| |
| |
New Sex
Education Campaign Aimed at Parents |
|
|
|
On Thursday in Kansas
City, Mo., officials from the Department of Health and Human Services
introduced the Parents Speak Up National Campaign. The campaign urges
parents to talk to their children about waiting until marriage to have sex.
"During my time as a pediatrician and a public health official, I've learned
that parents often need additional tools when dealing with tough issues
facing their children," said Dr. John Agwunobi, assistant secretary for
health. "There are few issues tougher or more important to discuss than
sex."
The campaign will receive $8.5 million a year and will include television,
radio, and print public service announcements (PSAs), plus a Web site to
help parents initiate the discussion, said Dan Schneider, acting assistant
secretary for the Administration for Children and Families. Some TV spots
are aimed at general audiences while others target black and Hispanic
audiences.
The PSAs, directed at parents with children ages 10-13, will start airing
around the beginning of the school year. Although organizations such as
Planned Parenthood have opposed abstinence-only programs, Schneider does not
believe this is a controversial approach.
"Encouraging parents to speak to their children about sex and share their
values so that kids can make informed decisions and know the facts. That is
something that I hope everybody can support," Schneider said. He noted
research had shown children want to hear from their parents about sex.
Besides the PSAs, the campaign has joined with three national community
outreach centers to focus on raising awareness of the campaign in the black,
Hispanic, and Native American communities.
|
|
|
|
Associated Press
(06.21.07):: Caryn Grant |
| |
We are providing the above information as a public
service only. Providing synopses of key scientific articles and lay
media reports on HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases
does not constitute endorsement. The above summaries were prepared
without conducting any additional research or investigation into the
facts and statements made in the articles being summarized, and
therefore readers are expressly cautioned against relying on the
validity or invalidity of any statements made in these summaries. This
CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News
Update also includes information from CDC and
other government agencies, such as background on MMWR articles, fact
sheets and announcements. |
|
|
