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NEW HAMPSHIRE
New Hampshire received $94,901 in federal funds for
abstinence-only-until-marriage programs in Fiscal Year 2006.
New Hampshire Sexuality Education Law and Policy
In New Hampshire, the State Board of Education must develop and provide HIV/AIDS educational materials to all school boards and “private and public elementary, secondary, and postsecondary educational and vocational training institutions.”
New Hampshire produced the Health Education Curriculum Guidelines in 2003. The guidelines specify that in elementary school, instruction on family life and sexuality should cover: families and relationships, growth and development, and HIV/AIDS (including explaining that HIV is not transmitted through casual contact and discussing the importance of having compassion for people with HIV/AIDS). In middle schools, this instruction should cover: families and relationships, growth and development, sexual behavior, HIV and other STD prevention, and pregnancy prevention. In high schools, this instruction should cover: families and relationships (including violence and date rape), sexual behavior, HIV and other STD prevention, and pregnancy prevention. The guidelines state that abstinence is the most effective means of preventing pregnancy, HIV, and other STDs.
No curriculum is recommended by the state nor does the state have limitations on what may or may not be included in instruction.
New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire Rule 186:11, 189:10, and Health Education Curriculum Guidelines.
Recent Legislation
Legislation Requires Board of Education to Examine STD Instruction
House Bill 1766, introduced in January 2006 and referred to the House Committee on Education, would direct the state board of education to investigate the status of STD education in kindergarten through 12th grade and then report this information to the relevant House and Senate committees. The report would include information on “abstinence-only, abstinence-based, and non-abstinence-based course materials, instruction, and counseling activities.”
Events of Note
New Hampshire Allows Pharmacists to Dispense EC
August 2005; NH
On August 15, 2005 a law allowing New Hampshire pharmacists to dispense emergency contraception (EC) without a prescription went into effect, making it the seventh state to allow this practice. While the law was signed by Governor John Lynch (D) in June 2005, women were not able to obtain emergency contraception without a prescription until the state established rules and trained pharmacists who chose to participate in the program.2
The law does not require pharmacists to sell EC; participation is voluntary. The law also allows pharmacists to object to filling the prescription based on moral, religious, or other grounds. In this vein, the state presented only guidelines, and not a mandate, for pharmacists who refuse to provide the pills, with or without a prescription. While advocates were generally pleased with the law, some worried that pharmacists would refuse to fill prescriptions and would not transfer the prescription to another pharmacy.3
In 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved over-the-counter status for EC, allowing women 18 and over across the country to obtain EC without a prescription. Women 17 and under must still have prescription from a health care provide before they can obtain the drug.
New Hampshire’s Youth: Statistical Information of Note4
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In 2005, 45% of female high school students and 40% of male high school students in New Hampshire reported ever having had sexual intercourse compared to 46% of female high school students and 48% of male high school students nationwide.
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In 2005, 3% of female high school students and 3% of male high school students in New Hampshire reported having had sexual intercourse before age 13 compared to 4% of female high school students and 9% of male high school students nationwide.
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In 2005, 11% of female high school students and 9% of male high school students in New Hampshire reported having had four or more lifetime sexual partners compared to 12% of female high school students and 17% of male high school students nationwide.
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In 2005, 38% of female high school students and 28% of male high school students in New Hampshire reported being currently sexually active (defined as having had sexual intercourse in the three months prior to the survey) compared to 35% of female high school students and 33% of male high school students nationwide.
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In 2005, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 61% of females and 71% of males in New Hampshire reported having used condoms the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 56% of females and 70% of males nationwide.
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In 2005, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 33% of females and 22% of males in New Hampshire reported having used birth control pills the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 21% of females and 15% of males nationwide.
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In 2005, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 18% of females and 20% of males in New Hampshire reported having used alcohol or drugs the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 19% of females and 28% of males nationwide.
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In 2005, 89% of high school students in New Hampshire reported having been taught about AIDS/HIV in school compared to 88% of high school students nationwide.
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In 2000, New Hampshire’s abortion rate was 17 per 1,000 women ages 15–19 compared to a teen abortion rate of 24 per 1,000 nationwide.5
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In 2004, New Hampshire’s birth rate was 18 per 1,000 women ages 15–19 compared to a teen birth rate of 41 per 1,000 nationwide.6
Title V Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Funding
New Hampshire received $94,901 in federal Title V funds in Fiscal Year 2006. The Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage grant requires states to provide three state-raised dollars or the equivalent in services for every four federal dollars received. The state match may be provided in part or in full by local groups. In New Hampshire, the sub-grantees make up the match. The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services oversees this funding.
