October, 20 2010, 01:29pm EDT
Statement by Leslie Kantor, National Director of Education, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, on New CDC Report Showing Disparity in Teen Birthrates by States
WASHINGTON
Planned Parenthood Federation of America issued the following
statement today regarding a new CDC report showing disparity in teen
birthrates by states:
The full CDC report can be found HERE.
"This new CDC report makes it crystal clear that the teen birthrate
is lower in states that provide students with comprehensive,
evidence-based sex education. The report demonstrates that the surest
way to reduce teenage pregnancy is to provide young people with
comprehensive, medically accurate sex education, and doing so is
especially urgent for African-American and Latino teens, who are getting
pregnant more frequently than other young people.
"Sex educators like Planned Parenthood are poised to make tremendous
progress in reducing teen pregnancy, because for the first time in
American history the federal government has ensured that federal funds
will be used primarily by states and community organizations that
provide evidence-based sex education to reduce teen pregnancy. This is a
radical change from the Bush administration, which favored and funded
abstinence-only sex education. The Obama administration's allocation of
$155 million for evidence-based sex education represents a true turning
point in the history of sex education in the United States.
Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is many things to many people. We are a trusted health care provider, an informed educator, a passionate advocate, and a global partner helping similar organizations around the world. Planned Parenthood delivers vital health care services, sex education, and sexual health information to millions of women, men, and young people.
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