Creating Healthy and Responsible Teens
(CHART)
Abstinence Plus Policy
Mississippi Teen Pregnancy Prevention
Summit
AGENDA
I. Teen Sexual Health in Mississippi
II. Sex Education in Mississippi
III. CHART: Creating Health and Responsible
Teens
IV. CHART Policy’s Cost to School Districts
V. How You Can Help
VI. Panelists/Questions
Teen Sexual Health in Mississippi
O
Teen Health Crisis in Mississippi
Teen Birth Rate over Last Five Years (2005-09)
80
Teen Birth Rate
70
60
50
40
Mississippi
30
United States
20
10
0
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Source: Vital Statistics, Mississippi State Department of Health
O
Teen Health Crisis in Mississippi
Chlamydia Infection Rate
Chlamydia Infection Rate over Last Five Years (2005-09)
900.0
800.0
700.0
600.0
500.0
400.0
300.0
200.0
100.0
0.0
Mississippi
United States
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Source: Vital Statistics, Mississippi State Department of Health
O
Teen Health Crisis in Mississippi
Gonorrhea Infection Rate over Last Five Years (2005-09)
Gonorrhea Infection Rate
300
250
200
Mississippi
150
United States
100
50
0
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Source: Vital Statistics, Mississippi State Department of Health
O
Teen Pregnancy’s Cost to Mississippians
$155,000,000
The same amount of money would buy:
• Pre-K for 97% of Mississippi 4-year-olds
• 1 year of 4-year college tuition for 31,624 Mississippians
• 4,871 police officers
• 2,666 registered nurses
• 3,677 teachers
Source: Mississippi Economic Policy Center; Mississippi First
Teen Healthy Crisis in Mississippi: WHY?
Many Teens in MS are Sexually Active
• 76% of 12th Graders have had sexual intercourse
– Nation: 62.3%
• 50% of 9th Graders have had sexual intercourse
– Nation: 31.6%
Lack of Knowledge about Sexual/Reproductive Health
• Abstinence-only was the state standard for years
• No requirement for sex education
• Many districts contracted with 3rd party groups
Source: Youth Risky Behavior Surveillance. CDC & MSDH, 2009
Sex Education in Mississippi
HB 999: The New Sex Education Law
Key Details
• Sex education
requirement for public
school districts
• Must adopt abstinenceonly or abstinence-plus
policy
• July 1, 2012 deadline
• No state funding
New Restrictions
• Restrictions on condom
instruction
• Opt-in Policy
• Separated by gender
• Curricula must be
approved by the State
Board of Ed
“Abstinence-Only” vs. “Abstinence-Plus”
Abstinence Only
• Proven ineffective in reducing rates
• Teens as likely to have sex before marriage
• Teens less likely to use contraceptives
• Teens more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior
Abstinence - Plus
• Far more effective in reducing teen birth/STD rates
• Decreases in frequency and number of partners
• Increases in use of contraceptives
CHART: Creating Healthy and Responsible
Teens
CHART Abstinence-Plus Policy
Highlights of CHART Policy
•
•
•
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Instruction must begin no later that 7th grade
Must include abstinence education
Taught by Health, Science, and Family/Consumer Science teachers
Must have Program Coordinator and at least 1 public meeting
Evidence-Based Sex Ed Curricula
• Each option is age-appropriate, medically accurate, and evidence-based.
• 1 elementary, 3 middle school, and 2 high school options
• Curricula currently being reviewed by the State Board of Education
CHART Advocacy Strategy
Setting Priorities through Sexual Health Indicators*
• Significantly high current teen birth rate
• Significantly high 5-yr. average teen birth rate
• Significantly high teen birth rate in two of the last three years
• Significantly high 5-yr. average Chlamydia infection rate
• Significantly high 5-yr. average gonorrhea infection rate
3-5 Indicators = Priority 1 (17)
• Goal: Get 75% of districts to adopt the policy
1-2 Indicators = Priority 2 (16)
• Goal: Work with community partners to get policy adopted
0 Indicators = Priority 3 (49)
• Goal: Provide resources for local advocates
* Sexual health indicators currently under review.
CHART Policy’s Cost to School Districts
Cost to the District = $0
Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP)
• $75 million from the Affordable Health Care Act
• Funding for evidence-based comprehensive sex education
• Worked with the MS State Dept. of Health to apply for state grant
Through a $2 million federal PREP grant, districts that adopt the CHART
policy will receive the following at no cost to the district:
• Evidence-Based Curricula
• Teacher Training
• Technical Assistance
• Data Gathering Assistance
Implementing this FREE Program
Five-Step Implementation Process
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•
•
•
•
STEP ONE – Policy Adoption
STEP TWO – Curriculum/Implementation Guide
STEP THREE – Curriculum Selection
STEP FOUR – Training from MSDH
STEP FIVE – Curriculum Implementation
How You Can Help!
How You Can Help Us Get CHART Adopted
• Talk to the Superintendent and School Board Members
• Talk to Teachers and Administrators about CHART
• Help Us Connect with District Administrators
• Share CHART Information with Others
• Share Your Story
• Remember Four Things about CHART: Needed, Required,
Proven Effective and FREE!