|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OUR MISSION The National Abstinence Education Foundation (NAEF) seeks to improve the health and future prospects for American children and families. Specifically, NAEF is committed to creating a national environment in which abstinence-centered education is provided to students, thereby reducing teen pregnancies, STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), and harmful emotional consequences. BACKGROUND NAEF was formed in 2007 to provide strategic educational, media and research support for the National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA). NAEA is a membership association of abstinence educators and providers from thirty five states that work with WHY WE EXIST Abstinence-centered education is under attack! The current Administration and Congress is poised to eliminate all federal funding$150 millionfor abstinence education and replace it with explicit sex education using tax dollars to do it! National organizations including the ACLU, Planned Parenthood and SIECUS, are methodically working state by state to eliminate abstinence education as an option for local school districts. They are lobbying local and state officials to impose so-called children having sex as the norm, focuses on promoting condom use and discusses explicit -to NAEF exists to provide strategic educational, media and research efforts to create a national environment in which abstinence-centered education is provided for students. These strategic initiatives become essential tools at the state and local levels, enabling abstinence advocates to ensure abstinence-centered education is offered in local school districts. WHAT WE DO NAEF seeks to create a high level of public awareness about the benefits, importance, and effectiveness of abstinence-centered education. Further, NAEF strives to expose the inappropriate content and significant risk associated with the proposed alternativecomprehensive sex education. To accomplish this, NAEF focuses on three primary tasks, we: 1. Produce research findings supporting abstinence-centered education. Research shows abstinence-centered education is preferred by parents and delays the onset of teen sexual activity. By contrast, research indicates that so-called omprehensivesex education programs lack parental support and show no increase in consistent use of condoms or in the delay of teen sexual activity. 2. Generate media exposure supporting abstinence-centered education. Creating support of abstinence education in public schools requires continual engagement and messaging through national and local media with press releases, debates and interviews. 3. Mobilize local abstinence advocates. Parents empowered by NAEF strategic initiatives and tools become the best advocates to ensure abstinence-centered education is provided in local school districts. NAEF also equips NAEA members to proactively influence policy decisions at the state and local levels. WHAT ABSTINENCE-CENTERED EDUCATION TEACHES The focus of abstinence-centered education is to empower teens to make the healthiest choice for their future and to avoid the risk of teen pregnancy and STDs. Topics typically taught in abstinence-centered education include: developing healthy relationships and avoiding unhealthy relationships; setting goals and making good decisions; developing refusal skills and understanding and avoiding the risks of STDs, teen pregnancy and negative emotional consequences. Information about contraceptives is taught but always in the context of why abstinence is the best choice. WHY ABSTINENCE-CENTERED EDUCATION - It works! Fourteen different studies, all conducted by independent researchers, prove abstinence-centered education reduces teen sex.
- Parents prefer it! A 2007 Zogby poll indicates that when parents understand the differences, they prefer abstinence-centered education over comprehensive sex education by a 2 to 1 margin.
- Healthiest choice for teens! Only abstinence is 100% effective in eliminating the risk of STDs and teen pregnancy.
NAEF ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE Published and distributed nationally, Abstinence Works 2009, a compilation of 14 research studies showing abstinence-centered programs are effective in reducing teen sex. Further, it provided a listing of 26 abstinence programs recognized by the Department of Health and Human Services for producing promising practices that are predictive of behavioral impact. - Commissioned a nationally-representative 2007 Zogby Poll showing most parents want their teens to be abstinent until marriage, prefer abstinence-centered education 2 to 1 over comprehensive sex education and support funding for abstinence education over comprehensive education.
- Contributed information to major media outlets to promote abstinence education as the healthiest choice for our youth, including: USA Today, UPI, Roll Call, NPR, CNN, CBS, ABC, Fox News, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, MSNBC, Family News in Focus, and many others.
- Provided educational resources in key state battles to sustain abstinence education.
- Distributed strategic resources to local parent advocates to maintain abstinence education as the preferred choice in local school districts.
During 2007 to 2009, the combined result of these NAEF efforts helped to maintain over $250 million in federal funding for abstinence education providers. These providers were then able to work with over 5 million students in 50 states. 2009-2010 OBJECTIVES - Produce a major research project showing the effectiveness of abstinence education.
- Conduct a national poll showing parents do not support federally funded comprehensive sex education programs.
- Provide educational resources to 10 key states that will enable advocates to affect state policy in support of abstinence education.
- Develop a user-friendly website that becomes the and resources promoting abstinence-centered education.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS The NAEF Board of Directors is comprised of leading abstinence education providers across the U.S.: - Dan Bailey (Chair) Just Say Yes, TX
- Anne Badgely Heritage Community Services, SC
- LeAnna Benn (Secretary) Teen-Aid, WA
- Bruce Cook Choosing the Best, GA
- Joneen Mackenzie Wait Training, CO
- Thelma Moton Choosing to Excel, AR
- Mary Anne Mosack (Vice Chair) Mosack Communications Consulting, OH
- Scott Phelps Abstinence & Marriage Education Partnership, IL
NAEF LEADERSHIP Valerie Huber Executive Director NON-PROFIT INFORMATION NAEF is a non-profit 501(c)3 Charitable Organization registered with the IRS. Legal Name: National Abstinence Education Foundation, Inc. Contact Information: 1701 Pennsylvania Ave. Washington, DC 20006 Tel: (202) 248-5420
|
|
|
