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WYOMING
Wyoming received $73,138 in federal funds for
abstinence-only-until-marriage programs in Fiscal Year 2006.
Wyoming Sexuality Education Law and Policy
Wyoming does not require sexuality, HIV/AIDS-, or sexually transmitted disease (STD)- prevention education, nor does it limit what can be taught if such education is offered. However, the Wyoming Health Content and Performance Standards does include sexuality education and the HIV/AIDS Model Policy for Wyoming Public Schools sets some standards for HIV/AIDS-prevention education. The Wyoming Department of Education created both of these documents. According to these standards, “the goals of HIV prevention education are to promote healthful living and discourage the behaviors that put people at risk of acquiring HIV. The Department of Education also stipulates that this educational program will:
- be taught at every level, kindergarten through grade twelve;
- use methods demonstrated by sound research to be effective;
- be consistent with community standards;
- follow content guidelines prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC);
- be appropriate to students’ developmental levels, behaviors, and cultural backgrounds;
- build knowledge and skills from year to year;
- stress the benefits of abstinence from sexual activity, alcohol, and other drug use;
- include accurate information on reducing risk of HIV infection;
- address students’ own concerns;
- include means for evaluation;
- be an integral part of a coordinated school health program;
- be taught by well-prepared instructors with adequate support; and
- involve parents, families, and communities as partners in education.
The state does not recommend a specific curriculum. The HIV/AIDS Model Policy for Wyoming Public Schools states that parents or guardians can ask that their children not receive HIV/AIDS-prevention education. This is referred to as an “opt-out” policy.
See the Wyoming Content and Performance Standards and HIV/AIDS Model Policy for Wyoming Public School.
Recent Legislation
SIECUS is not aware of any proposed legislation regarding sexuality education in Wyoming.
Events of Note
SIECUS is not aware of any recent events regarding sexuality education in Wyoming.
Wyoming’s Youth: Statistical Information of Note2
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In 2005, 47% of female high school students and 47% of male high school students in Wyoming 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, 4% of female high school students and 7% of male high school students in Wyoming 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, 15% of female high school students and 16% of male high school students in Wyoming 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 32% of male high school students in Wyoming 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 70% of males in Wyoming 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, 29% of females and 20% of males in Wyoming 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, 22% of females and 28% of males in Wyoming 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, 90% of high school students in Wyoming reported having been taught about AIDS/HIV in school compared to 88% of high school students nationwide.
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In 2000, Wyoming’s abortion rate was 25 per 1,000 women ages 15–19 compared to a teen abortion rate of 24 per 1,000 nationwide.3
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In 2004, Wyoming’s birth rate was 43 per 1,000 women ages 15–19 compared to a teen birth rate of 41 per 1,000 nationwide.4
Title V Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Funding
Wyoming received $73,138 in federal 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. Wyoming Media Corporation, the company that manages Wyoming’s state-wide media campaign (“Sex Can Wait”), provides a 100% match in in-kind services. The Wyoming Department of Family Services oversees this funding.
All of the funding is used to run the media campaign, which is aimed at young people ages 9–14, their parents, and their older siblings. The main goal is to increase the number of abstinence messages heard by this audience. The campaign uses television advertising to emphasize three of the eight points of the federal government’s definition of “abstinence education” which state that programs must:
- have as their exclusive purpose teaching the social, psychological, and health gains to be realized by abstaining from sexual activity;
- teach young people how to reject sexual advances and how alcohol and drug use increases vulnerability to sexual advances; and
- teach the importance of attaining self-sufficiency before engaging in sexual activity.
Funds from another source will go toward evaluating the campaign based on the rates of sexual intercourse among teens, level of exposure to the media campaign’s messages, teen birth rates, teen STD rates, and attitudes about abstinence among Wyoming youth.
Community-Based Abstinence Education (CBAE) and Adolescent Family Life Act (AFLA) Grantees
There are no CBAE or AFLA grantees in Wyoming.
Federal and State Funding for Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs in FY 2006
Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Grantee
Length of Grant
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Amount of Grant |
Type of Grant (includes Title V, CBAE, AFLA, and other funds) |
Wyoming Department of Family Services
www.dfsweb.state.wy.us
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$73,138 federal |
Title V |
Title V Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Coordinator
Marilyn Patton
Children and Families Initiative
Wyoming Department of Family Services
Hathaway Building
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Phone: (307) 777-7071 |
Wyoming Organizations that Support Comprehensive Sexuality Education
NARAL Pro-Choice Wyoming
P.O. Box 271
Laramie, WY 82073
Phone: (307) 742-9189 |
Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains
950 Broadway
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: (303) 321-PLAN
www.pprm.org
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Wyoming Health Council
2120 O’Neil Ave.
Cheyenne, WY 82001
Phone: (307) 632-3640
www.wyhc.org |
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Wyoming Organizations that Oppose Comprehensive Sexuality Education
Catholic Social Services
623 South Wolcott
Casper, WY 82601
Phone: (307) 237-2723 |
Roman Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne
2121 Capitol Ave.
Cheyenne, WY 82001
Phone: (307) 638-1530
www.dioceseofcheyenne.org
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Right to Life of Wyoming
P.O. Box 1208
Casper, WY 82602
Phone: (307) 266-1234 |
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Newspapers in Wyoming
Casper Star-Tribune
Barbara Nordby
News Editor
170 Star Ln.
Jasper, WY 82604
Phone: (307) 266-0633
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Daily Rocket-Miner
Education Editor
215 D St.
Rock Springs, WY 82901
Phone: (307) 362-3736 |
Gillette News-Record
Christa Meland
Education Reporter
1201 W. 2nd St.
Gillette, WY 82716
Phone: (307) 682-9306 ext. 206
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Jackson Hole News & Guide
Kelsey Dayton
Health Reporter
1225 Maple Way
Jackson, WY 83001
Phone: (307) 733-2047 |
Laramie Daily Boomerang
Education Editor
320 E. Grand Ave.
Laramie, WY 82070
Phone: (307) 742-2176
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Northern Wyoming Daily News
Education Editor
201 N. 8th St.
Worland, WY 82401
Phone: (307) 347-3241 |
Planet Jackson Hole
Ben Cannon
Reporter
567 W. Broadway
Jackson, WY 83001
Phone: (307) 732-0299
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Powell Tribune
Fred Miller
Reporter
128 S. Bent St.
Powell, WY 82435
Phone: (307) 754-2221 |
Riverton Ranger
Education Reporter
421 E. Main St.
Riverton, WY 82501
Phone: (307) 856-2244 |
Sheridan Press
Daniel Carson
Community News Reporter
144 E. Grinnell St.
Sheridan, WY 82801
Phone: (307) 672-2431
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Wyoming Tribune-Eagle
Ilene Olson
Community News Reporter
702 W. Lincolnway
Cheyenne, WY 82001
Phone: (307) 634-3361 |
Wyoming Tribune-Eagle
Becky Orr
Education Reporter
702 W. Lincolnway
Cheyenne, WY 82001
Phone: (307) 633-3361 |
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.
- 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>.
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