New from Citizenlink.com

Good News: Teen Birth Rate Drops to Record Low

The teen birth rate in the U.S. dropped 37 percent over the last two decades to a record low, with the most substantial decrease — 50 percent — coming among African-American girls. Overall, approximately 4 percent of girls ages 15 to19 gave birth in 2009.

The report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the best way to drive the numbers even lower is to expand the reach of contraception-based sex education.

Family advocates have a different point of view.

“More teens are choosing not to have sex,” said Chad Hills, analyst for sexual health at CitizenLink.

“Our teens are moving in the right direction. I only wish our media, schools and government would get behind this movement toward healthy choices — including abstinence — and capitalize on the momentum.”

Valerie Huber, executive director of the National Abstinence Education Association, said public policy definitely needs to change.

“One-hundred sixty-nine abstinence-education programs (recently) lost (federal) funding, and over 1 million students lost access to the very programs that can support and encourage the positive trends.

“What young people need are the skills and the information to resist the pressures to become sexually active. We have a growing body of research that shows that abstinence education is effective."

More info: Read Chad Hill's OpEd - "How About We Start Believing in Our Kids".