Arizona State Profile Fiscal Year 2009

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Arizona

Sexuality Education Law and Policy | Recent Legislation | Youth Statistical Information of Note | Sexual Health Statistics | Comprehensive Approaches to Sex Education| Federal Funding of Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs | Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Curricula Used by Grantees | Federal Funding for Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs in FY 09 | Adolescent Health Contact | Organizations that Support Comprehensive Sexuality Education | Organizations that Oppose Comprehensive Sexuality Education | Local Newspapers | Political Blogs | References|

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Arizona Sexuality Education Law and Policy

Arizona law does not require schools to teach sexuality education or sexually transmitted disease (STD)/HIV education. However, Arizona law does state that if a school chooses to teach these topics, instruction must be age-appropriate and must stress abstinence. Further, if a school chooses to teach HIV education, such instruction must be medically accurate, but cannot promote a “homosexual lifestyle,” portray “homosexuality as a positive alternative life-style,” or “suggest that some methods of sex are safe methods of homosexual sex.”[1]

Arizona Administrative Code R7-2-303 states that schools may “provide a specific elective lesson or lessons concerning sex education as a supplement to the health course of study.” Schools that choose to provide sex education must have the lessons approved by the local governing board. [2] All sex education materials and instruction that discuss sexual intercourse must:

stress that pupils should abstain from sexual intercourse until they are mature adults;
emphasize that abstinence from sexual intercourse is the only method for avoiding pregnancy that is 100% effective;
stress that sexually transmitted diseases have severe consequences and constitute a serious and widespread public health problem;
include a discussion of the possible emotional and psychological consequences of preadolescent and adolescent sexual intercourse and the consequences of preadolescent and adolescent pregnancy;
promote honor and respect for monogamous heterosexual marriage; and
advise pupils of Arizona law pertaining to the financial responsibilities of parenting and legal liabilities related to sexual intercourse with a minor.[3]

In Arizona, parents or guardians may remove their children from sexuality or STD/HIV instruction. This is referred to as an “opt-out” policy. If a school chooses to provide a supplemental sexuality education course, the state requires written consent from parents before students may attend. This is referred to as an “opt-in” policy.

See Arizona Revised Statutes §§ 15-711, 15-716, 15-102 and Arizona Administrative Code § R7-2-303.

Recent Legislation

Parents’ Bill of Rights Act Signed into Law

Senate Bill 1309, introduced in January 2010, establishes a Parents’ Bill of Rights, which includes the right of parents to direct the education and moral development of their children. Among its myriad provisions, SB 1309 requires public schools in Arizona to receive written permission from parents before any student can participate in a sexuality education course. This is referred to as an “opt-in” policy. Parents also are allowed to withdraw their children from any instruction or presentation regarding sexuality in other courses including discussion of STDs and HIV. The bill passed the state legislature in April and was signed into law by Governor Jan Brewer on May 10^th, 2010.

Legislation to Require Comprehensive Sex Education

House Bill 2361, which was introduced in January 2010, would have required that all school districts provide medically accurate and age-appropriate comprehensive sex education, which would include information about contraception as well as abstinence and instruction on STDs including HIV/AIDS. HB 2361 would also have removed the current provision in the law barring sex education courses from suggesting that homosexuality is a positive lifestyle or that there are safe methods of same-sex sexual activity, and would have required the State Department of Education to provide curriculum suggestions, teacher training, and a list of available teaching aids to school districts. The bill was referred to the House Committees on Education; Health and Human Services; and Rules, where it died after the second reading.

Arizona’s Youth: Statistical Information of Note[4]

In 2009, 45% of female high school students and 52% of male high school students in Arizona reported ever having had sexual intercourse compared to 46% of female high school students and 46% of male high school students nationwide.

In 2009, 3% of female high school students and 8% of male high school students in Arizona reported having had sexual intercourse before age 13 compared to 3% of female high school students and 8% of male high school students nationwide.

In 2009, 10% of female high school students and 17% of male high school students in Arizona reported having had four or more lifetime sexual partners compared to 11% of female high school students and 16% of male high school students nationwide.

In 2009, 34% of female high school students and 34% of male high school students in Arizona reported being currently sexually active (defined as having had sexual intercourse in the three months prior to the survey) compared to 36% of female high school students and 33% of male high school students nationwide.

In 2009, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 50% of females and 71% of males in Arizona reported having used condoms the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 54% of females and 69% of males nationwide.

In 2009, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 16% of females and 18% of males in Arizona reported having used birth control pills the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 23% of females and 16% of males nationwide.

In 2009, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 16% of females and 28% of males in Arizona reported having used alcohol or drugs the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 17% of females and 26% of males nationwide.

