HRSA Awards $31 Million in New Grants to Support Abstinence Education
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) today announced 50 new grants totaling more than $31 million to help communities develop and put in place abstinence-only education programs for adolescents ages 12 through 18.
“Sexual activity before marriage can have a negative social and psychological impact on teenagers,” Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said. “Abstinence-only education programs support teens in their decision to remain abstinent until marriage.”
HRSA awarded the three-year Community-Based Abstinence Education implementation grants to public and private organizations, including community-based and faith-based groups, hospitals, health centers, school systems and other youth services agencies.
Abstinence education interventions are designed to reduce the number of adolescents who engage in premarital sexual activity and, consequently, the number of pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases among unmarried teens. Projects also encourage teenagers to avoid risky behaviors associated with early sexual involvement, such as alcohol and drug use.
“Helping youth see that abstinence can be positive and rewarding is the essence of this program’s message,” says HRSA Administrator Elizabeth M. Duke.
The Abstinence Education Grant Program, funded as part of HRSA’s Special Projects of Regional and National Significance, began in FY 2001. In the first three years of the program, 102 implementation grantees have provided abstinence education services in communities nationwide. A table of grant recipients follows:
FY 2004 Community-Based Abstinence Education Grants |
Organization |
City |
State |
Award |
Alabama State University
|
Montgomery |
Ala. |
$740,211
|
Fayetteville Public Schools
|
Fayetteville |
Ark. |
447,099 |
Catholic Social Service of Central & Northern Arizona
|
Mesa |
Ariz. |
776,171 |
Arizona-Mexico Border Health Foundation |
Tucson |
Ariz. |
631,792 |
Pima Youth Partnership
|
Tucson |
Ariz. |
729,365 |
Teen Awareness, Inc.
|
Fullerton
|
Calif. |
800,000 |
The Await & Find Project
|
Hayward
|
Calif. |
800,000 |
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa
|
Santa Rosa
|
Calif. |
361,605 |
Best Friends Foundation
|
Washington
|
D.C. |
754,785 |
Osceola County Health Department
|
Kissimmee |
Fla. |
799,791 |
Thinksmart Abstinence Education Program/Catholic Diocese of Orlando |
Orlando |
Fla. |
800,000 |
James B. Sanderlin Family Center |
St. Petersburg |
Fla. |
371,761 |
Choosing the Best, Inc.
|
Atlanta |
Ga. |
799,910 |
East Central Georgia Consortium |
Thomson |
Ga. |
799,814 |
Carefirst Prevention Services |
Chicago |
Ill. |
754,879 |
Family Centered Educational Agency, Inc. |
S. Holland |
Ill. |
400,840 |
Carenet Pregnancy Services of DuPage
|
Westmont |
Ill. |
295,442 |
St. Vincent Hospital & Health Services, Inc.
|
Indianapolis |
Ind. |
768,646 |
A Positive Approach to Teen Health, Inc.
|
Valparaiso |
Ind. |
469,266 |
Door of Hope Pregnancy Care Center |
Madisonville |
Ky. |
317,067 |
Character Counts in Maine |
S. Portland |
Maine |
499,000 |
New Genesis, Inc.
|
Kalamazoo |
Mich. |
737,925 |
Providence-St. John Health
|
Southfield |
Mich. |
262,516 |
Booneville School District
|
Booneville |
Miss. |
282,784 |
Community Matters, Inc.
|
Brandon |
Miss.
|
784,227 |
Mississippi Community Development Corp.
|
Jackson |
Miss. |
800,000 |
The Mississippi Community Education Center
|
Jackson |
Miss. |
750,600 |
Impact Community Development Corp.
|
Montclair |
N.J. |
439,307 |
Columbus Hospital |
Newark |
N.J. |
393,500 |
Best Choice Educational Services, Inc. |
Albuquerque |
N.M. |
536,583 |
Catholic Charities of Buffalo |
Buffalo |
N.Y. |
800,000 |
Jewish Child Care Association |
New York |
N.Y. |
797,010 |
Ross County Health District |
Chillicothe |
Ohio |
800,000 |
The RIDGE Project, Inc. |
Holgate |
Ohio |
800,000 |
Eugene Pregnancy Support Center |
Eugene |
Ore. |
368,560 |
Pennsylvania Association of Latino Organizations |
Harrisburg |
Pa. |
799,569 |
Opportunities Industrialization Centers of America |
Philadelphia |
Pa. |
799,500 |
HOPE Worldwide |
Wayne |
Pa. |
798,418 |
Heritage of Rhode Island |
W. Kingston |
R.I. |
400,260 |
Alpha Center
|
Sioux Falls |
S.D. |
294,962 |
Why kNOw Abstinence Education, Inc.
|
Chattanooga |
Tenn. |
474,855
|
Centerstone Community Mental Health Centers, Inc.
|
Nashville |
Tenn. |
781,000 |
Communities in Schools-Corpus Christi, Inc.
|
Corpus Christi |
Texas |
613,335 |
Jordan Community Development Corporation
|
Dallas |
Texas |
312,776 |
Celebrate Kids, Inc. |
Fort Worth |
Texas |
800,000 |
JOVEN |
San Antonio |
Texas |
752,312 |
Scott & White Memorial Hospital |
Temple |
Texas |
799,341 |
McLennan County Collaborative Abstinence Project |
Waco |
Texas |
800,000 |
Teen-Aid, Inc.
|
Spokane |
Wash. |
800,000 |
Rosalie Manor |
Milwaukee |
Wis. |
798,000 |
TOTAL: |
$31,694,784 |
|