Policy and Advocacy

Policy and Advocacy

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OHIO

Ohio received $7,882,616 in federal funds for
abstinence-only-until-marriage programs in Fiscal Year 2006.1

Ohio Sexuality Education Law and Policy
Ohio does not require schools to teach sexuality education. However, the board of education of each school district must establish a health curriculum for “all schools under their control.” The health education curriculum must include “venereal disease education.” Venereal disease education must emphasize that “abstinence from sexual activity is the only protection that is one hundred percent effective against unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease, and the sexual transmission of a virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.” Additionally, it must:

stress that students should abstain from sexual activity until after marriage;

teach the potential physical, psychological, emotional, and social side effects of participating in sexual activity outside of marriage;

teach that conceiving children out of wedlock is likely to have harmful consequences for the child, the child’s parents, and society;

stress that sexually transmitted diseases are serious possible hazards of sexual activity;

advise students of the laws pertaining to financial responsibility of parents to children born in and out of wedlock; and

advise students of the circumstances under which it is criminal to have sexual contact with a person under the age of sixteen pursuant to section 2907.04 of the Revised Code.

These points closely mirror the federal definition of “abstinence education.”

Upon written request of a parent or guardian, a student may be excused from taking any or all of this instruction. This is referred to as an “opt-out” policy.

See Ohio Revised Code Sections 3313.60 and 3313.60.11.

Recent Legislation

Bills Enact Multiple Provisions on Access to Contraception
House Bill 588 and Senate Bill 328, both introduced in May 2006, would ensure contraceptive coverage in health insurance, require that emergency contraception be provided to rape survivors, and set up standards by which a pharmacist must either fill all prescriptions or provide another way for the prescription to be filled. The legislation would also require that “venereal disease education” emphasize
abstinence, but also “devote equal attention to contraception and condom use as a way to prevent unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease, and the transmission of a virus that causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.” The information must be taught in a medically accurate manner and discuss both the “health benefits and effectiveness rates in realistic use.” Another section of the legislation would require the Department of Health to establish a funding program for teen pregnancy prevention programs. Funded programs would have to be proven effective and meet other requirements, as stated in the legislation. HB 588 passed the House Committee on Rules and References and now sits in the House Committee on Health. SB 328 currently sits in the Senate Committee on Health, Human Services, and Education.

Events of Note

Ohio Governor Strickland Announces Decision to Reject Title V Funding
March, 2007; OH
On March 22, 2007, Governor Ted Strickland of Ohio announced the state of Ohio has no plans to reapply for Title V after current funding runs out.2 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has allocated $50 million in federal funding each year to the states since the Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage program was authorized in 1996. States that choose to accept these funds must match every four federal dollars with three state-raised dollars and are then responsible for either using the funds or distributing them. Keith Dailey, spokesman for the governor, said, “The governor believes that continuing to pay for a program that has not been proven to work is an unwise use of tax dollars, particularly when we’re facing a very challenging or constrained budget environment.”3

Eight states are now no longer participating in the Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage program amounting to over $11 million unspent federal tax-payer dollars. Abstinence-only-until-marriage proponents in the Ohio state legislature will most likely put up a fight against Gov. Strickland’s decision, which would translate to a loss of $1.6 million from the federal government.4 Republican Representative Jay Hottinger stated that Gov. Strickland was “likely to find a lot of legislative opposition to what he’s trying to do.”5

State Abstinence Director Faces Ethics Investigation
January–February 2006; Columbus, OH
An internal investigation against the Ohio Health Department’s abstinence education director, Valerie Huber, began after her superiors discovered that Huber was listed as the statutory Ohio agent for an organization seeking Ohio Health Department funds. Allegedly, she tried to secure funding for a Colorado abstinence and anti-gay organization by registering the group in Ohio.

Denver media firm Cox Creative, Inc. was seeking a two-year grant for $100,000 from Ohio Health Department’s abstinence education program to develop a media campaign advocating abstinence-until-marriage. Huber was listed as the in-state agent for the group and her name and address was on the registration paperwork.

The ethics probe is examining whether Huber broke state law or ethical guidelines in serving as an agent for a group seeking funds from her own state office. “She was not authorized to do that,” said Ohio Department of Health spokesman Jay Carey. “That is what is under internal investigation.”6 Huber was also intending to oversee the Cox Creative programs in Ohio.

Carey said that negotiations between Huber’s office and Cox Creative were halted in January 2006 due to the potential conflict of interest.7 The matter is also being referred to the Ohio Ethics Commission, Carey said.8

Advocates Expose the Reality of Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs in Ohio
June 2005; Cleveland, OH
Released on June 13, 2005, the Report on Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs in Ohio by Dr. Scott Frank of the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine reviews several major areas of concern with Ohio’s abstinence-only-until-marriage programs and the curricula used within these programs. The report details how these curricula contain false and misleading information about contraceptives and abortion, misrepresent religious beliefs as facts, present gender stereotypes as universal truths, do not meet the needs of all Ohio youth, and are not based in science.9

In the report, Dr. Frank expresses concern that these curricula are administered by groups that “are not public health organizations, but rather, ideologically oriented groups in a campaign to impose a strict understanding of religion, ‘purity,’ and morality on America’s youth.”10 The report states that this agenda is promoted at the expense of factual information, and that classes are often taught by instructors who may not have the appropriate credentials or teaching experience.11

The author offers six suggestions on how to improve Ohio’s abstinence-only-until-marriage programs and curricula:

revise the requirements of the abstinence-only-until-marriage program to address the needs of all youth;

provide information on contraception and STD protection for sexually active youth;

implement third-party scientific review of the abstinence-only-until-marriage curricula;

establish standards of competence for abstinence-only-until-marriage educators;

offer parents a greater say in determining what type of sexuality education their children receive; and

offer more resources for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth.12

The previous April, organizations and churches from across Ohio were joined by the mayor of Cleveland and the Cleveland Department of Public Health to call for a suspension of all abstinence-only-until-marriage funding “until research proves their outcome effectiveness.”13 These organizations included the AIDS Task Force of Greater Cleveland, Ohio AIDS Coalition, the Healthy Fathering Collaborative of Greater Cleveland, YWCA Dayton, and the YWCA of Greater Cleveland.

