• There is no comprehensive Hyde Amendment-type language that would prevent direct funding of abortion. Also, an executive order cannot countermand law.
• $11 billion is earmarked for "community health centers" that will operate with no abortion-restriction language.
• The bill subsidizes insurance policies that cover abortion-on-demand. It uses an accounting gimmick to require enrollees in health plans covering abortion, to pay for abortions by other participants by contributing at least $1 to an abortion fund.
• It gives authority to government to mandate abortion coverage as an "essential benefit"; which allows for a mandate of private plans to cover abortion.
• It lacks adequate conscience-protection language to protect life-affirming health care providers.

Abstinence Education

Published in the Fargo Forum on April 13th 2010

The American College of Pediatricians strongly endorses abstinence-until-marriage sex education and recommends adoption by all school systems in lieu of "comprehensive sex education". This position is based on "the public health principle of primary prevention - risk avoidance in lieu of risk reduction," upholding the "human right to the highest attainable standard of health."¹

By every measure, adolescent sexual activity is detrimental to the well-being of all involved, especially young women, and society at large. Children and adolescents from 10 to 19 years of age are more at risk for contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI) than adults.² This is due to the general practice of having multiple and higher risk sexual partners, and to the immaturity of the cervical tissue of girls and young women. The CDC recently stated that of the 19 million new cases of STIs annually reported in the United States, 50 percent occur in teens and young adults under 25 years of age.³ Twenty-five percent of newly diagnosed cases of HIV occur in those under 22 years of age.⁴ This translates into one in four sexually active female adolescents being infected with at least one STI.⁵

Bacterial STIs may cause life-threatening cases of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility. Viral STIs which include herpes, the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and HIV are generally incurable. Herpes afflicts its victims with life-long painful recurrences, may be passed on to sexual partners even when asymptomatic, and may be life threatening to infants if passed on at birth during vaginal delivery. HPV is found among 90 percent of sexually active young adults and teens.⁶ While often self-limited, HPV has high-risk strains that may persist for life and cause cancer of the cervix. HIV not only causes premature demise, but also significant suffering with life-long dependence on multiple toxic and costly medications. The CDC estimates that STIs cost the U.S.health care system as much as $15.3 billion dollars annually.⁷

Adolescent pregnancy is similarly associated with adverse socioeconomics that have an impact on the family, community, and society at large. One in thirteen high school girls becomes pregnant each year.⁸ Adolescent pregnancy results in decreased educational and vocational opportunities for the mothers, an increased likelihood of the family living in poverty, and significant risk for negative long-term outcomes for the children. For example, children of adolescent mothers are more likely to be born prematurely and at a low birth weight; suffer from poor health; perform poorly in school; run away from home; be abused or neglected; and grow up without a father.⁹

Even if sexually active teens escape aacquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and becoming pregnant, few remain emotionally unscathed. Overall, one in eight teens suffers from depression,¹⁰ and suicide has risen to become the third leading cause of death for adolescents, paralleling the rise in STIs within this population.¹¹ Infection with an STI has long been recognized as a cause for depression among teens. More recently, however, adolescent sexual activity alone has been acknowledged as an independent risk factor for developing low self-esteem, major depression, and attempting suicide.¹² In studies that controlled for confounding factors, sexually active girls were found to be three times as likely to report being depressed and three times as likely to have attempted suicide when compared to sexually abstinent girls.¹³

Sexually active boys were more than twice as likely to suffer from depression and seven times as likely to have attempted suicide when compared to sexually abstinent boys.¹⁴ This is not mere coincidence. Scientists now know that sexual activity releases chemicals in the brain that create emotional bonds between partners. Breaking these bonds can cause depression, and make it harder to bond with someone else in the future.¹⁵

Sexual activity is defined as genital contact. This includes mutual masturbation, as well as oral, vaginal, and anal intercourse. While only vaginal intercourse may result in pregnancy, all of these practices may spread STIs, and lead to emotional trauma. Abstaining from all sexual activity is the only 100 percent safe and effective way to avoid teen pregnancies, STIs, and the emotional fallout of adolescent sexual activity. Almost 40 years of emphasis on "safer sex" with "values-neutral sex education," condoms and contraception has clearly failed our young people. Abstinence education does not occur in a vacuum, making it especially difficult to separate its influence from the opposing influence of the media and cultural milieu. Nevertheless, effectiveness of abstinence sex education in delaying the onset of sexual debut has been demonstrated in rigorous scientific studies. For example, five out of seven programs recently reviewed showed a significant reduction in sexual initiation rates (two programs showed rates decreased by half).¹⁶ Evaluation of community-based abstinence programs in peer-reviewed journals showed that they are effective in significantly reducing pregnancy. According to an April 2008 report by the Heritage Foundation "fifteen studies examined abstinence programs and eleven reported positive findings of delayed sexual initiation."¹⁷ Reviews by The Institute for Research and Evaluation state that "several well designed evaluations of abstinence programs have found significant long- term reductions in adolescent sexual activity."¹⁸ These do not begin to thoroughly evaluate the hundreds of ongoing programs.

