Florida: Non-Profit Organization Advocates Abstinence to High School Teens

Since 1992, the nonprofit organization Be the One has conducted age-specific abstinence programs -- including interactive classroom presentations, after-school clubs and youth rallies -- for middle and high schools students across the country. Last year, the group received a $2.4 million federal grant to focus efforts on Delray Beach and Belle Glade, Fla., because of their high teen pregnancy rates, with what it calls a "saturation strategy." The grant, from the Special Projects of Regional and National Significance program, will be administered over three years.

According to Program Director Lloyd Groves of Boynton Beach, the group has no religious affiliation. "Since we are funded by the state and federal government, we are not allowed to mention religion. We take a purely medical, physical, social, emotional standpoint," said Groves.

The group is staunchly committed to promoting an abstinence-before-marriage lifestyle and does not advocate birth control or STD-preventing measures as options. Rather, the group discusses the physical and emotional consequences of premarital sex, supported by statistical information, and the benefits of abstinence.

"We are old enough to look up to, but young enough to be cool and understand [kids]," said Carrie McDonald, 26, a club education manager. "We teach them to be assertive, set boundaries and say no, and introduce them to the idea that not everyone is doing it," she continued.

Another major goal of Be the One is parental education. Presentations and workshops help parents understand how to communicate with their children about sex, said Groves.

So far, the response has been positive, said Groves and McDonald. The demand for the presentation at schools has resulted in a waiting list, Groves added.

Back to other news for September 8, 2003