Theme: Public Policy Changes
Need
At the Task Force’s March meeting, representatives from several area school districts reported that they must follow the state statute that mandates abstinence-only education is the expected standard in health education. They identified the influence of strong proponents of abstinence-only education and conservative culture of the community, in addition to opt-in forms that are required for classes, as barriers to comprehensive education.
In addition to the barriers to providing sex education, the districts reported that many students do not attend elective classes like health because they are behind in grade level and have to take remedial classes. The Duval County schools parenting teacher reported that some of her students — all of which are either pregnant or have had children — often do not understand how pregnancy happens or why they get periods.
Regional Scan
In response to recommendations included in the 2008 JCCI Infant Mortality Study, State Representative Mia Jones (D-Jacksonville) sponsored the Florida Healthy Teens Act (HB 265) as well as companion legislation requiring one-half credit in health education as a pre-requisite for graduation during the 2009 legislative session. The Healthy Teens Act specifically required the provision of comprehensive health education, including sex education. Like similar bills introduced in 2008, both bills died during the committee process.
Best Practices
The Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Campaign of North Carolina successfully advocated for the Healthy Youth Act of 2009, a North Carolina state statute mandating comprehensive sex education in schools A coalition of organizations was formed to attempt to pass the law under the umbrella name “Healthy Youth,” which was intended to give the group a cohesive brand and also minimize the red flags some of the individual organizations like Planned Parenthood and NARAL might raise amongst legislators. They developed a work plan, timeline and an endorsement letter that they sent to numerous state, county and local organizations. The Healthy Youth group utilized an active teen youth council that had over 100 face-to-face meetings with legislators and helped mail thousands of postcards in support of the legislation.
The Healthy Teens Campaign was organized in Florida in 2008 as part of initial efforts to address state laws on abstinence-only health education. The Campaign is a broad-based coalition made up of more than 80 groups representing education, public health, and faith-based organizations that seek to improve the health and safety of Florida teens through comprehensive sex education. The Campaign supports The Healthy Teens Act, which will require that Florida public schools receiving state funding provide comprehensive, medically-accurate, and age-appropriate factual information when teaching about sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, family planning, or pregnancy.
Implementation Strategies
1. Join Health Teen Florida network and assist with state-level advocacy efforts.
2.
3.
4.
Potential Partners for Implementation
· Healthy Teens Florida
· Advocates for Youth
· Jaguars Foundation
· Women’s Giving Alliance
· Other?
· Other?