In its endorsement of abstinence-based sex education, the College calls attention to the scientific controversies surrounding alternative educational platforms. Most sex education curricula fall into two categories, abstinence-until-marriage or comprehensive sex education programs (occasionally also referred to as "abstinence plus" programs).

Recently, abstinence education has been criticized for not providing critical health information about condom use. Abstinence education curricula, however, do not discourage the use of condoms; rather they note that chastity obviates the need for condoms. Abstinence education programs do not claim that condoms have no place in preventing STIs. Comprehensive programs, on the other hand, are misleading in the emphasis they place on condom use. These programs give teens the impression that condoms make sexual activity safe. In reality, there has been much conflicting medical literature on the effectiveness of condoms in preventing STIs since the 2000 NIH report on the subject and much of the controversy remains unresolved.¹⁹ Teens must be informed that condoms do not offer complete protection from either pregnancy or STIs.

The College position supporting abstinence-until-marriage education, unlike alternative education platforms, also recognizes the unique neurobiology of adolescent brains. The frontal cortex of the adolescent brain is still in development and unable to make the consistently wise executive decisions necessary to control action based on emotional input. Researcher Jay Giedd and others have found that young people do not have the physical brain capacity to make fully mature decisions until their mid-twenties.²⁰

Consequently, when it comes to sex education, adolescents need to be given clear direction repeatedly, as is done with programs that address smoking, drugs, and alcohol use. Emphasis on contraceptive methods undermines the authority of parents and the strength of the abstinence message. This approach reinforces the ubiquitous (yet erroneous) message presented by the media that engaging in sexual activity is not only expected of teens, but also the norm. Adolescent brains are not equipped to handle these mixed messages. Parents and teachers need to "function as a surrogate set of frontal lobes, an auxiliary problem solver" for their teens, setting firm and immutable expectations.²¹ Adolescents need repetitive, clear, and consistent guidance.

As families address this issue of sex education, the American College of Pediatricians recommends that parents be fully aware of the content of the curriculum to which their children are being exposed. The national "Guidelines for Comprehensive Sex Education" that were drafted by the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) place strong emphasis on "values neutral" sex education beginning in kindergarten. According to these guidelines, children between the ages of 5 to 8 should be taught not only the anatomically correct names of all body parts, but also the definitions of sexual intercourse, and masturbation.²²

Overall, these comprehensive programs only emphasize "safer sex." Many comprehensive programs also provide sexually erotic material to teens with explicit condom demonstrations. Other programs suggest alternative types of sexually stimulating contact (referred to as "outercourse") that would not result in pregnancy but still could result in STIs. Some of these activities, depending on the ages of those involved and the state in which they occur, could actually be illegal. These education programs can break down the natural barriers of those not yet involved in sexual activity and encourage experimentation. Additionally, many programs emphasize that teens do not need parental consent to obtain birth control and that teens therefore need not even discuss the issue with them.²³

Discouraging parental involvement eliminates one of the most powerful deterrents to sexual activity, namely, communication of parental expectations.²⁴ Firm statements from parents that sex should be reserved for marriage have been found to be very effective in delaying sexual debut. Parental example and "religiosity" have also been found to be similarly protective. Adolescents reared by parents who live according to their professed faith²⁵ and are actively involved in their worship community,²⁶ are more likely to abstain from sexual activity as teens. Successful sex education programs involve parents and promote open discussion between parents and their children.

The American College of Pediatricians also believes parents should be aware of the current state of funding, and government involvement in sex education choices. Comprehensive programs receive seven to twelve times the funding of abstinence programs.²⁷ However, according to a recent study by the Department of Health and Human Services, comprehensive programs do not give equal time to abstinence.

In 2004 Congressman Henry Waxman of California presented a report before Congress critical of the medical accuracy of abstinence education curricula.²⁹ The Mathematica Study was similarly critical of the medical accuracy of abstinence education programs.³⁰ However, in 2007 the U.S .Department of Health and Human Services conducted an extensive review of nine comprehensive sex education curricula using the same methods employed by Congressman Waxman and the Mathematica Study. These comprehensive programs were found to have no better record for medical accuracy. The HHS review also found that the comprehensive programs were hardly comprehensive. The amount of discussion dedicated to "safer sex" exceeded that spent on abstinence by a factor of up to seven. Some of the programs failed to mention abstinence altogether. None of the programs carefully distinguished between reducing and eliminating the risks of sexual activity, and nearly every program failed to mention the emotional consequences of early sexual activity. Although some of the comprehensive programs showed a small effect in reducing "unprotected" sex (7 of 9 programs) and to a lesser extent in delaying sexual debut (2 of 8 programs), the impact did not extend beyond six months.³¹

According to a 2004 Zogby Poll, 90% of adults and teens agree with The American College of Pediatricians position that teens should be given a strong abstinence message.³² Programs that teach sexual abstinence until marriage are about much more than simply delaying sexual activity. They assist adolescents in establishing positive character traits, formulating long-term goals, and developing emotionally healthy relationships. These programs increase the likelihood of strong marriages and families - the single most essential resource for the strength and survival of our nation.

