Community-Based Abstinence Education Program
Purpose
The Community–Based Abstinence Education program supports communities across the country in delivering the message that abstinence is the surest way to avoid out–of–wedlock pregnancy and STDs. Funding through this program will also finance comprehensive evaluations of abstinence education programs. This program provides funding directly to individual organizations to support public and private entities in the development and implementation of abstinence education programs for adolescents, ages 12 through 18, in communities across the country. Applicants must indicate how proposed programs will target the prevention of teenage pregnancy, premarital sexual activity, and the incidence of sexually transmitted disease among adolescents using culturally sensitive and age–appropriate materials. For the purposes of this program, the term “abstinence education” means an educational or motivational program which
- Teaches the social, psychological, and health gains to be realized by abstaining from sexual activity as its exclusive purpose;
- Teaches that abstinence from sexual activity is the expected standard outside marriage for all school age children;
- Teaches that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and other associated health problems;
- Teaches that a mutually faithful monogamous relationship in the context of marriage is the expected standard of human sexual activity;
- Teaches that sexual activity outside of the context of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects;
- Teaches that bearing children out-of-wedlock is likely to have harmful consequences for the child, the child’s parents, and society;
- Teaches young people how to reject sexual advances and how alcohol and drug use increases vulnerability to sexual advances; and
- Teaches the importance of attaining self-sufficiency before engaging in sexual activity.
Eligibility
Non-profit organizations and other community-based organizations, including faith-based organizations, are eligible to apply for funding. There is no match requirement for Federal funds received under theCommunity-Based Abstinence Education Grant program.
Projects must clearly focus on the designated definition of “abstinence education” and applicants must agree not to provide a participating adolescent any other education regarding sexual conduct in the same setting.
Sponsoring Bureau: Administration for Children and Families, Family And Youth Services Bureau
FY 2005 Program Announcement
The Fiscal Year 2005 Program Announcement is expected in early
Spring 2005. See http://mchb.hrsa.gov/programs/adolescents/abstinence.htm.
Anticipated amount of FY 2005 competition: $20,000,000
Contact
Jeff Trimbath
Phone: 202-401-9205
E-mail: JTrimbath@acf.hhs.gov