Illinois: Abstinence-Only Program Grant Under Fire

The Illinois Campaign for Responsible Sex Education (ICRSE) wants Gov. Rod Blagojevich to cut from his budget a $1.2 million abstinence-only grant to Project Reality, a Glenview, Ill.-based nonprofit.

"I think it's dangerous to fund abstinence-only programs… and I think it's a waste of money," said Jonathan Stacks, campaign manager for ICRSE, a coalition of comprehensive sex education advocates that includes Planned Parenthood.

Project Reality is to receive the grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services. Though the department also awards grants to a "comprehensive range" of groups dealing with family planning and teen pregnancy, Project Reality is the only school-based program that receives funding.

Project Reality Director Libby Gray Macke said an abstinence-based approach is an effective way to modify teens' sexual behavior. "Since there has been funding going toward abstinence education, there has been a national decline in teen sex activity rates and teen pregnancy rates," she said. "Something's got to be working, and with the funding going toward abstinence education, I think it's clear that it is making a difference."

ICRSE says otherwise. The campaign created a panel of health professionals, clergy, parents, students, and teachers to study sex education programs used in Illinois schools. The two state-funded Project Reality programs ranked in the bottom-third of the 18 assessed, ICRSE said. Macke responded by pointing out that no abstinence-only supporters were included on the 21-member panel.

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