March 13, 2009

Edited January 28, 2010

The American College of Pediatricians is a national medical association of licensed physicians and healthcare professionals who specialize in the care of infants, children, and adolescents. The mission of the College is to enable all children to reach their optimal, physical and emotional health and well being. More information is available at www.BestforChildren.org

For further information visit the website www.abstinenceworks.org, read the 2009 Minority Report's critique of the Center for Disease Control's Guide to Community Preventative Services, the 2006 U.S. House Committee on Government Reform Staff Report, Abstinence and Its Critics, and the February 2010 Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine "Efficacy of a Theory-Based Abstinence-Only Intervention Over 24 Months."

An Adobe Acrobat (pdf) of this paper is available by clicking here.

References

¹Freedman, L.P. "Censorship and Manipulation of Reproductive Health Information." Coliver, S, ed. "The Right to Know: Human Right Access to Reproductive Health Information." Philadelphia, Penn. University of Pennsylvania Press, 1995: 1-37. qtd. in Hendricks, Kate et.al. "The Attack on Abstinence Education: Fact or Fallacy?" Medical Institute for Sexual Health, 2006.

²US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Trends in Reportable Sexually Transmitted Diseases in the United States, 2007. Atlanta, GA: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; January 2009; available at: http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats07/trends.htm.

³Ibid.

⁴Sulak, PJ and Herbelin, S. "Teenagers and Sex: Delaying Sexual Debut." The Female Patient; Vol. 30, May 2005, p30.

⁵Oral Abstract D4a - Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections and Bacterial Vaginosis among Female Adolescents in the United States: Data from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2004; presented at the 2008 National STD Prevention Conference; March 11, 2008; available at: http://www.cdc.gov/stdconference/2008/media/summaries-11march2008.htm#tues1

⁶Sulak, PJ and Herbelin, S. "Teenagers and Sex: Delaying Sexual Debut." The Female Patient; Vol. 30, May 2005, p31.

⁷"Annual CDC Report Finds High Burden of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Especially among Women and Racial Minorities." CDC press release on January 13, 2009. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/Newsroom/PressRelease011309.html

⁸Sulak, PJ and Herbelin, S. "Teenagers and Sex: Delaying Sexual Debut." The Female Patient; Vol. 30, May 2005, p31.

⁹Guttmacher Institute. "U.S. Pregnancy Statistics." New York: Sept. 2006. qtd. in "'Abstinence' or 'Comprehensive' Sex Education?" Salt Lake City, Utah: The Institute for Research and Evaluation, 2007.

¹¹Ibid.

¹²Hallfors DD, Waller MW, Ford CA, Halpern CT, and Brodish PH, Iritani B. "Adolescent Depression and Suicide Risk: Association with Sex and Drug Behavior. American Journal of Preventative Medicine 27 (2004): 224-230. Hallfors DD, Waller MW, Ford CA, Halpern CT, and Brodish PH, Iritani B. "Adolescent Depression and Suicide Risk: Association with Sex and Drug Behavior. American Journal of Preventative Medicine 27 (2004): 224-230.

¹³McIlhaney, J and McKissic Bush, F. Hooked: New Science on How Casual Sex is Affecting Our Children. Northfield Publishing, Chicago. 2008, p.78.

¹⁴ Ibid.

¹⁵Ibid pp. 77-78.

¹⁶Weed, Stan E. Ph.D. "Testimony Before the US House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. 23 April 2008.

Published March 07 2010

FirstChoice offers excellent options

I recently attended the annual fundraiser for FirstChoice Clinic, a nonprofit clinic based in Fargo that provides education and health care services, free of charge, to anyone facing an unintended pregnancy.

By: Gary Kubalak, Fargo

I recently attended the annual fundraiser for FirstChoice Clinic, a nonprofit clinic based in Fargo that provides education and health care services, free of charge, to anyone facing an unintended pregnancy.

Along with more than 800 other people, I had the privilege of listening to a brave young woman tell her story about how she found herself in just this situation. She described her confusion, despair and shame and that she considered having an abortion as the solution to her predicament. Instead she went to FirstChoice Clinic, was treated with care and understanding and eventually gave birth to a son, whom she now couldn’t imagine her life without. When she finished speaking, she received a standing ovation.