Former School Board Candidate Advocates for Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Program
December 2004; Toledo, OH
Although her 2001 bid for the Toledo board of education failed, a candidate who focused heavily on abstinence-only-until-marriage in her campaign decided to repeat her calls for an abstinence-only program.

At a 2004 school board meeting, the woman advocated for a switch to an abstinence-only-until-marriage program in the schools, stating that “we should not be teaching safe sex. We should be teaching abstinence-only-until-marriage.”14 She also claimed that the local junior high was handing out condoms to students, although school officials denied that claim.

The coordinator of health services for the school system defended the school’s program and said that the school does encourage students to abstain from sex but also teaches about contraception. As the coordinator explained, “We talk about abstinence as the most appropriate course to take, and certainly the safest….It is my opinion that abstinence-only education is flawed. We have to recognize that children are going to be sexually active, and to deny them information on protection is unrealistic.”15

The former candidate originally decided to run for the school board after learning that the existing sexuality education curriculum included discussions about homosexuality. She declared, “They’re coming out of the closet and I’m coming out saying I’m opposed to it.”16

Ohio’s Youth: Statistical Information of Note17

In 2005, 47% of female high school students and 49% of male high school students in Ohio reported ever having had sexual intercourse compared to 46% of female high school students and 48% of male high school students nationwide.

In 2005, 4% of female high school students and 7% of male high school students in Ohio reported having had sexual intercourse before age 13 compared to 4% of female high school students and 9% of male high school students nationwide.

In 2005, 15% of female high school students and 19% of male high school students in Ohio 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.

In 2005, 36% of female high school students and 37% of male high school students in Ohio 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.

In 2005, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 60% of females and 63% of males in Ohio reported having used condoms the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 56% of females and 70% of males nationwide.

In 2005, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 24% of females and 17% of males in Ohio reported having used birth control pills the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 21% of females and 15% of males nationwide.

In 2005, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 19% of females and 26% of males in Ohio reported having used alcohol or drugs the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 19% of females and 28% of males nationwide.

In 2005, 91% of high school students in Ohio reported having been taught about AIDS/HIV in school compared to 88% of high school students nationwide.

In 2000, Ohio’s abortion rate was 17 per 1,000 women ages 15–19 compared to a teen abortion rate of 24 per 1,000 nationwide.18

In 2004, Ohio’s birth rate was 39 per 1,000 women ages 15–19 compared to a teen birth rate of 41 per 1,000 nationwide.19

In 2001, there were 279 live births to young women ages 10–14, 5,251 live births to young women ages 15–17, and 11,764 live births to young women ages 18–19 in Ohio.20

Title V Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Funding
Ohio received $1,640,982 in Title V funding 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. Ohio provides $500,000 in state funds. The remainder of the match is provided by the sub-grantees who give a 50 percent match. The Ohio Department of Health is responsible for administering these funds. Valerie Huber, the former abstinence education coordinator at the Department of Health, is both a “team member” of the Abstinence Educator’s Network and the former director of REACH (both organizations are Title V sub-grantees).21 An article about Huber appeared in her church’s newsletter when she took this position:

‘My vision was to make a difference in the life of one child—my son—but God had a much bigger vision,’ [Huber said]. Last year Valerie left REACH [a non-profit organization] in the capable hands of Jan Seibel (another Grace Brethren) to take the position of State Abstinence Coordinator at the Ohio Department of Health. God carefully prepared Valerie to take on this sometimes-overwhelming responsibility. ‘Anyone who thinks that ‘one person can’t do much’ forgets that God makes any battle or undertaking a majority!’ She trusts that God will continue to use her in this secular environment, equipping her with all she needs…. Valerie is infusing her Christian beliefs into this program.22

An internal investigation against Huber began in January 2006 after it was discovered that she was listed as the in-state agent for a Colorado organization seeking Title V funds in Ohio. Since that time, she has taken the position of Executive Director of the National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA), a new organization that is serving as the lobbying arm of the national abstinence movement. In this position, she is responsible for advancing the agenda of abstinence-only-until-marriage proponents nation-wide. The Board of Directors and the National Advisory Board of the NAEA include some of the nation’s most outspoken and strict proponents of the abstinence-only-until-marriage programs.23 (See the Events of Note section for more information on Valerie Huber.)

There are 12 sub-grantees in Ohio and these sub-grantees further sub-contract with 15 other organizations. The sub-grantees include health departments, community-based organizations, a hospital, and a crisis pregnancy center. The sub-contractors include a Catholic charity organization, four crisis pregnancy centers, community-based organizations, and a local health department. The sub-grantees and sub-contractors use a variety of abstinence-only-until-marriage curricula including A.C. Green’s Game Plan, Baby Think it Over, CATS, Choosing the Best, Circle of Friends, Creating Positive Relationships (CPR), G.A.P., Glamour Gab, Making Abstinence Possible, Navigator, Peer Power, Power of Parents, Teams, Prom Promise Tables, Responsible Social Values Program (RSVP), The Choice Game, WAIT Training, Why kNOw, and Worth the Wait. Many also use handouts from a number of organizations including the Abstinence Clearinghouse, Aim for Success, ETR Associates, the Grapevine Publications, Journeyworks, Life Cycle Books, Love & Caring, Inc., the Medical Institute for Sexual Health, Project Reality, Teen-AID, and Whylife.

