SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, June 14, 2004
CONTACT: Laurie Gill, (605) 773-3737

Health Department awards $170,000 for abstinence education

PIERRE, S.D. – The Department of Health announced today that seven community programs will receive a total of $173,088 in grants to provide abstinence education. The funding comes to the department through the federal Health Resources and Services Administration. 

The abstinence education program aims to reduce teen pregnancy and the physical and psychological health risks that come with early sexual activity. 

According to the state’s 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 42 percent of South Dakota 9-12 graders reported having had sexual intercourse. More detail about the survey can be found on the Department of Education web site, www.state.sd.us/deca/cscf/schoolhealth/aids/yrbs.htm.

The seven organization funded this year will use a variety of approaches to provide abstinence education in their respective communities. They include:

• Truth for Youth, National Clearinghouse, Sioux Falls - $38,619 
• Java, Minn-la-Kota Girl Scouts, Sioux Falls - $11,731 
• Go Ape, YWCA, Mitchell - $5,218 
• Girl Scouts of Nyoda Council, Huron - $20,000 
• Not Now, Growing Up Together, Pierre - $25,061 
• Stop and Think, Northern Hills Pregnancy Care Center, Spearfish - $26,513 
• Youth & Family Services, Rapid City - $45,946

Abstinence-only education grants are designed to create community environments that support teen decisions to postpone sexual activity until marriage. Funded programs provide abstinence education, mentoring, counseling and adult supervision to promote abstinence form sexual activities.   

For more information see the department’s abstinence website at www.state.sd.us/doh/Abstinence/.