For anyone reading this who knows someone, or who knows someone who knows someone, who is facing an un-intended pregnancy and may be considering abortion, tell them there is another option; tell them about FirstChoice Clinic. Their services are free, they will be treated with compassion and they have nothing to lose by going there. Whatever decision they make will change their life. Make sure they know abortion is not the only solution. There is another choice.

Foundation’s effort appreciated
Pauline Economon and Sandra Leyland, Fargo
Published: February 28, 2010

What a day Feb. 11 was for the Heartland! In just 24 hours, Dakota Medical Foundation’s Giving Hearts Day generated more than 5,000 donations to nonprofits across our region. With donations received and DMF match funds, the grand total raised for area nonprofits was $1,167,849.  

For the third year in a row, Giving Hearts Day has brought together an “army of compassion.” The more than 5,000 individual donors prove that together we can have a powerful “impact” on the health needs of our community and help the financial needs of area health-related nonprofits.

Giving Hearts Day, a popular fundraiser in this region sponsored by Dakota Medical Foundation, has exceeded our expectations! FirstChoice Clinic and Fraser Ltd. have battled in friendly competition for first and second place respectively in 2009 and again in 2010. We represent two distinctly different missions, but we are joined in our passion for each of us to succeed in meeting community needs.

We are both grateful for the opportunity to increase our donor bases while building sustainability for our programs. Dakota Medical Foundation provides not only a one-day fundraiser but year-round opportunities to participate in training programs that contribute to efficient and effective fundraising and best practices for nonprofits. Giving Hearts Day allows us to put our knowledge and creativity to the test – a priceless experience for all participating organizations.

Thank you, Dakota Medical Foundation; you truly give back to all of us with IMPACT.

•Roberta Johnson Update
•Roberta Johnson Benefit Video

June 22, 2009

PRESS RELEASE

Heartbeat International Honors Servant Leaders
Pauline and George Economon Recognized for Leading in Love

Richmond, VA – Heartbeat International paid tribute to the long-time service of five inspiring leaders in the service area of the pro-life movement at the Heartbeat International Annual Conference May 21, 2009.

“Janet Trenda (California), John Tabor (Arizona), Pauline and George Economon (North Dakota), and Dr. Levon Yuille (Michigan) have servant hearts and lead with Christ-like compassion,” said Heartbeat International President Peggy Hartshorn, Ph.D.  “The Servant Leader Award is our way of honoring key leaders who have risen to the challenge of saving and changing lives with a servant’s attitude and a leader’s ingenuity.”

Pauline and George Economon have poured their time, treasure and talent into operating Fargo, ND’s FirstChoice Clinic since 2001. Pauline, with Masters Degrees in Nursing and Theology, serves as its Executive Director while George, who this past September was one of 14 pregnancy resource center volunteers to receive the President’s Volunteer Achievement award, serves as its Special Projects Director.

Nearly 500 directors, Board members, staff, and volunteers from life-affirming organizations joined in honoring Pauline and George Economon as well as Janet Trenda, John Tabor and Dr. Levon Yuille as this year’s Heartbeat International Servant Leaders.

Heartbeat International (www.heartbeatinternational.org), founded in 1971, is an interdenominational Christian association of nearly 1,100 pregnancy resource centers, maternity homes, non-profit adoption agencies, and medical clinics in 48 states and 47 countries.

2009 Banquet – Out of Darkness INTO THE LIGHT

By Roxane Salonen for New Earth

Two women – one, a former prospective abortion client; the other, a former abortion provider – kept a crowd of over 800 in rapt attention during the FirstChoice Clinic’s Annual Fundraising banquet Monday, March 2. Both women’s stories included strong hints of Divine intervention as the source of their changed lives.

Following dinner at the Fargo Holiday Inn, Nora Lee first shared her experiences of being raped, turning to drugs, becoming pregnant, seeking abortion, and ultimately keeping her baby, whom she now parents while working toward her medical degree.

Lee described the day she drove with her mother and former boyfriend to Fargo to seek an abortion, only to be halted by a blown tire and broken water pump. They finally made it, but what Lee experienced at the abortion center in Fargo left her feeling shaken. “The technician did not allow me to see the (ultrasound) picture, as if what I was carrying with me was not a reality,” Lee said.

She left and, once outside, Lee was approached by Alexa Orts and Patrick Coles, who told her about and led her to FirstChoice Clinic.

“The atmosphere was completely different. It was bright and friendly,” Lee said. “It didn’t matter to them how we had gotten there, just that they could care for us and help us during a difficult time. For the first time, I felt excited about my growing baby.”

