Reproductive and Sexual H ealth

1. Reproductive and Sexual Health Misha Cadet HPA 430 Policy Action Plan

2. What is Sex Education? • Process of acquiring information and forming attitudes and beliefs about sex, sexual identity, relationships and intimacy5 • Encompasses sexual development, sexual and reproductive health, interpersonal relationships, affection, intimacy, body image, and gender roles5 • Widely accepted that young people have a right to sex education.

3. Did you know? • If you stare at someone long enough… They will start to like you • If you touch someone for too long… You might get them pregnant • Condoms cause HIV • You can get HIV or Herpes from sitting on a dirty toilet seat • Two condoms are better than one

4. Did you know? • STDs –> STIs • Sexually Transmitted “Diseases” is not the correct term • They are Sexually Transmitted Infections • - Many of which can lead to diseases • Illinois provides Abstinence-Only sexual health education4

5. Title V The Adolescent Family Life Act and the Community Based Abstinence Education program4 • Granted to states by the government for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs • Highly restrictive • Spend 178 million a year on programs • Programs receiving Title V dollars are prohibited from discussing condoms or contraception • Required to "meaningfully represent" the eight principles of Abstinence-Only education

6. Abstinence Only Education An educational or motivational program which7— • (A) exclusive purpose to teach the social, psychological, and health gains to be realized by abstaining from sexual activity; • (B) teaches abstinence from sexual activity outside marriage as the expected standard for all school age children; • (C) the only certain way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, STIs, and other associated health problems; • (D) a mutually faithful monogamous relationship in context of marriage is the expected standard of human sexual activity; • (E) sexual activity outside of the context of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects; • (F) teaches that bearing children out-of-wedlock is likely to have harmful consequences for the child, the child’s parents, and society; • (G) teaches young people how to reject sexual advances and how alcohol and drug use increases vulnerability to sexual advances; and • (H) teaches the importance of attaining self-sufficiency before engaging in sexual activity.

7. The Problem • Reports have shown that students receiving federally funded abstinence-only curricula did not delay sexual activity or limit their number of sexual partners7. • Did not delay the initiation of sex • Medically inaccurate • Teenagers…

8. What does NOT work • Scare tactics • Videos • Lack of Teacher compliance • 1 in 3 teachers were not covering all the components and most common reason for these omissions was that the topic “was not in the curriculum.” • Lack of Parent Involvement • Parent talks are vital, but do not always happen • 63% of parents did not talk to their kids3 • Did not know what to say/ when to start • Did not see the need • 9 out of 10 teens say it would be much easier to abstain when they can talk to their parents about these topics3

9. Abstinence Only Outcomes7 • Some programs promote myths about sexual assault • Present outdated gender and racial stereotypes as “truth” • Exclude information about STI testing and treatment, which disproportionately affects women and girls • Provide false, misleading or biased information about contraception and abortion. • Fear-based • Shame and exclusion

10. Illinois school code Requires schools that provide health education to cover the5 • "social responsibilities of family life, including sexual abstinence until marriage, prevention and control of disease…and the prevention, transmission and spread of AIDS.“6 • Illinois’ Sex Education Act authorizes the Division of Sex Education to establish “educational programs designed to provide to pupils… wholesome and comprehensiveeducation”6 • Training for health education teachers is encouraged, not mandated.

11. Barriers • Fears • Religions • Compliance • Parent restrictions • The ‘Green Light’

12. ‘Comprehensive’? • Research has repeatedly confirmed that a more comprehensive approach to sexual health education leads to better health outcomes for youth5 • Science Based • Medically accurate • Age appropriate • Relationship skills • Develop and understand their values, attitudes, and insights about sexuality • Interpersonal skills • Peer pressure combats • Abstinence based • Contraception • STI

13. IL Statistics • Illinois has the 20th highest teen pregnancy rate in the nation • Nationwide teens and young adults account for nearly half of all sexually transmitted infections.

