We also knew we needed all the services for them available right there, because we found that eight out of every ten referrals we made, they wouldn’t follow through. And it was the young people with the most needs who were least likely to follow up on the referral.
If we were to make it work, there had to be a long-term commitment to these kids. I knew how long it took with my own children to get a point across, and that it wasn’t going to be different for any other children.
Q: Have you had measurable success?
A: We participated in a three-year independent evaluation of our program. Nine hundred forty-one low-income teens, ages thirteen to fifteen, at twelve sites in seven U.S. cities, were tested against comparable teens in other communities. We found several statistically significant outcomes for the young people in our program. Young women were better able to avoid coercive sex, SAT and PSAT test scores were higher, births among girls were reduced by 50 percent, sexuality-related knowledge gains were 83 percent higher, the percentage of girls using effective contraception was two times higher, and the onset of sexual contact was delayed.
Q: Speaking of abstinence-only programs, should we be concerned about what kids are learning in these courses?
A: One thing these programs do is turn kids off to learning about their own sexuality. Abstinence-only programs tell young people that if they have sexual contact before they are married, they are likely to suffer physical and emotional harm. But do the math. We know the average onset of puberty is eleven or twelve, and the average age for a first marriage is twenty-seven. This causes a real disconnect for young people. It also tells them that they need to get married so they can have sex.
These programs assume that young people cannot process comprehensive information when it comes to their own sexuality, or that if we fully discuss this information with them, it will encourage them to become sexually active. It amuses me when I hear this rationale, because it sure doesn’t apply to cleaning their rooms, doing their homework, behaving respectfully, or eating healthier. If only we were that powerful!
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