In February of 2007, Lee gave birth to her son, Sheldon, whom she credits with saving her life and taking her “out of the dark shadows.” “I have become a stronger, healthier person to his credit,” she said, noting that this past December, the two “accepted a marriage proposal to an amazing guy” from her hometown. “We plan to become an official family after I graduate.”

Following Lee’s talk, keynote speaker Carol Everett recounted her days working in the abortion industry, calling it a “cash cow” that preys on vulnerable women.

Citing “inconvenience” as the motivator, Everett said she sought an abortion in 1973 after learning she was pregnant with her third child. She described her resulting feelings of isolation and shame, and said her solace came through selling abortions. “Every time another woman made the same mistake I’d made, in some sick, twisted way, I decided that if she was okay, I was okay.”

She learned quickly how much money was to be made from “abortion sales,” and became adept at her job, driven by a thirst to grow rich. “I wanted to become a millionaire,” Everett admitted, noting her plan to increase abortions in her home state of Texas by “selling” three to five abortions to every girl between the ages of 13 and 18.

Everett spent six years selling and overseeing 35,000 abortions at four facilities, all located near an airport for easy in-and-out services. Along with the babies who perished, Everett said she watched one woman die and many more become maimed during the assembly-line-style operations.

She described how the abortion industry starts its propaganda as early as kindergarten through sex-education in schools, undermining the parent-child relationship and natural modesty.

Everett said statistics prove the earlier they have an abortion, the more likely a girl is to repeat the procedure. “Even today, abortion is a method of birth control with a 42 percent repeat rate in this country.”

Everett’s pro-abortion frenzy ended when a preacher who’d come to her clinics in the guise of “business counselor” said a prayer over her, prompting a conversion.

“If abortion is so good for women, why aren’t they free?” Everett asked, noting that FirstChoice Clinic doesn’t charge for its services, thanks to supporter donations.

Today, Everett helps girls and women in unplanned pregnancies through The Heidi Group, a non-profit she founded that operates two life-affirming pregnancy resource centers and a charity pre-natal clinic in West Dallas, the 11th most severe poverty stricken area in the nation.

FirstChoice is a faith-based, non-profit facility with clinics in Fargo and Devils Lake that provides education and health services to empower individuals to make life-affirming choices. This year the agency is celebrating 25 years of its life saving and life changing ministry. This event set a fundraising record with a preliminary total of $135,000.   

Letter to the Editor- The Forum

February 17, 2009

Do Mighty Things

In 1905, America’s 26^th president, Theodore Roosevelt gave a speech in which he called for Americans to dare to do mighty things. Pat Traynor and his team at Dakota Medical Foundation (DMF) evidently heeded Roosevelt’s call and have strived to do exactly that!  

In a time of fear and unknown regarding our economy – DMF, this past February 12^th, hosted its second Giving Hearts Day – which, I would venture to guess, became one of this regions largest fundraisers in history.  

In one day, $983,812 was generated for regional nonprofits who serve various health care related needs in their communities.

It was just another day at the office for DMF, another day of supporting our area’s non-profits by helping them effectively solicit funds to keep their doors open and their missions on track. DMF has supported non-profits by offering them sustainability training over the past several years. Area non-profits are empowered as a team to energize their communities at a grassroots level and to empower their clients who struggle with various health related issues to become more fulfilled and to believe the world can be changed.  It’s what DMF does and it’s making our area a better place to live.

The selfless work of Dakota Medical Foundation brings hope and inspiration that, indeed, the world can be changed.  Thank you to everyone who participated in the DMF’s Giving Hearts day and joining together to TO DO MIGHTY THINGS. You’re all the best!

FirstChoice Clinic would like to thank a whole host of individuals and groups from the FM area for their support of our 2^nd annual “Valley’s Largest Baby Shower” a monthly long effort to collect diapers, wipes, clothes, pacifiers and other newborn necessities.  This event was hosted by the Christian radio station KFNW and Hornbachers.   

We offer a special thank you to the KFNW staff for their tremendous effort in educating the community about the work of FirstChoice Clinic and the sanctity of human life.   Thank you to Dean Hornbacher and his team at all the Hornbachers stores which served as drop off locations for new baby items.  The employees at Hornbachers were so helpful and gracious to people who participated in this drive.  Thank you to the many volunteers who collected the items at the stores and delivered them to FirstChoice during the snowy, icy month of January!

Most importantly, we want to thank you, the community for your generous support of this event – to date we estimate the drive generated 5000 diapers and other donated baby items worth over $7,000!   The donated items collected will be distributed to families in need through FirstChoice Clinic’s “Earn While You Learn”  parenting program, a program in which vulnerable mothers and fathers enroll to learn skills to help them be the best parents possible, ensuring the health and well being of their babies. 

