Kentucky State Profile Fiscal Year 2009

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Kentucky

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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Kentucky Sexuality Education Law and Policy

There is no state law in Kentucky regarding sex education, however, all Kentucky schools follow the department of education’s Program of Studies, required instruction for students in grades six through 12. Through personal and physical health education, students learn “how decision-making relates to responsible sexual behavior (e.g., abstinence, preventing pregnancy, preventing HIV/STDs), impacts physical, mental and social well being of an individual.”[1] Students also learn about the basic reproductive system and functions. No specific curriculum is required. However, state funds are available for local health departments to help young people postpone sexual involvement.

Kentucky does not require parental permission for students to participate in sexuality or HIV/AIDS education nor does it say whether parents or guardians may remove their children from such classes.

See Kentucky Department of Education’s Program of Studies.

Recent Legislation

Legislation to Require Medical Accuracy and Opt-Out Provisions

House Bill 119, introduced in January 2010, would have required any school or school district that offers sex education to adopt age-appropriate, medically accurate information. At a minimum, the information covered must have addressed abstinence and contraception. The bill did not state that a district or school must teach sex education, but rather set standards for curricula. HB 119 also would have permitted the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to refuse federal funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs and mandated that all human sexuality education or teen pregnancy prevention programs that receive state funding disseminate science-based information. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Education, where it died. The legislation was identical to House Bill 384 and Senate Bill 97, which were introduced in February 2009 and died in committee.

Kentucky’s Youth: Statistical Information of Note^{^[2]}

In 2009, 48% of female high school students and 49% of male high school students in Kentucky reported ever having had sexual intercourse compared to 46% of female high school students and 46% of male high school students nationwide.

In 2009, 4% of female high school students and 9% of male high school students in Kentucky 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, 11% of female high school students and 15% of male high school students in Kentucky 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, 36% of female high school students and 31% of male high school students in Kentucky 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, 55% of females and 66% of males in Kentucky 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, 27% of females and 19% of males in Kentucky 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, 18% of females and 29% of males in Kentucky reported having used alcohol or drugs the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 17% of females and 26% of males nationwide.

In 2009, 85% of high school students in Kentucky reported having been taught about AIDS/HIV in school compared to 87% of high school students nationwide.

Kentucky Youth Sexual Health Statistics

Teen Pregnancy, Birth, and Abortion

Kentucky’s teen pregnancy rate ranks 23^rdin the U.S., with a rate of 66 pregnancies per 1,000 young women ages 15–19 compared to the national rate of 70 pregnancies per 1,000.[3] There were a total of 9,030 pregnancies among young women ages 15–19 reported in 2005, the most recent year for which data are available, in Kentucky.[4]

Kentucky’s teen birth rate ranked 13^th in the U.S. in 2005, with a rate of 49.1 births per 1,000 young women ages 15–19 compared to the national rate of 40.5 births per 1,000.[5] In 2005, there were a total of 6,726 live births reported to young women ages 15–19 in Kentucky.[6]

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.[7] In contrast, Kentucky’s teen birth rate increased 11% between 2005 and 2006, from 49.1 to 54.6 births per 1,000 young women ages 15–19.[8]

Kentucky’s teen abortion rate ranks 44^th in the U.S., with a rate of 5 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 635 abortions reported among young women ages 15–19 in Kentucky.[9]

HIV and AIDS

Kentucky ranks 27^th in cases of HIV infection diagnosed in the U.S. among all age groups. In 2007, there were a total of 218 new cases of HIV infection diagnosed. [10]

Kentucky ranks 28^th in number of reported AIDS cases in the U.S. among all age groups. In 2007, there were a total of 292 new AIDS cases reported in Kentucky.[11]

Kentucky’s AIDS rate ranks 26^th in the U.S., with a rate of 6.9 cases per 100,000 population compared to the national rate of 12.5 cases per 100,000.[12]

Kentucky ranks 29^th in number of reported AIDS cases in the U.S. among young people ages 13–19. In 2007, there were a total of 2 AIDS cases reported among young people ages 13–19 in Kentucky.[13]

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Kentucky ranks 35^th in reported cases of Chlamydia among young people ages 15–19 in the U.S., with an infection rate of 15.5 cases per 1,000 compared to the national rate of 19.51 cases per 1,000. In 2008, there were a total of 4,374 cases of Chlamydia reported among young people ages 15–19 in Kentucky.[14]

Kentucky ranks 22^nd in reported cases of gonorrhea among young people ages 15–19 in the U.S., with an infection rate of 4.16 cases per 1,000 compared to the national rate of 4.52 cases per 1,000. In 2008, there were a total of 1,174 cases of gonorrhea reported among young people ages 15–19 in Kentucky.[15]

Kentucky ranks 23^rd in reported cases of primary and secondary syphilis among young people ages 15–19 in the U.S., with an infection rate of 0.02 per cases 1,000 compared to the national rate of 0.04 cases per 1,000. In 2008, there were a total of 5 cases of syphilis reported among young people ages 15–19 in Kentucky.[16]

Comprehensive Approaches to Sex Education

SIECUS is not aware of any examples of model programs, policies, or best practices being implemented in Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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 for Public Health and community-based organizations in Kentucky received $1,763,256 in federal funds for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs in Fiscal Year 2009.[17]

Title V Abstinence-Only-Until Marriage Funding

Kentucky received $613,268 in federal Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage funding in Fiscal Year 2009. Due to the expiration of the grant program on June 30, 2009, three months prior to the end of the federal fiscal year, the state received three quarters of the total funding allocated for the full fiscal year.
The Kentucky Department for Public Health distributes federal Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage funds to 14 sub-grantees, including 13 local health departments and one local government. The Title V abstinence-only-until marriage grant required states to provide three state-raised dollars or the equivalent in services for every four federal dollars received. The state match could have been provided in part or in full by local groups.
In Kentucky, sub-grantees contributed to the match through a combination of direct revenue and in-kind services.