SIECUS reviewed two of the curricula produced by Choosing the Best, Inc.: Choosing the Best LIFE (for high school students) and Choosing the Best PATH (for middle school students). These reviews found that the curricula name numerous negative consequences of premarital sexual activity and suggest that teens should feel guilty, embarrassed, and ashamed of sexual behavior. For example, Choosing the Best LIFE states that “relationships often lower the self-respect of both partners—one feeling used, the other feeling like the user. Emotional pain can cause a downward spiral leading to intense feelings of lack of worthlessness.” Choosing the Best PATH says, “sexual activity also can lead to the trashing of a person’s reputation, resulting in the loss of friends.”24

SIECUS reviewed Game Plan and found that in order to convince high school students to remain abstinent until marriage, the curriculum relies on messages of fear and shame, inaccurate and misleading information, and biased views of marriage, sexual orientation, and family structure. In addition, Game Plan fails to provide important information on sexual health including how students can seek testing and treatment if they suspect they have an STD. Finally, the format and underlying biases of the curriculum do not allow for cultural, community, and individual values, and discourage critical thinking and discussions of alternate points of view in the classroom. For example, Game Plan states that “even if you’ve been sexually active, it’s never too late to say no. You can’t go back, but you can go forward. You might feel guilty or untrustworthy, but you can start over again.”25

SIECUS reviewed Navigator and found that it relies on messages of fear and shame, inaccurate and misleading information, and biased views of marriage, sexual orientation, and pregnancy options. Navigator fails to provide important information on sexual health, and the format and underlying biases of the curriculum dictate specific values and discourage critical thinking. For example, the authors explain, “Navigator does not promote the use of contraceptives for teens. No contraceptive device is guaranteed to prevent pregnancy. Besides, students who do not exercise self-control to remain abstinent are not likely to exercise self-control in the use of a contraceptive device.”26

SIECUS reviewed WAIT Training and found that it contains 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 says 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.”27

SIECUS reviewed Why kNOw and found that it offers limited information about important topics in human sexuality such as puberty, anatomy, and human reproduction, and no information about sexual orientation and gender identity. The information that is included is outdated, inaccurate, and misleading. In addition, Why kNOw relies on negative messages, distorted information, and biased views of gender, marriage, family structure, sexual orientation, and pregnancy options. For example, the curriculum tells students that the tradition of lifting the bride’s veil during a wedding shows that “the groom [is] the only man allowed to uncover the bride,” and demonstrates “her respect for him by illustrating that she [has] not allowed any other man to lay claim to her.”28

SIECUS reviewed Worth the Wait and found that it covers some important topics related to sexuality such as puberty, anatomy, and sexual abuse, and that the curriculum is based on reliable sources of data. Despite these strengths, Worth the Wait relies on messages of fear, discourages contraceptive use, and promotes biased views of gender, marriage, and pregnancy options. For example, the curriculum claims that “teenage sexual activity can create a multitude of medical, legal, and economic problems not only for the individuals having sex but for society as a whole.”29

One sub-grantee, Pregnancy Care Center of Cincinnati, and four sub-contractors 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. Pregnancy Care of Cincinnati focuses a section of its website on teens and supports another website describing its abstinence-only-until-marriage programs at www.makingabstinencepossible.net. It offers classroom presentations, assemblies, after-school clubs, parent education, and community group presentations.30 One student explains on the website, “I have chosen abstinence because of you coming in and telling us the dangers.”31

The website also reinforces “commitments to premarital abstinence and secondary virginity through after-school clubs and peer counseling opportunities.”32 Such commitments, often referred to as virginity pledges, have been found to be largely ineffective and may actually cause harm. Research has found that under certain conditions these pledges only help some adolescents delay sexual intercourse. When they work, pledges help this select group of adolescents delay the onset of sexual intercourse for an average of 18 months—far short of marriage. Pledges taken by a whole class were ineffective. More importantly, the studies also found that those young people who took a pledge were one-third less likely to use contraception when they did become sexually active than their peers who had not pledged. These teens are therefore more vulnerable to the risks of unprotected sexual activity such as unintended pregnancy and STDs, including HIV/AIDS. Further research has confirmed that although some students who take pledges delay intercourse, ultimately they are just as likely to contract an STD as their non-pledging peers. The study also found that the STD rates were higher in communities where a significant proportion (over 20%) of the young people had taken virginity pledges.33

The website for the Central Ohio Abstinence Educator’s Network is laced with messages of fear and shame. For example, the “Just for Girls” section states “Even if you really love your boyfriend, it doesn’t make sex okay. Most often, girls end up feeling used and unsatisfied, while the guy may feel at physically fulfilled, but probably not emotionally fulfilled.” According to the Central Ohio Abstinence Educator’s Network, the reasons to wait until marriage to have sex include:

Broken heart that doesn’t mend quickly or easily

Possible threatening your future marriage relationship with painful memories or illnesses or infertility