On behalf of the families we serve, we extend our deepest thanks the Fargo-Moorhead community for this wonderful act of support of FirstChoice Clinic.

Sincerely,

Pauline Economon

Executive Director

Educating young women who are making decisions regarding abortion is critical. I feel we need to honestly look at what is critically lacking in our society and realize that women often choose abortion out of despair. If women are provided information on the medical and support services available to them, over 80% of them will choose to carry their pregnancy.   Programs on parenting education, adoption awareness, and fatherhood education all help to support women and men who are unprepared for a pregnancy. Our schools need fatherhood and marriage education programs. To quote president-elect Obama “We need fathers to realize that responsibility does not end at conception. We need them to realize that what makes you a man is not the ability to have a child — it’s the courage to raise one.”   Additionally, we need to promote an awareness of the positive option of adoption. Adoption waiting lists are long and so yes, every child conceived is wanted and loved.

Kromenaker recommends more availability of IUD’s and implantable contraceptives as a means to reduce unplanned pregnancies. Again, we need to honestly evaluate the health and safety of contraceptives.  The IUD lost favor in the USA years ago because of several legal class-action suits charging serious damage/death to women from the effects of the IUD.  According to these lawsuits and medical reports, many women suffered Toxic Shock Syndrome which can -- or did -- lead to death.  The implantable contraceptive Norplant has been taken off the market in the US because of medical risks to women and presently has over 70 class action suits filed against the drug manufacturer.  Additionally, little is said about the sometimes life threatening side effects of these harsh contraceptives that many women suffer with. 

There are better methods available for couples to plan their families. These don’t introduce anything chemical or foreign to the body – they are completely safe. New methods of fertility awareness are safe and effective for couples to use to either achieve or avoid a pregnancy. These are medically based methods, grounded in science and are as or more effective than any contraceptive. Better still, utilizing these methods brings an aspect sorely lacking in relationships – responsibility!  Couples learn that both the husband and wife are involved in planning their families -- the underlying philosophy of using a method of natural family planning is that every child is wanted and loved.

Kromenaker mentioned “comprehensive sex education”. Teaching contraception and safer sex in our public schools has not reduced unplanned pregnancies or sexually transmitted diseases in our youth.  Research conducted over the past 30 years supports Positive Youth Development programs that empower teens and young adults to delay sexual debut.  It only makes sense that if children aren’t engaging in sex there is little chance of pregnancy or STD’s. Simply saying “they are going to do it anyway” is not a valid argument.  If we as a society set low expectations, our children will sink to them.  Positive Youth Development programs seek to raise the bar and help children succeed and help them to believe in themselves.  Research supports that by stressing the “5 C’s of Positive Youth Development – competence, confidence, connection, character and caring – we are helping teens to set goals for their futures and delay sexual involvement. 

The sound bytes Kromenaker uses, i.e., “we need to work together", do sound good, but I challenge her to add substance to her plan to reduce abortion.  Let’s work together to honestly evaluate what has been helpful in reducing abortion. Let’s be sure women and men know there is help for them when they are facing an unplanned pregnancy. Let’s continue to educate the public on sound policies that are proven to reduce abortion.  For our youth, let’s involve them in proven programs that delay sexual debut.  As a country, let’s focus on the need to strengthen families and promote the authentic role of fathers in their children’s lives so women feel supported in parenting. There is so much we should be doing to genuinely help these young people. The answer to this issue isn’t a pill or a procedure. If we truly care for these young people we need to do exactly that – CARE FOR THEM!

Pauline Economon, RN, MSN, MA is the executive director of FirstChoice Clinic (Fargo and Devils Lake), a pregnancy help clinic.

There are 4 levels of the President’s Volunteer Service Awards that are given to Americans who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service. The Lifetime Award, the highest award given, is given to those who have donated over 4,000 hours of service in a lifetime.

Admiral Garcia presiding over the ceremony stated that “events like this symbolize the best our nation can give – to help people, to give life to the world, offering help as volunteers giving life to the work. The work in pregnancy help centers is helping the least able to help themselves.” Garcia continued to state that “these volunteers are the Hero’s of our nation – this is a day for honoring individuals who make the difference.” Day in and day out, volunteers like Mr. Economon open the doors to centers like FirstChoice Clinic, with welcoming arms to people struggling with a serious life decision – these volunteers are the heart and soul of the work that pregnancy resource centers do.

The Forum, Fargo, ND - Monday, April 21st

Your Opinion: Columnist’s Misinformation Typical in Abstinence Debate

After reading Jane Ahlin’s column (April 13 Sunday Forum) regarding abstinence versus comprehensive sex education, I found myself asking the question I ask myself every time I read similar pieces, “Why is the public continually misinformed when it comes to abstinence education?”

Abstinence education is not an ideology-based pet project of President George W. Bush. Abstinence education was put in place by President Bill Clinton under the Welfare Reform Act.

