Expanding Abstinence Funding to include Programs for Young Adults

Most abstinence educators were taken off guard by yesterday's announcement that Title V (Welfare Reform Act) abstinence funding to states will allow state's the flexibility to fund programs offered to anyone under 30. So it was amusing to hear a WI Public Radio guest charge that this was a political move by us right wingers just prior to elections. First, Abstinence "advocates" don't have the political capability of our opposition and secondly, I'm not sure how they think we could make "political hay" out of this move. Whose vote are we going to swing?

From the practical standpoint, we don't have a lot of "curriculums" sitting around for 20-somethings. Some of us view this as a dilution of the precious abstinence dollars available. However, none of us would argue with the appropriateness. Why?

• Post-teens now have experience with the effects of sexual activity on their generation. Experience allows them to logically process the information presented to them. Because their brains are closer to maturity, they are capable of insight, critical thinking, and thoughtful decision-making.
• Many of them got their sex education as 14-15 year olds when, for the the vast majority of them, it didn't apply to their lives. They ignored, forgot or slept through the information.
• Education of this type can't be a one shot deal--living an abstinent lifestyle needs reinforcement as our framework of relationships change.
• Medical Information on STDs changes on almost a daily basis. Many women in their late 20s have cervical cancer from HPV which, unless their teacher had been recently trained, wasn't even mentioned when they were high school Freshmen.