Destroying your reputation

Feeling cheap or used34

The “Just for Guys” section explains that sex before marriage could mean “injuring a girl for life just for your own sexual desires” and that waiting for sex until marriage “offers you 100% satisfaction for a lifetime.”35

The Central Ohio Abstinence Educator’s Network sub-contracts with 4-CHARIS, a faith-based program that is affiliated with the Covenant Church of Cincinnati.36 It also sub-contracts with RSVP of Toledo.
The Greater Dayton Pro-Life Education Foundation, or Dayton Right to Life, a Title V sub-grantee, contracts with Real Life…A Matter of Choices. There is no substantive information about the Title V-funded abstinence-only-until-marriage program on either Dayton Right to Life’s website or the Real Life website. Dayton Right to Life has created another abstinence program called “LifeGuard” which is described in a December 2006 newsletter as:

a newly designed course offered through the Life Resource Centre that would combine both abstinence education and respect for life. This would allow us to highlight the message that sexual intimacy is a beautiful gift from our Creator that can lead to a new life and that our choices do matter. (Since our current program is publicly funded, we are unable to make any reference to God or abortion when teaching using those dollars.)37

(See the CBAE and AFLA section for more information on other Title V sub-grantees such as Abstinence the Better Choice, The RIDGE project, and Operation Keepsake.)

Community-Based Abstinence Education (CBAE) and Adolescent Family Life Act (AFLA) Grantees
There are seven CBAE grantees in Ohio: Abstinence the Better Choice, Inc.; ATM Education, Inc. (receives two grants); Elizabeth’s New Life Center; Operation Keepsake; the RIDGE (Reality Instruction Developing Generations of Excellence) Project, Inc.; Ross County Health District; and St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center. There are three AFLA grantees in Ohio: Catholic Social Services of Miami Valley; St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center; and Tri County Right to Life Educational Foundation.

Abstinence the Better Choice, Inc. created two abstinence-only-until-marriage programs: “Responsible Social Values Program (RSVP)” and “Concerned About Teen Sexuality (CATS).” RSVP targets children in grade school and middle school and uses curriculum, posters, handouts, and videos.38 CATS targets high school students and uses original talks, skits, audience participation, music, and humor.39

Abstinence ‘til Marriage (ATM) Education, Inc. describes itself as “100% effective in eliminating teen pregnancies, STDs and reducing the probability of cervical cancer and breast cancer later in life.”40 ATM Education, Inc. has an abstinence-only-until-marriage website for youth called “Miss the Mess,” whichis full of misinformation and reinforces negative gender stereotypes. In the “Party Room” section of the website, ATM Education offers a story about students at a party. One of the students, Rochelle, claims to be raped by Jason when she drives him home from the party. Another student, Monica, who has just broken up with Jason, explains: “It was obvious to everyone that he [Jason] was putting on a show and trying to get Rochelle to leave the party with him. Every guy wants Rochelle since she has a reputation for ‘putting out.’”41 Jason acts upset about his breakup with Monica. Rochelle recalls the drive home saying, “When he started bawling, I hugged him. He immediately started kissing me and within five seconds, he was pressing down on me. That’s when I got the feeling I was going to be raped.”42 After Rochelle goes home and calls the police with her father, Jason is arrested. Monica states, “I don’t think he raped Rochelle. He always asked me to have sex with him, but he never forced me to do anything I wasn’t comfortable with.”43 ATM Education gives several other statements from students at the party and then asks, “Based on all accounts, which story sounds least credible? Answer: Rochelle. She has made several questionable decisions. She has a motive to lie. She’s been pinned (sic) [with a] reputation for being ‘loose.’” 44

ATM Education lists consequences of sex before marriage under its “Statistics”section. The consequences include, “Scares off someone who wants to marry a virgin”; “Be less happy in your marriage”; “Be fooled into marrying for the wrong reason”; “Have guilt feelings that may nudge you into a poor marriage”; and “Be deprived of the important bonding that sexual intimacy can give a marriage.”45

ATM Education also encourages the use of pledge cards and offers six different types of cards in the catalogue portion of its website.46 (See the Title V section for more information on virginity pledges.)
Catholic Social Services of Miami Valley, another grantee, runs the “Teen LifeLink” program. Teen LifeLink uses the abstinence-only-until-marriage curriculum WAIT (Why Am I Tempted) Training. (See the Title V section for more information on WAIT Training.)

Elizabeth’s New Life Center is a crisis pregnancy center. It tells teenagers facing an unintended pregnancy, “There are now two lives to consider, and we want your pregnancy to be a special time for you and your baby.”47 It also provides free non-medical ultrasound services “to enable clients to see the beauty of their unborn child.”48 Crisis pregnancy centers frequently use ultrasound machines to dissuade women from exercising their right to choose. The American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM), Society for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS), American College of Radiology (ACR), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) all discourage the use of ultrasound machines for the non-medical, non-diagnostic purpose of manipulating a patients’ decision.49

Elizabeth’s New Life Center also states that “an abortion increases the risk of breast cancer, especially if the woman is under 18….African American women are also at high risk for aggressive cancers associated with abortion.”50 In February 2003, the National Cancer Institute convened a group of 100 experts on pregnancy and breast cancer risk who reviewed “existing population-based, clinical, and animal studies on the relationship between pregnancy and breast cancer risk, including studies of induced and spontaneous abortion” and concluded that induced abortion is not linked to an increase in the risk of breast cancer.51

The center also claims that abortions “may leave a woman unable to have other babies, carry a pregnancy to term, or can make her susceptible to miscarriages.”52 Though opponents of abortion frequently claim that induced abortion leads to infertility, this claim is not based on proven evidence. Abortion is a generally safe procedure, and medically sound research has shown that first trimester abortions cause almost no long-term fertility problems.53

