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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. Abstinence education is defined as “an educational or motivational program which:
(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.''
Specific objectives for the Community-Based Abstinence Education Program are to: (1) support programmatic efforts that foster the development of abstinence education for adolescents, ages 12 through 18, in communities across the country; (2) develop and implement abstinence programs that target the prevention of teenage pregnancy and premature sexual activity; (3) develop abstinence education approaches that are culturally sensitive and age-appropriate to meet the needs of a diverse audience of adolescents; and (4) implement curriculum-based community education programs that promote abstinence education and positive youth development to adolescents.
ACF Review of Comprehensive Sex Education Programs www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb/content/abstinence/comprehensive.pdf
Department of Health and Human Services
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
Office of Human ServicesPolicy
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