State Abstinence Education Program

Purpose

The purpose of the State Abstinence Education Program grants is to enable States to create or augment existing abstinence education programs and, at the option of the State, provide mentoring, counseling, and adult supervision to promote abstinence from sexual activity with a focus on those groups most likely to bear children out–of–wedlock. Faith–based and community–based organizations can participate in this program by collaborating with States to administer abstinence programs.

Section 510 of Title V of the Social Security Act was established under Section 912 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–193). In June 2004 the Section 510 State Abstinence Education Program was reassigned from the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) to the Administration for Children and Families’ (ACF) Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB).

How Funds May Be Used

These grant projects must meet the legislative priorities as described in Section 510 of Title V of the Social Security Act. Abstinence education is defined in the legislation as “an educational or motivational program that

(A) Has as its exclusive purpose, teaching the social, psychological, and health gains to be realized by abstaining from sexual activity;

(B) Teaches abstinence from sexual activity outside marriage as the expected standard for all school age children;

(C) 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;

(D) Teaches that a mutually faithful monogamous relationship in context of marriage is the expected standard of human sexual activity;

(E) Teaches that sexual activity outside of the context of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects;

(F) Teaches that bearing children out–of–wedlock is likely to have harmful consequences for the child, the child’s parents, and society;

(G) Teaches young people how to reject sexual advances and how alcohol and drug use increases vulnerability to sexual advances; and

(H) Teaches the importance of attaining self–sufficiency before engaging in sexual activity.”

Eligibility

State Abstinence Education Program grants are formula grants to States. Grants are awarded to States based on a statutory formula determined by the proportion of low-income children in a State to the total number of low-income children in all States according to the latest census data. The Family Youth Services Bureau at the Administration for Children and Families solicits applications from States through an annual Program Announcement. FY 2005 funding for the State Abstinence Education Program is expected to be $50 million. Eligible organizations apply directly to States for this program.

For More Information

National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth
Phone: 301-608–8098
E–mail: info@ncfy.com
Web site: www.ncfy.com.