U.S. News Arizona: State to Accept Abstinence-Only Education GrantApril 22, 2009 On Friday, a spokesperson for Gov. Jan Brewer (R) confirmed the state is pursuing more than $1 million in federal abstinence-only sex education funding, citing teen pregnancies and STDs as "urgent public health issues." The decision comes one year after Arizona's then-Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) rejected federal funding for abstinence-only programs, saying they do not work. Arizona law already requires that abstinence be taught in public school-based sex education curricula. Individual districts decide how to structure the programs, and whether the courses will provide additional instruction about condoms and other contraception. Arizona has one of the nation's highest teen pregnancy and teen birth rates. "I don't really get the [abstinence-only vs. comprehensive sex education] debate because everyone is after the same goal: to prevent teen pregnancy and the spread of STDs," said Will Humble, DHS's interim director. Arizona Republic (Phoenix) 04.18.2009; Ginger Rough This article was provided by CDC National Prevention Information Network. It is a part of the publication CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update.
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