Cece Gran at 612-624-9117 or granx008@umn.edu. For more information, visit www.youthworkinstitute.org.
Join Minnesota Teens for AIDS Prevention (MN-TAP) for the 2007-2008 School Year
The Minnesota AIDS Project is looking for interested youth, ages 13-18, to apply to become a MN-TAP member for the ’07-08 school year. MN-TAP members work with fellow teens to influence their awareness and knowledge about policies affecting adolescent sexual health, and to engage them as community leaders. For more information about how you can get involved, please contact Kate Nelson at 612-373-9162 or kate.nelson@mnaidsproject.org. Additional information is available in the event brochure. (PDF)
In the News
South Carolina Supplemental Abstinence-Only Education Program Made No Difference in Preventing, Delaying Sex, Study Says
A South Carolina supplemental abstinence-only sex education program made no difference in the sexual behavior of teenagers. The study was conducted by Mathematica Policy Research for HHS. The study was conducted to examine the effects of a supplemental abstinence program rather than a full abstinence program. For more information, visit www.kaisernetwork.org.
Abstinence Group Launches Ads Urging Massachusetts Gov. Patrick To Accept Federal Abstinence-Only Sex Education Grant
National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA) recently rolled out a $75,000 ad campaign, complete with radio and print ads and a website, attacking Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick for his decision to reject Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage funding. www.kaisernetwork.org
New York Refuses Abstinence-Only Funds
Last week, State Health Commissioner Dr. Richard F. Daines announced that New York will reject Title V federal funding for abstinence-only programs for the coming fiscal year. New York joins several other states that have already made decisions to refuse Title V funds. www.siecus.org
Resources
New, From MDH Coordinated School Health!
This updated webpage includes links to adolescent health resources for teachers and educators. http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/dtopics/stds/teachers.html
New, From Guttmacher Institute!
Minors' Right to Consent
Updated information as of August 1, 2007 from the Guttmacher Institute on a minor’s authority to consent to testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) has been added and is available for all states.
STD/HIV Education Policy
Information as of August 1, 2007 from the Guttmacher Institute on sex education policy including state-by-state mandates for STD and HIV education is now available.
Research
Defining Virginity and Abstinence
This study examined adolescent conceptualizations of virginity and abstinence and whether differences in adolescent definitions of these terms differed by age, gender, ethnicity and sexual experience. Defining Virginity and Abstinence: Adolescents' Interpretation of Sexual Behaviors.
********************************************************************************************************
Sexuality Education for Life-Minnesota 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 comprehensive sexuality education and access to confidential health care services. Sexuality Education for Life-Minnesota is coordinated by Minnesota Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Prevention and Parenting and Minnesota AIDS Project.
The SEFL Coalition is supported by the Ms. Foundation for Women, the Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation, and the Public Welfare Foundation.
For more information on the SEFL Coalition, go to Sex Ed for Life. Please forward this information on to others interested in supporting the health of Minnesota youth and encourage them to sign up at Sex Ed for Life.
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, e-mail Lorie Alveshere, subject line: unsubscribe Sex Ed for Life.