Sex education in the Southwest

While the federal government continues to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on ineffective abstinence-only-until-marriage programs that censor vital health care information, governors and other political leaders in the Southwest have taken important stands to support comprehensive sex education. Governor Napolitano of Arizona, Governor Richardson of New Mexico and Governor Ritter of Colorado have all turned down the federal dollars earmarked under Title V of the Social Security Act for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs in their states. In addition, each state is working to improve the type of sex education teens receive in the classroom. Learn how public health advocates worked to achieve these victories and what they are doing to continue to improve sex education in their states. A case study of each state will be presented. Lessons learned and successful strategies will be shared. How to achieve similar positive changes in other states will be discussed.