Louisiana: Sex Education in New Orleans Schools

In response to recent data showing HIV/AIDS cases growing in New Orleans, two City Council members on Monday called for more extensive sex education in city public schools. Council members Stacy Head and Cynthia Willard-Lewis brought the topic for discussion after hearing testimony from a faith-based HIV/AIDS outreach program.

A survey of teen parishioners at St. John #5 Faith Church in the Seventh Ward found that many were receiving sex education too late, said Tamachia Davenport. "They're saying, ‘When you get to us at 15 or 16 it's too late,'" she said. "And the parents are asking for some sex ed for their kids in school."

"I think it's time for a [council] resolution asking the [Recovery School District] for a research-based sex-ed program in the schools at appropriate levels," said Head. "I don't see how you can be opposed to it. It does not mean we're saying go out and have sex. It means if you engage in risky behavior, which we discourage, there are consequences." Head said she wants a broad coalition of support for the proposal.

Last October, the mayor's Office of Health Policy was criticized for a six-month lag in disbursing $7 million in Ryan White funding to HIV/AIDS service providers. Since then, the city has improved its administration of the funds, said Eric Oleson, chairperson of the New Orleans Regional AIDS Planning Council and director of Project Lazarus.

The city's new computerized contract routing system has reduced processing time to weeks instead of months, Oleson said. However, there are still funding bottlenecks, he said. Leftover federal AIDS housing money promised to Project Lazarus seven months ago has never materialized, he said. That federal assistance is administered by the city's community development department.

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