Arizona Youth Sexual Health Statistics

Teen Pregnancy, Birth, and Abortion

Arizona’s teen pregnancy rate ranks 4^thin the U.S., with a rate of 89 pregnancies per 1,000 young women ages 15–19 compared to the national rate of 70 pregnancies per 1,000.[5] There were a total of 18,100 pregnancies among young women ages 15–19 reported in 2005, the most recent year for which data is available, in Arizona.[6]

Arizona’s teen birth rate ranked 6^th in the U.S. in 2005, with a rate of 58.2 births per 1,000 young women ages 15–19 compared to the national rate of 40.5 births per 1,000.[7] In 2005, there were a total of 11,828 live births reported to young women ages 15–19 in Arizona.[8]

In 2006, the U.S. teen birth rate increased for the first time in 15 years by 3% from 40.5 to 41.9 births per 1,000 young women ages 15–19, after having steadily declined between 1991 and 2005.[9] In contrast, Arizona’s teen birth rate increased 7% between 2005 and 2006, from 58.2 to 62 births per 1,000 young women ages 15–19.[10]

Arizona’s teen abortion rate ranks 34^thin the U.S., with a rate of 9 abortions per 1,000 young women ages 15–19 compared to the national rate of 19 abortions per 1,000. In 2005, there were a total of 1,896 abortions reported among young women ages 15–19 in Arizona.[11]

HIV and AIDS

Arizona ranks 15^thin cases of HIV infection diagnosed in the U.S. among all age groups. In 2007, there were a total of 488 new cases of HIV infection diagnosed. [12]

Arizona ranks 17^th in cases of HIV/AIDS diagnosed among young people ages 13–19 out of the 34 states with confidential, name-based HIV infection reporting. In 2007, there were a total of 26 young people ages 13–19 diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in Arizona.[13]

Arizona’s AIDS rate ranks 20^th in the U.S., with a rate of 9.2 cases per 100,000 population compared to the national rate of 12.5 cases per 100,000.[14]

Arizona ranks 19^th in number of reported AIDS cases in the U.S. among all age groups. In 2007, there were a total of 585 new AIDS cases reported in Arizona.[15]

Arizona ranks 26^thin number of reported AIDS cases in the U.S. among young people ages 13–19. In 2007, there were a total of 3 AIDS cases reported among young people ages 13–19 in Arizona.[16]

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Arizona ranks 25^thin reported cases of Chlamydia among young people ages 15–19 in the U.S., with an infection rate of 18.76 cases per 1,000 compared to the national rate of 19.51 cases per 1,000. In 2008, there were a total of 8,176 cases of Chlamydia reported among young people ages 15–19 in Arizona.[17]

Arizona ranks 36^th in reported cases of gonorrhea among young people ages 15–19 in the U.S., with an infection rate of 1.73 cases per 1,000 compared to the national rate of 4.52 cases per 1,000. In 2008, there were a total of 756 cases of gonorrhea reported among young people ages 15–19 in Arizona.[18]

Arizona ranks 16^th in reported cases of primary and secondary syphilis among young people ages 15–19 in the U.S., with an infection rate of 0.03 cases per 1,000 compared to the national rate of 0.04 cases per 1,000. In 2008, there were a total of 14 cases of syphilis reported among young people ages 15–19 in Arizona.[19]

Comprehensive Approaches to Sex Education

SIECUS is not aware of any examples of model programs, policies, or best practices being implemented in Arizona public schools that provide a more comprehensive approach to sex education for young people.

We encourage you to submit any updated or additional information on comprehensive approaches to sex education being implemented in Arizona public schools for inclusion in future publications of the SIECUS State Profiles. Please visit SIECUS’ “Contact Us” webpage at www.siecus.org to share information. Select “state policy” as the subject heading.

Federal Funding for Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs

The Department of Health Services and community-based organizations in Arizona received $4,459,346 in federal funds for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs in Fiscal Year 2009.[20]

Title V Abstinence-Only-Until Marriage Funding

Arizona originally chose not to participate in the Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage program for Fiscal Year 2009; however, under the new administration of Governor Jan Brewer, who entered office in December 2009, the state did elect to apply for the funds. The state submitted a late application in March 2009 and received the funding award in April of the same year. Because of the shortened disbursement period, Arizona was not able to allocate the funding and the award was returned in full to the federal Administration for Children and Families. The state received and later returned approximately $1,034,776 in funding.

Community-Based Abstinence Education (CBAE) Funding

Organizations in Arizona received $2,949,570 in CBAE funding for Fiscal Year 2009.
There are five CBAE grantees in Arizona, including three community-based organizations, one crisis pregnancy center, and one faith-based organization.

