The Healthy Colorado Youth Alliance, led by Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains and COLOR, has announced the Denver Public Schools’ Board of Education adoption of the Colorado Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health resolution. The resolution passed in June by a unanimous vote.
Through adopting the resolution, DPS recognizes the importance of continuing and expanding efforts to ensure that all young people have access to science-based, comprehensive, medically accurate, culturally relevant, and age-appropriate sexuality education, information, and resources to make informed decisions about their health and relationships.
“This resolution shows that DPS and members of the school board understand the connection between positive long-term outcomes for young people and medically accurate education around sexuality issues,” said Lisa Olcese, executive director of The Alliance. “For too many years, we have simply thrown our hands in the air when confronted with negative news about unintended teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. This resolution lets everyone know that there are solutions to our problems – solutions based on comprehensive sexuality education.”
Individuals including parents and youth educators in addition to community leaders offered testimony in support of the resolution. Arturo Jimenez, board vice president, introduced the resolution.
The 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey found that more than one in four 9th graders in Colorado has had sex. By 12th grade nearly 60 percent of youth reported having had sex. Colorado recorded the 22nd highest rate of teenage pregnancy nationwide in 2006 according to the Guttmacher Institute. The birth rate for 15-17 year old females in Denver (2004-2006) is twice the state’s average and higher than any other urban county in the state. Parenting is the primary reason adolescent women drop out of school, according to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that roughly one in four teenage girls in the United States have at least one STI.
Over the recent years Colorado has made efforts to prioritize the health of Colorado youth. In 2007, the General Assembly of the State of Colorado enacted House Bill 1292, which established content standards for the provision of human sexuality courses taught in public schools throughout the state of Colorado. In 2009 the Colorado State Board of Education adopted academic content standards for comprehensive health education that support youth in making informed, responsible decisions about their health and in having access to the tools they need to live healthy lives.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, science-based, medically accurate, age- appropriate, culturally relevant, and comprehensive sexuality education programs have been proven to help youth 1) delay the onset of sexual activity 2) reduce the frequency of sexual activity 3) reduce number of sexual partners, and 4) increase condom and contraceptive use.
The resolution is endorsed by the following organizations: ACLU of Colorado, Colorado AIDS Project, Colorado Association of School-Based Health Centers, Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights, Colorado Religious Coalition for Reproductive Rights, Colorado Section of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Colorado Youth Matter (formerly COAPPP), Denver Teen Pregnancy Prevention Partnership, Girls Inc. of Metro Denver, Healthy Colorado Youth Alliance, Look Both Ways, Inc., NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado Foundation, New Era Colorado, and Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains.
Click here to view the full resolution.
Said PPVC President Vicki Cowart (pictured left):
Said PPVC President Vicki Cowart (pictured left):
