Publications

Family and Youth Services Bureau
Community-Based Abstinence Education Program

History and Purpose

Community-Based Abstinence Education supports programs that are designed to promote abstinence-until-marriage education, as defined by Section 510(b)(2) in Title V of the Social Security Act, for adolescents aged 12 through 18. The entire focus of these programs is to educate young people and create an environment within communities that supports teen decisions to postpone sexual activity until marriage.

The funding for the Community-Based Abstinence Education Program was appropriated to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF) in the FY 2005 appropriations bill. Originally administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau beginning in 2001, the Community-Based Abstinence Education Program was re-delegated by the Secretary in February 2005 to the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB).

FYSB’s mission is to provide national leadership on youth and family issues. The Bureau promotes positive outcomes for children, youth, and families by supporting a wide range of comprehensive services and collaborations at the local, Tribal, State, and national levels

Services Provided

Curricula developed or selected for use in the Community-Based Abstinence Education Program must address all eight elements of the Section 510 abstinence education definition. Federal law defines abstinence education 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 the 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.”

Since communicating abstinence education to various target populations requires a number of different approaches, activities may include adult and peer mentoring, programs before and after school, and parent education groups to promote abstinence from sexual activity until marriage.

Program Funding Process

Any public or private entity, including a nonprofit or faith-based organization, is eligible to apply for funding through the Community-Based Abstinence Education Program. Projects must be community-based and must involve an educational intervention.

Funds were distributed in the form of 3-year implementation grants through FY 2006. Starting in FY 2007, the project period for grants has been extended to 5 years. There is no match requirement for these grants. Funding for the Community-Based Abstinence Education Program for FY 2006 was about $113 million. Currently there are 158 grantees located throughout 43 States and U.S. Territories.

For More Information

For further information about FYSB’s Community-Based Abstinence Education Program, contact the National Clearinghouse on Families & Youth, P.O. Box 13505, Silver Spring, MD 20911-3505; (301) 608-8098; fax: (301) 608-8721; e-mail: ncfy@acf.hhs.gov; Web site: ncfy.acf.hhs.gov.