Elizabeth’s New Life Center’s website includes a “For Men Only” section about abortion and parenting. It states, “In today’s society, men are becoming more and more involved with raising their children. Ironically, they are being denied the right to be involved in life-or-death decisions affecting their unborn children, such as abortion.”54 The center also advises men that though they cannot always legally interfere with an abortion, “you can attempt to get a court order.”55

Elizabeth’s New Life Center’s abstinence-only-until-marriage program is now called “Empowered by Truth” and runs a website called Save it, Send it. Empowered by Truth uses several curricula, including R.S.V.P., Chastity by Choice, Go for the Gold, and S.T.A.R.S. Mentoring Program.56 Empowered by Truth encourages youth to make a “Chastity Promise,” a pledge not to have sex before marriage.57

Elizabeth’s New Life Center also helped fund abstinence-speaker Pam Stenzel to come into Springboro High School to conduct an abstinence-only-until-marriage talk. Ms. Stenzel’s charges for the talk totaled about $5,500.58 Ms. Stenzel speaks to thousands of youth “about the consequences—both physical and emotional—of sex outside of marriage.”59 She also produces books, curricula, CDs, jewelry, and videos with the abstinence-only-until-marriage message. Ms. Stenzel relies on a message of fear and shame regarding sexuality instead of giving young people accurate information. For example, during her video Sex-Ed—No Screwin’ Around, Ms. Stenzel states, “If you have sex outside of one permanent monogamous—that means one partner who has only been with you—if you have sex outside of that context, then you will pay.”60

Elizabeth’s New Life Center has worked with an organization called One More Soul. One More Soul is a Christian anti-choice organization “dedicated to spreading the truth about the blessings of children and the harms of contraception.”61 Elizabeth’s New Life Center’s abstinence-only-until-marriage-program, Chastity By Choice, reached 10,000 middle and high school students in the Dayton area according to One More Soul.62 One More Soul encouraged Elizabeth’s New Life Center to incorporate the “fertility appreciation message” into Chastity By Choice.63 One More Soul states:

The fertility appreciation component gives young people knowledge about how their bodies work for the greater honor and glory of God, and how the true meanings of sexual union can only be realized in marriage with openness to children. This knowledge helps to create in them a sense of awe and reverence for God, in His human creation, and His trust in us to use our bodies in accord with His plan.64

Operation Keepsake is an abstinence-only-until-marriage program that offers numerous programs for students and parents including a speaker’s bureau, media campaigns, a website, and a magazine. It developed and uses the For Keeps curriculum. One of its programs, “g.a.p.—The Gender Approach Project,” is “designed to increase awareness of how gender differences impact male/female relationships.”65 This program incorrectly assumes that all relationships are heterosexual, and presents biased information about gender as fact. For example, in the “Protector vs. Predator” presentation, which is aimed at males, “young men are encouraged to evaluate the true meaning of manhood and to rise to the level of protector in male/female relationships.”66 The female version of the presentation is called “Treasure vs. Target.”

Operation Keepsake’s website contains sections from its magazine, Represent, with articles, quizzes, a question and answer page, and a music link. One article, “Shall We Dance?” poses the questions, “Is there any way to dance or have fun without cheapening yourself?” and “How big is the step from dancing provocatively on the dance floor, to going too far physically after the dance?”67

RIDGE (Reality Instruction Developing Generations of Excellence) Project, Inc. is a collaboration between a number of community-based groups including: The Abstinators; Community Pregnancy Centers of NW Ohio’s Project Respect; Effective Educational Seminars; National Family Life and Education Center; Ohio Hispanic Abstinence Outreach; SolidSource; and Women’s Resource Center of Hancock County.68 The Abstinators market products such as T-shirts and pledge cards; they have a speakers bureau; they produce newsletters; and they run workshops to spread the abstinence message to youth in Ohio.69 Community Pregnancy Centers of NW Ohio’s Project Respect conducts abstinence-only-until-marriage classroom presentations in six school districts.70 Effective Educational Seminars runs programming about the emotional, social, and academic needs of children (including abstinence-only-until-marriage programs) for educators and professionals in the mental health field.71 National Family Life and Education Center conducts the “Rites of Passage” (ROP) program for teens through workshops held at Christ Community Church and the Family Christian Center.72 Ohio Hispanic Abstinence Outreach runs abstinence-only-until-marriage programming for Hispanic youth and parents onsite at migrant camps during the summer months.73 SolidSources conducts five-day presentations for students in grades six through 12 and uses the Relationships Under Construction curriculum.74 The Women’s Resource Center runs the C.A.R.E. (Character, Abstinence, Relationships, Education) program, which reaches students in public schools and at the University of Findlay.75

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)

Ohio Department of Health
www.odh.state.oh.us

$1,640,982 federal
$500,000 state

Title V

Abstinence the Better Choice, Inc.
Sub-contractor 1: Catholic Charities of Ashtabula County
Sub-contractor 2: Pregnancy Care of Wayne County

DUAL GRANTEE
2006–2011
www.abstinencebetterchoice. com

$179,666

$600,000

Title V sub-grantee

CBAE

Central Ohio Abstinence Educators’ Network
http://members.tripod.com/abednet

Sub-contractor 1: 4-CHARIS
Sub-contractor 2: RSVP of Toledo

$84,674

Title V sub-grantee

Greater Dayton Pro-life Education Foundation (Abstinence Resource Center)
www.daytonlife.org/index.html

Sub-contractor: Real Life…..A Matter of Choices

$130,111

Title V sub-grantee

Huron County General Health District

Sub-contractor: Lawrence County Family Guidance Center

$99,666

Title V sub-grantee

The Mercy Foundation (Mercy Parent-Infant Center)

Sub-contractor: Real Life…..A Matter of Choices

$127,566

Title V sub-grantee

Miami County General Health District

$130,803

Title V sub-grantee

Operation Keepsake, Inc.

