Human Services News

Advocates for Youth and SIECUS:

The bill would create federal funding, administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, for comprehensive sexuality education that is age-appropriate, medically accurate, and stresses abstinence, while also educating young people about contraception.

"The REAL Act represents a return to common sense public health policy that focuses on the well-being of all young people," said James Wagoner, president of Advocates for Youth.

"We know that teenagers who receive comprehensive sex education that includes discussions on abstinence and contraception are more likely than those who receive abstinence-only messages to delay sexual initiation, to use contraception when they do become sexually active and to have fewer partners."

"We have high hopes for the REAL Act," said Joseph DiNorcia, Jr., president of the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS).

Currently there is no federal funding stream dedicated to comprehensive sexuality education programs.