News Release
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 2, 2003
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Contact: HRSA Press Office
(301) 443-3376
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HHS AWARDS NEW GRANTS TO SUPPORT
ABSTINENCE EDUCATION AMONG NATION'S TEENS
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced 28 new grants totaling more than $15 million to help communities develop and implement abstinence education programs for young people ages 12 to 18.
"When adolescents become sexually active, it can have negative effects on their physical and emotional health," Secretary Thompson said. "These grants create an environment within communities that supports teens in their decision to remain abstinent until marriage."
HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released the 28 Community-Based Abstinence Education implementation grants to public and private entities, including community-based and faith-based organizations, hospitals, health centers, school systems, and other youth services agencies. HRSA expects to announce the availability of another round of abstinence grants this fall.
"Abstinence education is designed as an intervention to reduce the number of teens who have premarital sex and who may not be emotionally or financially ready for the consequences," HRSA Administrator Elizabeth M. Duke said. "Avoiding the possibility of pregnancy before marriage and preventing sexually transmitted diseases through abstinence can only safeguard their health and improve the quality of their lives."
Abstinence education interventions are designed to reduce the number of adolescents who engage in premarital sexual activity and, consequently, the number of out-of-wedlock pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, and to encourage youth to avoid other risky behaviors associated with early sexual involvement, such as alcohol and drug use.
The Abstinence Education Grant Program, funded as part of the agency's Special Projects of Regional and National Significance (SPRANS), began in FY 2001. Seventy-three current implementation grants were funded during the past two years. HRSA also administers the Section 510 Abstinence Education Formula Block Grant Program to States.
A table of grantees and their awards follows:
FY 2003 Community-Based Abstinence Education Grants |
Organization |
City |
State |
Amount |
University of South Alabama |
Mobile |
Ala. |
$797,240 |
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science |
Los Angeles |
Calif. |
$762,072 |
Bethany Crisis Pregnancy Services |
Colorado Springs |
Colo. |
$631,873 |
Network Connecticut, Inc. |
New Britain |
Conn. |
$652,606 |
Medical College of Georgia |
Augusta |
Ga. |
$436,000 |
Rockdale Hospital and Health System |
Conyers |
Ga. |
$177,809 |
Metro Atlanta Youth for Christ |
Decatur |
Ga. |
$363,936 |
Catholic Charities of Honolulu |
Honolulu |
Hawaii |
$735,032 |
Lawndale Christian Health Center |
Chicago |
Ill. |
$461,278 |
Rend Lake College |
Ina |
Ill. |
$298,080 |
Confederation of Spanish American Workers |
Melrose Park |
Ill. |
$703,895 |
Council for the Advancement of Social Services and Education |
Shreveport |
La. |
$798,122 |
A Woman's Concern, Inc. |
Boston |
Mass. |
$488,434 |
Catholic Social Services of Fall River |
Fall River |
Mass. |
$124,918 |
Life Choices, Inc. |
Joplin |
Mo. |
$800,000 |
Future Leaders Outreach Network |
Kansas City |
Mo. |
$735,708 |
Sparrow Community Development Group |
Kansas City |
Mo. |
$235,170 |
Rockingham Pregnancy Care Center |
Eden |
N.C. |
$46,250 |
Omaha/Council Bluffs Metropolitan YMCA |
Omaha |
Neb. |
$599,743 |
ATM Education, Inc. |
Sunbury |
Ohio |
$686,278 |
Northwest Family Services |
Portland |
Ore. |
$789,839 |
South Carolina Dept. of Health and Environment |
Columbia |
S.C. |
$800,000 |
Life Choices Pregnancy Support Center |
Dyersburg |
Tenn. |
$534,339 |
Hope Resource Center |
Knoxville |
Tenn. |
$317,282 |
Fisher County Hospital District |
Roton |
Texas |
$361,517 |
Families Under Urban and Social Attack, Inc. |
Houston |
Texas |
$318,011 |
Shannon Health System |
San Angelo |
Texas |
$800,000 |
Opportunities Industrialization Center of Greater Milwaukee |
Milwaukee |
Wis. |
$798,309 |
TOTAL: |
$15,253,741 |
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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are
available at
http://www.hhs.gov/news.
Last Revised: July 2, 2003
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