DUAL GRANTEE
2006–2011
www.operationkeepsake.com

$177,643

$578,071

Title V sub-grantee

CBAE

Pregnancy Care of Cincinnati
www.pregnancycareofcincinnati.org

Sub-contractor: Healthy Visions

$159,666

Title V sub-grantee

REACH (Responsibility Education for Abstinence & Character) of South West Ohio

$159,666

Title V sub-grantee

The RIDGE Project, Inc. (Reality Instruction Developing Generations of Excellence)

Sub-contractor 1: Community Pregnancy Centers of Northwest Ohio
Sub-contractor 2: Effective Education Seminars
Sub-contractor 3: Ohio Hispanic Abstinence Outreach
Sub-contractor 4: Solidsource
Sub-contractor 5: Women’s Resource Center
Sub-contractor 6: Heartbeat of Fremont Crisis Pregnancy Center

DUAL GRANTEE
2004–2007

$125,666

$800,000

Title V sub-grantee

CBAE

RSVP of Licking County
Contractor: Knox County Health Department

$179,666

Title V sub-grantee

Saint Vincent Mercy Medical Center

TRIPLE GRANTEE
2005–2008

TRIPLE GRANTEE
2004–2009

$86,189

$627,285

$300,000

Title V sub-grantee

CBAE

AFLA

ATM Education, Inc.
2003–2006

$686,278

CBAE

DUAL GRANTEE
2006–2011

$600,000

CBAE

Elizabeth’s New Life Center
2005–2008
www.elizabethnewlife.org

$800,000

CBAE

Ross County Health District
2004–2007
www.rosscountyhealth.com

$800,000

CBAE

Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley
2002–2007
www.cssmv.org

$225,000

AFLA

Tri County Right to Life Education Foundation
2002–2007

$225,000

AFLA

Title V Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Coordinator

Ohio Department of Health
Office of Abstinence Education
246 North High St., 7th Floor
P.O. Box 118
Columbus, OH 43216
Phone: (614) 728-4761

Ohio Organizations that Support Comprehensive Sexuality Education

The AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland
3210 Euclid Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44115
Phone: (216) 621-0766
www.aidstaskforce.org
Family Planning Association of Northeast
Ohio
54 South State St.
Painseville, OH 44077
Phone: (440) 352-0608
www.fpaneo.org

NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio
12000 Shaker Blvd.
Cleveland, OH 44120
Phone: (216) 283-2180
www.prochoiceohio.org

Ohio AIDS Coalition
48 West Whittier St.
Columbus, OH.43206
Phone: (614) 444-1683
www.ohioaidscoalition.org

Ohio Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
P.O. Box 82204
Columbus, OH 43202
Phone: (614) 221-3636
www.ohiorcrc.org

Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Ohio
35 E. Gay St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 224-0761
www.ppao.org

Ohio Organizations that Oppose Comprehensive Sexuality Education

Abstinence Educators’ Network
P.O. Box 30
Westville, OH 43083
Phone: (937) 408-5992
www.abednet.org

Abstinence Resource Centre
1 Elizabeth Pl., Suite 400 E
Dayton, OH 45408
Phone: (937) 223-5250
www.abstinence.biz

Citizens For Community Values
11175 Reading Rd., Suite 103
Cincinnati, OH 45241
Phone: (513) 733-5775
www.ccv.org

Ohio Christian Alliance
P.O. Box 3076
Akron, OH 44309
Phone: (330) 887-1922
www.ohioca.org

Ohio Policy Roundtable
11288 Alameda Dr.
Strongsville, OH 44149
Phone: 1-800-522-VOTE
www.aproundtable.org

Ohio Right to Life Society
2238 South Hamilton Rd., Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43232
Phone: (614) 864-5200
www.ohiolife.org

Newspapers in Ohio

Akron Beacon Journal
P.O. Box 640
Akron, OH 44309
Phone: (330) 996-3000
Akron Beacon Journal
Tracy Wheeler
Health & Medicine Reporter
P.O. Box 640
Akron, OH 44309
Phone: (330) 996-3721

The Blade
Luke Shockman
Health & Medicine Reporter
P.O. Box 921
Toledo, OH 43697
Phone: (419) 724-6084

The Cincinnati Enquirer
Denise Smith Amos
Education Reporter
312 Elm St.
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Phone: (513) 768-8395

The Cincinnati Enquirer
Jennifer Mrozowski
Education Reporter
312 Elm St.
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Phone: (513) 768-8509

The Cincinnati Post & Kentucky Post
Michael Collins
Correspondent
1090 Vermont Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 408-2711

The Cincinnati Post & Kentucky Post
Rick Van Sant
Education Reporter
125 E. Court St.
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Phone: (513) 352-2735

Cleveland/Akron Family
Frances Richards
Editor
35475 Vine St.
Willowick, OH 44095
Phone: (440) 510-2000

The Columbus Dispatch
Bill Bush
Education Reporter
34 S. 3rd St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 461-8591

The Columbus Dispatch
Jennifer Smith Richards
34 S. 3rd St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 461-8877

