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May 2007 update on new publications, actions you can take, and more!
Advocates for Youth's e-News Update
News You Can Use
BREAKING NEWS!
Congressionally Mandated Study: Abstinence-Only Doesn't Work
On, Friday, April 13th, the long-awaited federally funded evaluation of abstinence-only-until-marriage programs was released showing that the programs had no impact on teen behavior. The official government report concludes: "Youth in the program group were no more likely than control group youth to have abstained from sex and, among those who reported having had sex, they had similar numbers of sexual partners and had initiated sex at the same mean age."
To read the full press release, please click here.
For more information:
May Is National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month (NTTPM)
The United States continues to have higher rates of teen pregnancy, birth, and abortion than other industrialized nations. Each year, approximately 750,000 to 850,000 teenage women in the United States experience pregnancy. Seventy-four to 95 percent of teen pregnancies are unintended.
National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month (NTPPM) is an educational campaign designed to help communities recognize that the effects of unintended teen pregnancy and early childbearing are far reaching. The campaign increases the public's awareness of and commitment to teen pregnancy prevention and mobilizes communities to help young people develop responsible, positive behaviors and attitudes regarding sexuality.
Please join Advocates for Youth in making NTPPM an effective year-round catalyst to highlight and promote sexual health information and services for teens.
Start planning your events now!
- For more information about National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month, click here.
- To find evaluated, effective programs, click here.
- To read our publications on teen pregnancy prevention, click here.
May 18th Is HIV Vaccine Awareness Day
The development of a preventive HIV vaccine could be the best hope for slowing the spread of HIV.
A preventive HIV vaccine is a substance that teaches the body's immune system to recognize and protect itself against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Ideally the vaccine would be given to uninfected (HIV-negative) people to keep them from becoming infected, if exposed to HIV.
To learn more about current HIV vaccine candidates and clinical trials as well as to read personal stories, please click here.
May 19th is Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
This observance day intends to raise awareness among Asians and Pacific Islanders (APIs) in the U.S. about the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS.
Among APIs, one of the fastest-growing ethnic/racial populations in the U.S., HIV/AIDS is on the rise. According to the CDC, the number of APIs living with AIDS has climbed by more than 10 percent in each of the last 5 years.
Read our new publication, "The Sexual Health of Asian-American/Pacific Islander Young Women: Focus on Assets."
For more information, please visit the Office of Minority Health.
Let's Talk About Sex
 SisterSong is proud to present its 2007 National Conference entitled "Let's Talk about Sex" on May 31-June 3, 3007, in Chicago, Illinois. African American Women Evolving will host the conference.
Join Advocates for Youth staff at this important conference.
For more information, please visit: http://www.sistersong.net/
News of the Absurd
Today's Lesson: Don't Write About Tolerance
In January, Amy Sorrell, a teacher and advisor of the school newspaper at Woodlan Junior-Senior High School in Woodburn, Indiana was suspended and has been transferred from her school and barred from advising the newspaper.
Why? Because one of her students wrote a column in the school paper advocating for tolerance of homosexuals.
To read the full story, please go to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18268259/.
Read recent developments in the case here: http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/news/local/17147831.htm
New At Advocates
BLOG: Abstinence-Only a Failure: Spotlight Now on Democrats in Congress
James Wagoner is President of Advocates for Youth. This blog was posted on RH Reality Check.
The release of the 10-year evaluation of abstinence-only-until-marriage programs on Friday [April 13, 2007] (if you can call the posting of the report on an obscure government website on a Friday afternoon a "release"), puts a big, bright spotlight on Democrats in Congress, particularly the appropriators.
Congress asked for this evaluation back in 1997. Do these programs work to protect young people? Ten years and over $1.5 billion dollars later, they got their answer. No, they don't. Period.
To read the full blog, click here.
Take Action!
The report card is in. Abstinence-only fails.
We know the facts. Abstinence-only programs:
- Censor life-saving information about condoms and contraception
- Replace science with scare tactics
- Use scientifically incorrect information
- Do not actually stop teens from having sex
After 10 years and over $1.5 billion in wasted funding, Congress needs to hear from you. Click here to contact your representatives today! Tell them no more money for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs.
Read All About It
New Publication at Advocates
From Research to Practice: The Sexual Health of Asian-American/Pacific Islander Young Women: Focus on Assets
Young Asian and Pacific Islander (API) women face unique challenges to good reproductive and sexual health, including barriers to good communication about sex, low rates of condom use, and a lack of culturally specific sexual health programs and services. But cultural factors also provide them with unique assets they can draw upon to protect their well-being. Youth-serving professionals and policy makers should be mindful of these assets in order to better promote good outcomes for these young women.
You can help Advocates for Youth with a contribution today. To donate, visit http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/about/donatetoday.htm
Read previous issues from the Archive of e-News Updates >>
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