Adolescent Family Life Act (AFLA) Funding

There is one AFLA grantee in Arizona, the Pima Prevention Partnership, which received $475,000 in AFLA funding for Fiscal Year 2009.

Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Curricula Used by Grantees

Some abstinence-only-until-marriage grantees in Arizona use commercially available curricula. These include, but are not limited to:

ASPIRE: Live your life. Be free.
Choosing the Best
Worth the Wait

To read reviews of abstinence-only-until-marriage curricula commonly used by federal grantees please visit the “Curricula and Speaker Reviews” webpage of SIECUS’ Community Action Kit at www.communityactionkit.org.

Federal Funding for Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs in FY 2009[21]

Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Grantee	Title V	CBAE (Length of Grant)	AFLA (Length of Grant)
Arizona Department of Health Services www.azdhs.gov www.sexcanwait.com	$1,034,776[22] (federal grant)
Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Inc. www.afbt.org		$599,601 (2006–2010)
Arizona–Mexico Border Health Foundation www.borderhealthfoundation.org		$550,000 (2008–2013)
Arizona Youth Partnership www.azyp.org		$600,000 (2007–2012)
Catholic Charities Community Services www.catholiccharitiesaz.org		$600,000 (2007–2012)
Pima Prevention Partnership www.thepartnership.us www.projectpledge.org			$475,000 (2007–2012)
Women’s Pregnancy Centers www.wpctucson.com		$599,969 (2008–2013)

Adolescent Health Contact[23]

Sheila Sjolander

Chief

Bureau of Women’s and Children’s Health

Arizona Department of Health Services
150 North 18^th Avenue, Suite 320
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: (602) 364-1494

Arizona Organizations that Support Comprehensive Sexuality Education

ACLU of Arizona P.O. Box 17148 Phoenix, AZ 85011 Phone: (602) 650-1854 www.acluaz.org	The Arizona Coalition on Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting 4710 North 16^th Place Phoenix, AZ 85016 Phone: (602) 265-4337
Arizona Family Planning Council 2920 North 24^th Avenue, Suite 230 Phoenix, AZ 85015 Phone: (602) 258-5777 www.azfpc.org	Equality Arizona P.O. Box 25044 Phoenix, AZ 85002 Phone: (602) 650-0900
NARAL Pro-Choice Arizona P.O. Box 16675 Phoenix, AZ 85011 (602) 258-4091 www.prochoicearizona.org	Planned Parenthood Arizona 5651 North 7^th Street Phoenix, AZ 85014 Phone: (602) 277-PLAN www.plannedparenthood.org/ppaz
Phoenix Pride P.O. Box 16847 Phoenix, AZ 85011-6847 Phone: (602) 277-7433 www.azpride.org	Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation 375 South Euclid Avenue Tucson, AZ 85719 Phone: (520) 628-7223 www.saaf.org

Arizona Organizations that Oppose Comprehensive Sexuality Education

Alliance Defense Fund 15100 North 90^th Street Scottsdale, AZ 85260 Phone: (800) TELL-ADF www.alliancedefensefund.org	The Center for Arizona Policy 7227 North 16^th Street, Suite 250 Phoenix, AZ 85020 Phone: (602) 424-2525 www.azpolicy.org
Goldwater Institute 500 East Coronado Road Phoenix, AZ 85004 Phone: (602) 462-5000 www.goldwaterinstitute.org

Newspapers in Arizona[24]

Arizona Daily Star Newsroom 4850 South Park Avenue Tucson, AZ 85714 Phone: (520) 806-7754 www.azstarnet.com	Arizona Daily Sun Newsroom 1751 South Thompson Street Flagstaff, AZ 86001 Phone: (928) 556-2241 www.azdailysun.com
The Arizona Republic Newsoom 200 East Van Buren Street Phoenix, AZ 85004 Phone: (602) 444-8000 www.azcentral.com	East Valley Tribune Newsroom 120 West First Avenue Mesa, AZ 85210 Phone: (480) 898-6554 www.eastvalleytribune.com
Tucson Citizen Newsroom 4850 South Park Avenue Tucson, AZ 85714 Phone: (520) 573-4561 www.tucsoncitizen.com

Political Blogs in Arizona

Arizona B.S. Meter www.azbsmeter.blogspot.com	AZNetroots www.aznetroots.com
Blog for Arizona www.arizona.typepad.com	Democratic Diva www.democraticdiva.com
LiberalDesert www.liberaldesert.blogspot.com

[1] Ariz. Rev. Stat. §§ 15-716(C)(1)–(3), <http://www.azleg.state.az.us/ars/15/00716.htm>.