The funding is distributed to seven sub-grantees: Care Net Pregnancy Center of Greater Concord, Care Net Pregnancy Center Lakes Region, Catholic Medical Center, Options For Women, Pathways Pregnancy Care Center, Salvation Army, and W8NG.
Half of these organizations are crisis pregnancy centers. Crisis pregnancy centers typically advertise as providing medical services and then use anti-choice propaganda, misinformation, and fear and shame tactics to dissuade women facing unintended pregnancy from exercising their right to choose. All of the sub-grantees except one use the WAIT (Why Am I Tempted) Training curriculum. Two of the sub-grantees also use a curriculum called Share 210.
SIECUS reviewed WAIT Training and found that it contained little medical or biological information and almost no information about STDs, including HIV/AIDS. Instead, it contains information and statistics about marriage, many of which are outdated and not supported by scientific research. It also contains messages of fear and shame and biased views of gender, sexual orientation, and family type. For example, WAIT Training explains that “men sexually are like microwaves and women sexually are like crockpots…. A woman is stimulated more by touch and romantic words. She is far more attracted by a man’s personality while a man is stimulated by sight. A man is usually less discriminating about those to whom he is physically attracted.”7
On its website, Care Net Pregnancy Center Lake Region asks, “Can I become pregnant without having intercourse?” The response reads:
Pregnancy can happen any time that sperm is ejaculated or pre-ejaculated out of a man and spilled near the woman’s sexual organs. There is no way to know the exact risk of pregnancy when this happens—no matter how it happens. Activities such as petting or foreplay can still put you at risk of becoming pregnant.8
Under “Your Choices,” Care Net Pregnancy Center Lake Region lists “Marriage” as an alternative to abortion. Teenagers are informed that “Many young people don’t realize that marriage is really an option in a crisis pregnancy. Couples that marry in their teen years because of a crisis pregnancy often enjoy a great deal of happiness. So don’t rule out the possibility of marriage even if everyone else seems to think it’s not a good idea.” It goes on to advise teen girls that “getting married means that your baby has the benefit of their father’s name and income.” 9 It also warns young men that “feelings of betrayal and hurt, compounded with the grief over the loss that results from abortion, can separate two hearts forever. If you care about this woman, encourage her not to abort.”10
Community-Based Abstinence Education (CBAE) and Adolescent Family Life Act (AFLA) Grantees
There are no CBAE or AFLA grantees in New Hampshire.
Federal and State Funding for Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs in FY 2006
Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Grantee
Length of Grant
|
Amount of Grant |
Type of Grant (includes Title V, CBAE, AFLA, and other funds) |
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/
DHHS_SITE/default.htm |
$94,901 federal |
Title V |
Care Net Pregnancy Center – Concord
www.carenetconcord.com |
$2,700 |
Title V sub-grantee |
Care Net Pregnancy Center – Lakes Region
www.carenetlaconia.org |
$17,000 |
Title V sub-grantee |
Catholic Medical Center
www.catholicmedicalcenter.org |
$23,750 |
Title V sub-grantee |
Options for Women
http://mysite.verizon.net/torichez/contact.htm |
$1,200 |
Title V sub-grantee |
Pathway Pregnancy Care Center |
$8,750 |
Title V sub-grantee |
The Salvation Army |
$1,250 |
Title V sub-grantee |
W8NG
www.w8ng.org |
$27,805 |
Title V sub-grantee |
Title V Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Coordinator
Chantal Kayitesi
Abstinence Coordinator
29 Hazen Dr.
Concord, New Hampshire 03301
(603) 271-5931 |
New Hampshire Organizations that Support Comprehensive Sexuality Education
A Community Resource Network
2 Blacksmith St.
Lebanon, NH 03766
Phone: (603) 448-8887
www.acornvtnh.org
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ACLU of New Hampshire
18 Low Ave.
Concord, NH 03301
Phone: (603) 225-3080
www.nhclu.org |
NARAL Pro-Choice New Hampshire
18 Low Ave.
Concord, NH 03301
Phone: (603) 228-1224
www.prochoicenewhampshire.org
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New Hampshire Citizens Alliance
4 Park St., Suite 403
Concord, NH 03301
Phone: (603) 225-2097
www.nhcitizensalliance.org |
Planned Parenthood of Northern New
England
183 Talcott Rd., Suite 101
Williston, VT 05495
Phone: 1-800-287-8188
www.ppnne.org |
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New Hampshire Organizations that Oppose Comprehensive Sexuality Education
Citizens for Life
P.O. Box 756
North Hampton, NH 03862
Phone: (603) 964-9546 |
The Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy
7 South State St.
P.O. Box 897
Concord, NH 03301
Phone: (603) 224-4450
www.jbartlett.org
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New Hampshire Right to Life
P.O. Box 421
Merrimack, NH 03054
Phone: (603) 626-7950
www.nhrtl.org |
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Newspapers in New Hampshire
Concord Monitor
Heather Rowe
Community News Editor
1 Monitor Dr.
Concord, NH 03301
Phone: (603) 224-5301
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Concord Monitor
Hans Schulz
Health & Medicine Editor
1 Monitor Dr.
Concord, NH 03301
Phone: (603) 224-5301 |
Keene Sentinel
Nika Carlson
Education Reporter
60 West St.
Keene, NH 03431
Phone: (603) 352-1234
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New Hampshire Union Leader
Ben Kepple
Education Reporter
100 William Loeb Dr.
Manchester, NH 03109
Phone: (603) 668-4321 |
New Hampshire Union Leader
Jim Ferriter
Health & Medicine Editor
100 William Loeb Dr.
Manchester, NH 03109
Phone: (603) 668-4321
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Portsmouth Herald
Education Editor
111 Maplewood Ave.
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Phone: (603) 433-5760 |
The Telegraph
Michael Brindley
Education Reporter
17 Executive Dr.
Hudson, NH 03051
Phone: (603) 594-6440
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The Telegraph
David Brooks
Community News Reporter
17 Executive Dr.
Hudson, NH 03051
Phone: (603) 594-6440 |
The Union Leader
Jim Ferriter
Health & Medicine Editor
P.O. Box 9555
Manchester, NH 03108
(603)668-4321
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Valley News
Dan Mackie
Education Reporter
24 Interchange Dr.
West Lebanon, NH 03784
Phone: (603) 298-8711 |
The Weirs Times
Education Editor
503 Endicott St. N
Laconia, NH 03246
Phone: (603) 366-8463 |
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References
- This refers to the fiscal year for the federal government which begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, Fiscal Year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
- Albert McKeon, “Emergency Contraception Not Yet on Shelves,” Nashua Telegraph, 14 August 2005, accessed 19 August 2005, <http://www.nashuatelegraph.com>.
- Ibid.
- Unless otherwise cited, all statistical information comes from Danice K. Eaton, et al., “Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 2005,” Surveillance Summaries, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report vol. 55, no. SS-5 (9 June 2006): 1-108, accessed 26 January 2007, <http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/yrbs/index.htm>.
- U.S. Teenage Pregnancy Statistics: Overall Trends, Trends by Race and Ethnicity and State-by-State Information (New York: The Guttmacher Institute, February 2004), accessed 26 January 2007, <http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/2006/09/12/USTPstats.pdf>.
- National Vital Statistics Reports 55.01 (Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics, 2006), 10, accessed 26 January 2006, <http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr55/nvsr55_01.pdf>.
- Joneen Krauth-Mackenzie, WAIT (Why Am I Tempted) Training, Second Edition (Greenwood Village, CO: WAIT Training, updated). For more information, see SIECUS’ review of WAIT Training at <http://www.communityactionkit.org/curricula_reviews.html>.
- “ FAQS: Frequently Asked Questions Answered,” CareNet Pregnancy Center of the Lakes Region, accessed 24 March 2007, <http://www.carenetlaconia.org/FAQS.asp>.
- “Your Choices,” CareNet Pregnancy Center Lake Region, (2007), accessed 24 March 2007, <http://www.charityadvantage.com/carenetlaconia/marriage.asp>.
- “For Men,” CareNet Pregnancy Help Center Lake Region, (2007), accessed 24 March 2007, <http://www.charityadvantage.com/carenetlaconia/ForMen.asp>.
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