There’s nothing ideological about abstinence education – it’s a fact-based, medically accurate means of teaching students about sex and relationships. Most abstinence education programs teach students character building, media awareness, goal-setting techniques, medically accurate information on sexually transmitted diseases and condom effectiveness – as well as the facts about unplanned pregnancy and the way it changes a teen’s life, alcohol and drug awareness, how to build healthy relationships and marriage skills.

There are going to be abstinence education programs out there that are not effective, just as there are comprehensive programs that are ineffective. However, until adults stop saying things like, “They’re teenagers, they’re going to do it anyway,” and then handing them a condom, our country will not stop seeing the rise in STDs and unplanned pregnancies in teens.

Evaluation of both abstinence education and comprehensive sex education has shown mixed results. There are a dozen studies that show abstinence education to be more effective than comprehensive. For example, just days after the governor of Virginia declined Title V funds for abstinence education, a new study came out in the January/February 2008 American Journal of Health Behavior showing abstinence programs implemented by the Virginia State Health Department to be effective.

With the rate of condom usage at the highest we’ve ever seen (63 percent), one would expect that STDs and unplanned pregnancies would be at the lowest rates. This is not the case – STDs are at an all-time high, which many medical professionals are calling an epidemic, and for the first time in more than a decade the teen pregnancy rate is up 3 percent. Since there are many more American students receiving comprehensive sex education over abstinence education, why do we keep throwing billions of dollars behind these programs that give our kids permission to have sex, increasing their risk for disease and pregnancy exponentially?

Until adults understand that delaying the onset of sexual activity for teens (e.g. abstinence education) is the healthiest and safest message to teach students about sex – and all the things that come with it – we will continue in this battle. The most interesting thing is that when parents understand exactly what abstinence education includes (and conversely, what comprehensive sex education includes), their support for it jumps from

40 percent to 60 percent, while their support for comprehensive sex education drops from

Recently a North Dakota female middle school teenager wrote this about the Make a Sound Choice positive youth development program: “I was in a relationship where sex was almost a must for the guy and I did it just to make him happy.  My decision changed my life forever and I became pregnant.  Now, I am choosing to say no to this stuff to make myself more emotionally happy.  Your information helped a lot.” 

Our federally funded Make a Sound Choice program located here in Fargo provides North Dakota teens like the one quoted above with a clear and consistent message regarding the benefits of delaying sexual activity. Our program teaches teens the principles of self-restraint, goal setting and long-term commitment - in short, it provides students with the skills required to establish healthy relationships and strong marriages.  

This Make a Sound Choice program is presently in 38 North Dakota schools and growing.   The program is evaluated by a team of independent evaluators from NDSU.  Preliminary evaluation results indicate that we are reaching the high benchmarks we have set for the program.  The results have shown substantial changes in student attitudes and knowledge in areas targeted by the program – the hope of long term reduction in adolescent sexual activity is not just a dream anymore.    Any program that can show a 75% positive impact is doing much good– yet the Make a Sound Choice program is reaching an impact of over 90%!

Information can and does change behavior.  Look at successful educational programs on smoking cessation.  The key in affecting a healthy behavior change is to partner information provided with why it matters and how it can ultimately affect the individual.  That is what abstinence education programs in a positive youth development model provide.  

Our organization remains confident that sharing this sort of messaging with students - about goal setting, self-control, healthy relationships and character building – is overwhelmingly the best health message to give them.  Our confidence is backed by solid evaluation and anecdotal information that we receive from adults and students alike.

FirstChoice Clinic would like to take this opportunity to thank Dakota Medical Foundation (DMF) for their wonderful, unprecedented charitable event, Giving Hearts Day; they recently hosted this past Valentines Day. By partnering with people in our region, DMF helped raise over $300,000 for area nonprofits with health related missions. 

As one of the non-profits who directly benefited from this event, we at FirstChoice Clinic applaud the leadership and the staff at Dakota Medical Foundation for continuing to provide visionary leadership to area nonprofits and by helping them build financial sustainability. Their efforts help establish stronger nonprofits and help us all ensure that we are able to deliver on our missions to serve health related needs in our region. 

This region is indeed blessed by the innovative trainings and financial assistance provided by DMF to nonprofits who serve those in need in our regions. Their generosity allows area agencies to help ensure healthy outcomes for children and families. 

Jane Ahlin shared some valuable information regarding typical human brain development in her May 6 Forum column, “What should we do when teenagers do stupid stuff ?” Parents, teachers or anyone else who work closely with youth are probably not surprised to hear that the brain circuitry of adolescents and young adults is immature. Auto insurance companies know that teenagers can be impulsive and are prone to risk-taking ?? this is reflected in the premiums that we pay to insure young drivers. Science has provided verification of what we knew, but couldn’t necessarily prove.