[2] Ariz. Admin. Code § R7-2-303, <http://www.azsos.gov/public_services/title_07/7-02.htm#Article_3>.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Danice K. Eaton, et. al., “Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 2009,” Surveillance Summaries, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, vol. 59, no. SS-5 (4 June 2010): 98–109, accessed 4 June 2010, <http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/ss/ss5905.pdf>. Arizona did not participate in the full 2009 YRBS.

[5] U.S. Teenage Pregnancies, Births, and Abortions: National and State Trends and Trends by Race and Ethnicity, (Washington, DC: Guttmacher Institute, January 2010), accessed 5 March 2010, <http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/USTPtrends.pdf>, Table 3.1.

[6] Ibid., Table 3.2.

[7] Joyce A. Martin, et. al, “Births: Final Data for 2006,” National Vital Statistics Reports, vol. 57, number 7 (Hyattsville, MD: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 7 January 2009), accessed 5 March 2010, <http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr57/nvsr57_07.pdf>, Table B.

[8] .U.S. Teenage Pregnancies, Births, and Abortions: National and State Trends and Trends by Race and Ethnicity, Table 3.2.

[9] Martin, et. al, “Births: Final Data for 2006,” 4.

[10] Ibid., Table B.

[11] U.S. Teenage Pregnancies, Births, and Abortions: National and State Trends and Trends by Race and Ethnicity.

[12] “Cases of HIV Infection and AIDS in the United States and Dependent Areas, 2007,” HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, vol. 19, (Atlanta, GA:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, February 2009), accessed 5 March 2010, <http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/resources/reports/2007report/pdf/2007SurveillanceReport.pdf> , Table 18.

[13] Slide 6: “Estimated Numbers of HIV/AIDS Cases among Adolescents 13 to 19 Years of Age, 2007—34 States,” HIV/AIDS Surveillance in Adolescents and Young Adults (through 2007), (Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 2009), accessed 25 March 2010, <http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/resources/slides/adolescents/index.htm>.

[14] Ibid.; “AIDS Case Rate per 100,000 Population, All Ages, 2007,” (Menlo Park, CA: Kaiser Family Foundation), accessed 5 March 2010, <http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparetable.jsp?ind=513&cat=11&sub=120&yr=62&typ=1&sort=a>.

[15] Ibid., Table 16.

[16] Slide 15: “Reported AIDS Cases among Adolescents 13 to 19 Years of Age, 2007—United States and Dependent Areas,” HIV/AIDS Surveillance in Adolescents and Young Adults (through 2007), (Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 2009), accessed 25 March 2010, <http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/resources/slides/adolescents/index.htm>.

[17] “Wonder Database: Selected STDs by Age, Race/Ethnicity, and Gender, 1996-2008 Results,” (Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), 30 June 2009, accessed 5 March 2010, <http://wonder.cdc.gov/>; see also Table 10: “Chlamydia: Reported Cases and Rates Per 100,000 Population by Age Group and Sex: United States, 2004–2008,” Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance 2008, (Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of STD Prevention, November 2009), accessed 5 March 2010, <http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats08/surv2008-Complete.pdf>, 95.

[18] Ibid; see also Table 20: “Gonorrhea—Reported Cases and Rates per 100,000 Population by Age Group and Sex: United States, 2004–2008,” Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance 2008,106.

[19] Ibid; see also Table 33: “Primary and Secondary Syphilis—Reported Cases and Rates per 100,000 Population by Age Group and Sex: United States, 2004–2008,” Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance 2008, 121.

[20] This refers to the federal government’s fiscal year, which begins on October 1^st and ends on September 30^th. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, Fiscal Year 2009 began on October 1, 2008 and ended on September 30, 2009.

[21] Through the Fiscal Year 2010 appropriations process, Congress eliminated all discretionary funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, including the entire CBAE program and the abstinence-only-until-marriage portion of AFLA. The grant years listed in the chart reflect the years for which funding was originally approved; however, the grants effectively ended in Fiscal Year 2009.

[22] Arizona was awarded approximately this amount of funding but returned the complete award to the federal government.

[23] SIECUS has identified this person as a state-based contact for information on adolescent health and if applicable, abstinence-only-until-marriage programs.

[24] This section is a list of major newspapers in your state with contact information for their newsrooms. This list is by no means exhaustive and does not contain the local level newspapers which are integral to getting your message out to your community. SIECUS strongly urges you to follow stories about the issues that concern you on the national, state, and local level by using an internet news alert service such as Google alerts, becoming an avid reader of your local papers, and establishing relationships with reporters who cover your issues. For more information on how to achieve your media goals visit the SIECUS Community Action Kit.

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Arizona State Profile Fiscal Year 2009