Dayton Daily News
Education Writer
45 S. Ludlow St.
Dayton, OH 45402
Phone: (937) 225-2489

Dayton Daily News
P.O. Box 1287
Dayton, OH 45401
Phone: (937) 225-2129

Dayton Daily News
Connie Post
Health & Medicine Editor
45 S. Ludlow St.
Dayton, OH 45402
Phone: (937) 225-2441

The News-Herald
Larece Galer
Community News Assistant Editor
7085 Mentor Ave.
Willoughby, OH 44094
Phone: (440) 951-0000

The Plain Dealer
Bob McAuley
Health & Medicine Editor
1801 Superior Ave. E
Cleveland, OH 44114
Phone: (216) 999-4878

The Repository
Gary Brown
Medical/Health Editor
500 Market Ave. S
Canton, OH 44702
Phone: (330) 580-8303

The Vindicator
Mike McGowan
Medical/Health Editor
107 Vindicator Sq.
Youngstown, OH 44503
Phone: (330) 747-1471

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.

Laura Bischoff, “Ohio Won’t Seek Abstinence-Only Funds,” Dayton Daily News (22 March 2007), accessed 27 March 2007, <http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/
03/21/ddn032207sexed.html>.

Leila Atassi, “Ohio could become 8th state to reject abstinence-only money,” The Plain Dealer (27 March 2007), accessed 27 March 2007.

Ibid.

Bischoff, “Ohio Won’t Seek Abstinence-Only Funds.”

Regina McEnery, “State Abstinence Overseer Lent Name to Firm Seeking Business With Agency,” Plain Dealer, 12 January 2006, accessed 13 January 2006, <http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/
base/news/1137058537210090.xml&coll=2>.

“Ohio Abstinence Director Faces Ethics Investigation,” Advocate.com, 4 February 2006, accessed 6 February 2006, <http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid25132.asp>.

McEnery.

Scott H. Frank, MD, MS, Report on Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs in Ohio (Cleveland, Ohio: Case Western Reserve University, June 2005).

Ibid., 23.

Ibid., 23-24.

Ibid., 25-26.

AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland, “Cleveland Mayor, Department of Health Join 34 Organizations and Churches Across Ohio to Call for Suspension of Abstinence-Only Funding,” Press Release published 22 April 2005, accessed 5 July 2005, <http://reform.democrats.house.gov/story.asp?id=734>.

Ignazio Messina, “TPS Urged to Remove Birth Control from Sex Ed,” Toledo Blade, 3 December 2004, B1.

Ibid.

S. Svoboda, “Board Hopeful Berry Criticizes Sex Education,” Toledo Blade, 22 October 2001.

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>.

“Ohio Department of Health Information Warehouse,” Ohio Department of Health (2005), accessed 26 January 2007, <http://dwhouse.odh.ohio.gov>.

“Meet Our Team,” Abstinence Educator’s Network,accessed 15 February 2007, <http://members.tripod.com/abednet/team_meet.htm>.

“Ohio’s Abstinence Philosophy Examined,” Teachthefacts.org, accessed 15 February 2007, <http://www.teachthefacts.org/2005/09/ohios-abstinence-philosophy-explained.html>.

“NAEA Board of Directors and National Advisory Board,” National Abstinence Education Association, (2007), accessed 26 March 2007, <http://www.abstinenceassociation.org/naea_board.html>.

Bruce Cook, Choosing the Best LIFE (Marietta, GA: Choosing the Best Inc., 2000); Bruce Cook, Choosing the Best PATH (Marietta, GA: Choosing the Best Inc., 2000). For more information, see SIECUS’ reviews of Choosing the Best LIFE and Choosing the Best PATH at <http://www.communityactionkit.org/curricula_reviews.html>.

Scott Phelps and Libby Gray, A.C. Green’s Game Plan (Golf, IL: Project Reality, 2001). For more information, see SIECUS’ review of A.C. Green’s Game Plan at <http://www.communityactionkit.org/curricula_reviews.html>.

Scott Phelps and Libby Gray, Navigator: Finding Your Way to A Healthy and Successful Future (Golf, IL: Project Reality, 2003). For more information, see SIECUS’ review of Navigator at <http://www.communityactionkit.org/curricula_reviews.html>.

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>.

Kris Frainie, Why kNOw Abstinence Education Program Teacher’s Manual (Chattanooga, TN: Why kNOw Abstinence Education Programs, A Division of AAA Women’s Services, 2002). For more information, see SIECUS’ review of Why kNOw at <http://www.communityactionkit.org/reviews/WhyKnow.html>.

Patricia Sulak, Worth the Wait (Temple, TX: Scott & White Memorial Hospital, 2003). For more information, see SIECUS’ review of Worth the Wait at <http://www.communityactionkit.org/curricula_reviews.html>.

“Our Services,” Pregnancy Care Center of Cincinnati, (2004), accessed 8 February 2007, <http://makingabstinencepossible.net/>.

Ibid.

“Agency Information,” Pregnancy Care of Cincinnati, (2000), accessed 19 April 2007, <http://pregnancycareofcincinnati.com/Agencyinfo.html>.

Peter Bearman and Hannah Brückner, “Promising the Future: Virginity Pledges and the Transition to First Intercourse,” American Journal of Sociology 106.4 (2001): 859-912; Peter Bearman and Hannah Brückner, “After the Promise: The STD Consequences of Adolescent Virginity Pledges,” Journal of Adolescent Health 36.4 (2005): 271-278.