14. IL Statistics • Statistics show that young people need better access to health information and services3. • Among girls and young women, 1 in 4 were infected with a sexually transmitted infection • Nearly half were African-American • 73% of adults and 56% of teens wish for more information about both abstinence and birth control or protection in schools1

15. Solution • Illinois Should Stop Supporting Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs • SB 1619 - IL PREP (Personal Responsibility and Education Program)8 • Pending, on second reading in Senate • HB 3027, the Accurate Sexual Health Education Bill, is currently pending in the Illinois House • Creates a Standard for Existing Sexual Health Education Courses: • Medically Accurate • Age-Appropriate • Complete Information • Includes Information on Reducing Unintended Pregnancies and STDs and STIs • Stresses Abstinence • Applies to Grades 6-12

16. Policy Action Plan IL PREP • Mandate for all Schools • Resources for schools who cannot host • ie. Robert Crown Center • Parents can always opt children out • Mandated training of health education teachers • Focus, but not restricted to 6-12 grade • Comprehensive and complete health education to students and parents

17. Schools IL PREP • Parent Education • Begins at home • 1-5 grade • Healthy Bodies & Healthy Lives • Puberty • 6-8 grade • Emotional Health • Peer Pressure • Refusal Skills • 8+ grades • Contraception • STIs • Teacher training • Part of the curriculum Build a foundation as maturing into healthy adults. • Complement • Augment • Respect Diversity Grade Levels The Opt Out

18. Stakeholders • Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality • The Center for Disease Control and Prevention • Illinois State Board of Education • Cook County Public Health Department • Illinois Department of Public Health • Department of Children and Family Services • Illinois Medical District • Southern Illinois School of Medicine • UIC School of Medicine Governmental

19. Stakeholders • The Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health (ICAH) • The Sexuality Information and Education Council (SIECUS) • Chicago Foundation for Women • Campaign for Illinois' Future • Campaign for Reproductive Health and Access • Chicago Female Condom Campaign • Elev8 Chicago Campaign • Expanding the Movement for Empowerment and Reproductive Justice • Health Care for America NOW! • Hyde - 30 Years is Enough! Campaign • Illinois Campaign to Clean Up Diesel Pollution • Illinois Coalition for School Health Centers • Illinois Partners for Human Services • Illinois Toxics Coalition • Prevention Now! Expanding Global Access to Female Condoms • Prevent School Violence Illinois • Responsible Budget Coalition • Sexual Health Education to End Rape • SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective Non-Governmental

20. Policy Paramours SB 16198 Sen Susan Garrett (D) Sen Michael Noland (D) Sen Dan Kotowski (D) Sen William Delgado (D) Sen. Heather Steans (D) SenMattie Hunter (D)

21. Potential Benefits IL PREP • Sexual Abuse • Poor self-esteem • Exploitation • Unintended pregnancies • Sexually transmitted diseases and HIV and AIDS • Making poorer decisions • Respect for all the diverse kinds of families • needs and enjoyment in healthier relationships • Encourages strong family engagement and parental support Protection against3… Instills9…

22. References • Albert, B. (2007). With one voice 2007: America’s adults and teens sound off about teen pregnancy. Washington, DC: NationalCampaignto Prevent Teen Pregnancy • Bennet, K. "SB 1619 – Illinois Personal Responsibility Education Program: Status Update." American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois. ACLU, 27 2011. Web. 02 Nov 2012. <http://www.aclu-il.org/sb-1619-illinois-personal-responsibility-education-program-status-update/>. • "Fast Facts: Comprehensive Sexuality Education." Healthy Teen Network. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov 2012. <http://www.healthyteennetwork.org/vertical/sites/{b4d0cc76-cf78-4784-ba7c-5d0436f6040c}/uploads/{4c5f842e-e67a-4ac2-921b-287950431bd7}.pdf>. • ICAH, . “Accurate Sexual Health Education Bill (HB 3027)." Policy and Advocacy. Illinois Caucaus for Adolescent Health, n.d. Web. 02 Nov 2012. <http://icah.org/content/accurate-sexual-health-education-bill>. • Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States. (2010). Sexuality Education Q & A. Retrieved from http://www.siecus.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.viewpage&pageid=521&grandparentID=477&parentID=514#Q5 • "Should comprehensive sex education be taught in middle schools?." Education Opinions. Debate.org, n.d. Web. 02 Nov 2012. <http://www.debate.org/opinions/should-comprehensive-sex-education-be-taught-in-middle-schools>. • "Separate Program for Abstinence Education." Compilation of the Social Security Laws. Social Security Administration, 19 2012. Web. 02 Nov 2012. <http://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title05/0510.htm>. • Steans, Heather. "Full Text of SB1619." Illinois General Assembly. Legislative Information System, 14 2011. Web. 15 Nov 2012. <http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09700SB1619sam001&GA=97&SessionId=84&DocTypeId=SB&LegID=57567&DocNum=1619&GAID=11&Session=>. • Whitehead, Barbara D.. "The Failure of Sex Education ." The Atlantic. The Atlantic Monthly Company, n.d. Web. 02 Nov 2012. <http://www.theatlantic.com/past/politics/family/failure.htm>.

23. Questions