Community-Based Abstinence Education (CBAE) Funding

Organizations in Kentucky received $1,149,988 in CBAE funding for Fiscal Year 2009.
There are two CBAE grantees in Kentucky, both of which are crisis pregnancy centers.

Adolescent Family Life Act (AFLA) Funding

There are no AFLA grantees in Kentucky.

Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Curricula Used by Grantees

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

Choosing the Best
Responsible Social Values (RSVP)
Why kNOw

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[18]

Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Grantee	Title V	CBAE (Length of Grant)	AFLA (Length of Grant)
Kentucky Department for Public Health www.chfs.ky.gov/dph	$613,268 (federal grant)
Barren River District Health Department www.barrenriverhealth.org	$30,542 (sub-grant)
Boyd County Health Department www.abchealthdepartment.com	$17,508 (sub-grant)
Christian County Health Department www.christiancountyhd.com	$31,857 (sub-grant)
Cumberland Valley Health District.	$32,064 (sub-grant)
Garrard County Health Department www.garrardhealth.com	$21,282 (sub-grant)
Jessamine County Health Department www.myjchd.org	$30,101 (sub-grant)
Knox County Health Department	$25,099 (sub-grant)
Lexington/Fayette County Health Department www.lexingtonhealthdepartment.org	$24,528 (sub-grant)
Lincoln Trail Health District www.lincolntraildistricthealthdepartment. state.ky.us	$21,237 (sub-grant)
Louisville Metro/Jefferson County www.louisvilleky.gov	$29,881 (sub-grant)
Magoffin County Health Department www.magoffincounty.ky.gov/services	$35,015 (sub-grant)
Monroe County Health Department	$17,508 (sub-grant)
Muhlenberg County Health Department	$18,254 (sub-grant)
New Hope Center http://new.newhopecenter.com		$599,988 (2008–2013)
North Central Health District www.ncdhd.com	$56,166 (sub-grant)
Women for Life, Inc. (d.b.a. Assurance: Care for Women and Girls) www.women4life.org www.assurancecare.org		$550,000 (2008–2013)

Adolescent Health Contact[19]

Benita Decker

Cabinet for Health & Family Services

275 East Main Street

Frankfort, KY 40621

Phone: (502) 564-3236, ext. 3065

Kentucky Organizations that Support Comprehensive Sexuality Education

ACLU of Kentucky 315 Guthrie Street, Suite 300 Louisville, KY 40202 Phone: (502) 581-1181 www.aclu-ky.org	AIDS Services Center Coalition, Inc. 810 Barret Avenue, Suite 305 Louisville, KY 40204 Phone: (502) 574-5490 www.asccinc.org
Planned Parenthood of Louisville 1025 South 2^nd Street Louisville, KY 40203 Phone: (502) 584-2473 www.plannedparenthood.org/louisville	Kentucky Equality Action Center P.O. Box 796 London, KY 40743 Phone: (877) KEF-5775 www.kentuckylgbt.org
Kentucky Equality Federation P.O. Box 23193 Lexington, KY 40523 Phone: (877) KEF-5775 www.kyequality.org	Kentucky Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice P.O. Box 4065 Louisville, KY 40204 Phone: (866) 606-0988 www.krcrc.org

Kentucky Organizations that Oppose Comprehensive Sexuality Education

The Family Foundation of Kentucky P.O. Box 911111 Lexington, KY 40951 Phone: (859) 255-5400 www.tffky.org	Heritage of Kentucky 265D Regency Circle Lexington, KY 40503 Phone: (859) 278-8109 www.heritageofky.org
Kentucky Right to Life Association 134 Breckinridge Lane Louisville, KY 40207 Phone: (502) 895-5959 www.krla.org	New Hope Center 228 Thomas More Pkwy Crestview Hills, KY 41017 Phone: (859) 341-0766 http://new.newhopecenter.com

Newspapers in Kentucky[20]

The Courier-Journal Newsroom 525 Broadway Louisville, KY 40202 Phone: (502) 582-4011 www.courier-journal.com	Daily News Newsroom 813 College Street Bowling Green, KY 42101 Phone: (270) 781-1700 www.bgdailynews.com
Lexington Herald-Leader Newsroom 100 Midland Avenue Lexington, KY 40508 Phone: (859) 231-3576 www.kentucky.com	Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer Newsroom 1401 Frederica Street Owensboro, KY 42301 Phone: (270) 926-0123 www.messenger-inquirer.com
The Kentucky Post Newsroom 1720 Gilbert Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: (513)852-4042 www.kypost.com

Political Blogs in Kentucky

Barefoot and Progressive http://barefootandprogressive.blogspot.com/	Blue Bluegrass www.bluebluegrass.com
Blue in the Grass www.blueinthebluegrass.blogspot.com	United We Stand: Kentucky’s LGBTI News www.unitedwestandky.com

[1] Kentucky Department of Education, Program of Studies, p. 502, <http://www.education.ky.gov/users/jwyatt/POS/POS.pdf>

[2] 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>.

[3] 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.

[4] Ibid., Table 3.2.

[5] 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.

[6] 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.

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

[8] Ibid., Table B.

[9] U.S. Teenage Pregnancies, Births, and Abortions: National and State Trends and Trends by Race and Ethnicity, Table 3.5.

[10] “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.

[11] Ibid., Table 16.

[12] 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>.

[13] 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>.

[14] “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.

[15] 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.

[16] 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.

[17] 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.

[18]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.

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

[20] 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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Kentucky State Profile Fiscal Year 2009