“Girls,” Abstinence Educators’ Network, accessed 8 February 2007, <http://www.abednet.org/girls.php>.

Ibid.

“HEIRS,” Covenant Church of Cincinnati, (2006), accessed 8 February 2007, <http://www.heirsccc.org/pages/default2.asp?active_page_id=95>.

Dayton Right to Life Advocate (Dayton, OH; Dayton Right to Life, November/December 2006), accessed 8 February 2007, <http://www.daytonlife.org/novdec06.pdf>.

“RSVP,” Abstinence the Better Choice, accessed 2 February 2007, <http://www.abstinencebetterchoice.com/rsvp.pcgi>.

“CATS,” Abstinence the Better Choice, accessed 2 February 2007, <http://www.abstinencebetterchoice.com/cats.pcgi>.

“Who We Are: ATM Education,” ATM Education, Inc., accessed 5 February 2007, <http://www.missthemess.com/who/index.php>.

“Party Rooms,” ATM Education, Inc., accessed 5 February 2007, <http://www.missthemess.com/party/index.php>.

Ibid.

Ibid.

Ibid.

“Statistics: Abstinence,” ATM Education, Inc., accessed 5 February 2007, <http://www.missthemess.com/statistics/abstinence.php>.

“Abstinence ‘til Marriage E-Store: Pledge Cards,” ATM Education, Inc., (2006), accessed 5 February 2007, <http://missthemess.com/store/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=8>.

“For Teens,” Elizabeth’s New Life Center, accessed 5 February 2007, <http://www.elizabethnewlife.org/forteens.html>.

“Free Services,” Elizabeth’s New Life Center, 4 January 2007, accessed 5 February 2007, <http://www.elizabethnewlife.org/freeserve.html>.

“AIUM Discourages the Sale and Use of Ultrasound Equipment for Personal Use in the Home,” Press Release published 28 November 2005, accessed 31 January 2007, <http://www.aium.org/pressRoom/_releasesContent.asp?id=106>.

“Abortion,” Elizabeth’s New Life Center, accessed 5 February 2007, <http://www.elizabethnewlife.org/abortion.html>.

National Cancer Institute, “Abortion, Miscarriage, and Breast Cancer Risk,” 30 May 2003, accessed 30 January 2007, <http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/abortion-miscarriage>.

“Abortion,” Elizabeth’s New Life Center, accessed 5 February 2007, <http://www.elizabethnewlife.org/abortion.html>.

Susan Cohen, “Abortion and Mental Health: Myths and Realities,” Guttmacher Policy Review vol. 9, no. 3 (Summer 2006), accessed 30 January 2007, <http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/gpr/09/3/gpr090308.html>.

“For Men Only,” Elizabeth’s New Life Center, accessed 5 February 2007, <http://www.elizabethnewlife.org/menonly.html>.

Ibid.

“Empowered By Truth: Curricula Guide,” Elizabeth’s New Life Center, accessed 5 February 2007, <http://www.empoweredbytruth.org/curricula.html>.

“Empowered By Truth: Chastity Promise,” Elizabeth’s New Life Center, accessed 5 February 2007, <http://www.saveitsendit.com/chastitypromise.php>

Laura Bischoff, “Is abstinence-only the right message for teens?,” The Western Star, 1 April 2007, accessed 9 April 2007, < http://www.western-star.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/
2007/03/31/ ddn040107sextalk1a.html#comments>.

“About Pam,” Pam Stenzel, (2007), accessed 30 January 2007, <http://www.pamstenzel.com/aboutpam.asp>.

“Sex-Ed—No Screwin’ Around: Video Clip 1,” Pam Stenzel, (2007), accessed 30 January 2007, <http://www.pamstenzel.com/clip1.html>.

“Who We Are,” One More Soul, accessed 5 February 2007 <http://www.omsoul.com/about-one-more-soul.php>.

“Exciting Apostolic Work at OMS,” One More Soul, accessed 5 February 2007 <http://www.omsoul.com/anview.php?anid=4>.

Ibid.

Ibid.

“Educators: g.a.p.,” Operation Keepsake, accessed 24 January 2007 <http://www.operationkeepsake.com/educators.html>.

Ibid.

Jen Lutz, “Shall We Dance?,” Represent Magazine: Operation Keepsake, accessed 24 January 2007 <http://www.operationkeepsake.com/articles.html>.

“About Us,” The RIDGE Project, (2004), accessed 5 February 2007, <http://www.theridgeproject.org/doc/about>.

“Abstinators,” The RIDGE Project, (2004), accessed 5 February 2007, <http://www.theridgeproject.org/doc/about/abstinators>.

“CPC Project Respect,” The RIDGE Project, (2004), accessed 5 February 2007, <http://www.theridgeproject.org/doc/about/respect>.

“Effective Educational Seminars,” The RIDGE Project, (2004), accessed 5 February 2007, <http://www.theridgeproject.org/doc/about/ees>.

“Rites of Passage Program,” The RIDGE Project, (2004), accessed 5 February 2007, <http://www.theridgeproject.org/doc/about/rop>.

“Ohio Hispanic Abstinence Outreach,” The RIDGE Project, (2004), accessed 5 February 2007, <http://www.theridgeproject.org/doc/about/ohao>.

“SolidSources,” The RIDGE Project, (2004), accessed 5 February 2007, <http://www.theridgeproject.org/doc/about/solid>.

“Women’s Resource Center, C.A.R.E. Program,” The RIDGE Project, (2004), accessed 5 February 2007, <http://www.theridgeproject.org/doc/about/resource>.

Web Master: siecus@siecus.org