Funding for Abstinence and Character Education Missing

For the past 20 years Project Reality has provided abstinence and character education for school children through a grant from the Department of Human Services. As the legislature passed the budget this year everyone thought funding was included to continue this program. Now the department says they will terminate the program because they don't find the money in their appropriation. Has the Governor bowed to political pressure against the message about sexual abstinence and withheld funding?

Over the years, a partnership of organizations in DeKalb County called DCP/SAFE, has found it important to share positive messages about not smoking or drinking with youth. Kids need to hear that "not everyone" is smoking or drinking.

Likewise, teens need to hear that not everyone is engaging in sexual activity which is what Project Reality teaches in its material. Many local schools have used the educational material in elementary, middle school and high school.

Due to a national debate over the effectiveness of abstinence education funding, Project Reality is the only program offered in Illinois which teaches the importance of sexual abstinence. It is a very successful program which serves over 120,000 Illinois students each year. Since abstinence funding began at the federal level in 1991, there has been a 43 percent decrease in teenage deliveries. Project Reality is extremely vital to helping set expectations, lowering the teen birth rate and teaching our children the importance of sexual abstinence.

The legislature needs to ask the Governor what happened to the funding for Project Reality and, if necessary, pass a supplemental appropriation.

E-mail this article to a friend | Printer friendly format