Ahlin quotes from a Jan. 12 edition of “The Chronicle of Higher Education,” where a senior writer likened the teenage brain to “a turbocharged car with a set of brakes still under construction.” This turbocharged car -- this

talented, energetic young adult racing through life -- needs mature, caring adults around who are willing to give clear guidance on critical issues. This has implications for much of the risk-taking behavior that we see young people engaging in, not the least of which is sexual activity.

Half of all newly diagnosed STDs in our country occur in 15- to 24-year-olds. Yes, teenage pregnancy and birth rates have decreased in the past decade, but they are still high and there is a lot of work left to be done. Teen childbearing in the state of North Dakota is estimated to cost taxpayers at least $13 million in federal, state, and local taxes. These trends have developed in the past few decades, amidst unprecedented access to contraceptives and billions spent on condom education for adolescents.

Public health messages regarding use of tobacco, alcohol, drugs and seat belts

give clear guidance to what the healthiest, safest choices are. Abstinence education programs focus on directing adolescents toward the healthiest choice for them ?? avoidance of all sexual activity outside of marriage. These programs guide students in decision-making, goal setting, positive character development and avoidance of all risk behaviors.

“Safe sex” or “safer sex” messages apply increasing levels of stress to the brakes of that “turbocharged car.” Abstinence education programs, on the other hand, allow the brains of our youth to mature without exposing their bodies and minds to the many potential negative consequences of early sexual debut, tempering that turbocharger and helping those brakes to develop. These kids are the winners.

Kay Kiefer, RN, is the director of Make a Sound Choice, a relationship education program.

I am responding to The Associated Press’s article “Study: Abstinence Classes Don’t Stop Sex” (The Forum, Saturday, April 14). The article did not represent the study accurately – in fact it misrepresented the study titled “Impacts of Four Title V, Section 510 Abstinence Education Programs.”

In reading the study, its final report makes several recommendations for enhancing abstinence education programs – the report did, in no way, recommend defunding abstinence education programs as The Forum’s article implied. Far from it! In fact, the results of the study point to more abstinence education beyond the middle school age group; it recommends that the message needs to be taught consistently throughout high school to expect positive behavior changes. The report recognizes that abstinence programs are well conceived and that youth need support from many different sources to help them make the better decision to postpone sexual activity. They state that a one-time intervention in middle schools will not be adequate to help young people commit to postponing sexual activity.

Since the ’80s, our nation’s schools have been conducting an unchecked experiment called “comprehensive sex education.” What have been the results? Increased STDs, pregnancy and abortion rates. It is obviously not the answer.

In 1996, President Clinton, under the Welfare Reform Act, made nominal funding available for a handful of abstinence education programs – the above study looked at four of these early programs. Over the past 10 years, there has been growth in the number and quality of abstinence education programs. At present, more than 500 are federally funded – although the funding is still nominal, e.g., the per student rate of funding is $1 compared to $9 for comprehensive sex education programs. Despite being pitifully underfunded, many studies about current comprehensive community-based abstinence education programs are having a positive impact. With the increased abstinence education dosage for youth, there is a correlation with a decline in the current teen pregnancy rates.

Programs by themselves can’t do it all. It takes a community effort to deliver positive, healthy messages to our youth, messages that help them build character – positive messages from parents, mentors, youth groups, faith-based communities, schools, advertising, and yes, even in movies and music. With all the competing negative messages, it is like youth are trying to listen to a whisper while a hard rock band is playing in the background.

Abstinence until marriage is a positive message; our youth recognize that. For the first time in more than 10 years, the majority of teens are stating they are committed to an abstinence-until-marriage lifestyle.

We owe it to our youth to look at studies critically and learn what the best practices are to help them. Please, the next time a study of this type comes out – don’t focus on the sound bites. Let’s work together to help our youth and learn the best practices for teaching healthy life skills for our youth.

Pauline Economon is executive director of Fargo’s FirstChoice Clinic. She is an RN; holds master of nursing science and master of arts degrees; and is a fertility care practitioner.

E-mail Pauline@makeasoundchoice.com

• Creates an environment that supports the benefits of postponing sexual activity until marriage
• Builds a better understanding of the emotional, psychological and health risks involved in risk behaviors.
• Encourages the youths who have made negative choices in the past to “start over” with healthy choices.
• Teaches students healthy relationship skills and self-control—a key component in enhanced self esteem.

1. The family background and childhood dynamics. “You Can’t Marry Jethro Without Getting the Clampetts” is one of the session titles, and highlights how the family backgrounds will affect a relationship.
2. The attitudes and action of the conscience, and level of maturity.
3. The scope of your compatibility potential.
4. The examples of other relationship patterns.
5. The strength of relationship skills.